Military Submarine Replica Goes on Display in Sattahip

[Georgealbert]

 

Picture courtesy of Khaosod.

 

The Royal Thai Navy is celebrating a major step forward in its long-delayed submarine procurement project, as a replica of the country’s first Chinese-built submarine has been installed at the entrance to the Royal Thai Fleet Command in Sattahip, Chonburi.

 

The installation of the life-size model comes shortly after the Thai Cabinet approved a key amendment to the purchase agreement, allowing the replacement of the original German-made MTU396 engine with China’s CHD620 engine. The decision also includes a 1,217-day extension to the submarine’s construction timeline.

 

The Yuan-class S26T submarine, being constructed under a government-to-government (G2G) deal with China, marks Thailand’s return to underwater capabilities for the first time in decades. Originally signed in 2017, the contract with China Shipbuilding & Offshore International Co. (CSOC) is valued at 7.7 billion baht. As of now, 64% of the project is complete, with 10 out of 18 payment instalments made. The remaining payments total around 5.5 billion baht.

 

Progress on the submarine had stalled since 2021, after China was unable to supply the German engine specified in the original contract due to export restrictions. The recent Cabinet decision has unblocked the impasse, allowing construction to resume with the Chinese-made engine.

 

The reinstallation of the submarine model at the Royal Thai Fleet Command is not just a symbolic gesture, it also marks a broader upgrade of the area’s naval exhibits. Alongside the submarine replica, the Navy is showcasing other key assets, including the decommissioned AV-8S Harrier jump jet, once operated from HTMS Chakri Naruebet and the T.99patrol boat.

 

The T.99, which served the Navy for 34 years before being retired on 1 October 2022, holds special significance. It was built under the royal guidance of His Majesty King Bhumibol Adulyadej the Great, as part of a mission to strengthen maritime sovereignty.

 

The return of the submarine replica not only enhances the landscape of the Fleet Command headquarters but also symbolises the Navy’s growing ambitions and future capabilities. With the S26T project now back on track, the Royal Thai Navy is one step closer to deploying a submarine that will bolster national maritime security for years to come.

 

  Adapted by Asean Now from Khaosod 2025-08-08

 

 

 

 

 

[scubascuba3]

I'm sure that's been there for weeks