The Thai Navy’s procurement of its first submarine is likely to be further delayed, as Defence Minister Phumtham Wechayachai said today that he needs more time to study the project having only recently assumed the defence portfolio.
He admitted that he has no idea how long it will take him to study the project thoroughly, as he dismissed any likelihood that it would be considered during the mobile cabinet meeting this Friday.
He made clear, however, that if the project is beneficial to the country, then it would be approved and the government would have to explain to the people the need for the vessel.
The minister claimed that the government is not dragging its feet on the project, which was initiated by the Prayut administration, but that he is considering the project vis-à-vis its benefits to the nation.
The Thai Navy signed a contract with the China Shipbuilding and Offshore International Company (CSOC) in May 2017, to build a Yuan-class submarine at a cost of 13.5 billion baht.
According to the contract, the submarine must be equipped with a German-made MTU396 engine.
The construction was half-finished when the COVID-19 pandemic struck and then put on further hold when Germany refused to supply the engine to China.
The contractor proposed a Chinese-made alternative, the CHD620, which was rejected by the RTN, resulting in talks about switching the submarine for a frigate, which also remain inconclusive.
Lately, however, the Navy and CSOC agreed on a Chinese-made engine under revised terms, but the project is yet to be approved by the Pheu Thai-led government.
