Thai navy wants second submarine
The Navy maintains its position that three Chinese Yuan Class S26T submarines should be purchased. In 2017, the navy and the Chinese shipbuilder signed the contract for the first and now the navy is pushing for the second to cost 12 billion baht.
A source says that the navy is waiting for approval of the 2020 budget after which the order will be placed.
The purchase of the three submarines was approved by the cabinet in October 2016. The costs of 36 billion baht will be amortized over 11 years. The decision to proceed with the purchase was widely criticized at the time. The Thai waters are relatively shallow and therefore unsuitable for a submarine.
The first submarine is expected to be delivered in mid-2023. It will be deployed in the Gulf of Thailand and the Andaman Sea. The navy says the modern submarines are needed to protect Thailand's "maritime territorial interests".
The Navy's wish list also includes the purchase of a 4 billion baht landing platform dock ship that would also be purchased in China.
M1126 Stryker
It was also announced today that the US has agreed to sell 60 M1126 Stryker armored vehicles to Thailand for $175 million for the military.
Source: Bangkok Post
Hm, surprised that the Americans are in the picture to deliver army equipment. Under President Obama, it was decided at the time of the coup not to supply equipment, because a democratically elected leader was unseated. Apparently a dictatorial regime in Saudi Arabia is not a problem or that principle only applies to relatively small amounts (in the US).
Anyway, anything is possible under Trump, but the Thais were already happily shopping in Sweden (fighter jets) and Ukraine (tanks, tracked vehicles) and the Chinese naturally also consider this an excellent opportunity to exert their influence on both the economy and the military. flat to expand. In that respect a blunder of the US/Obama at the time. Now the Chinese have a foot in the door…
I can say little about the usefulness of a submarine. The Netherlands also has them and they are not used in the Wadden Sea, but where they are is all "secret". So the Thais will also be planning something else, but they don't want to tell the world.
It must be military logic that a submarine in shallow water is more important than a slightly higher standard of living for the population.
That submarine is of course to keep the Chinese away from the Thai Gulf. Those armored cars with 50. cal machine guns… They'll be for domestic use anyway. The Thai are decent people who listen carefully to the authorities, peace and order prevail in this beautiful country… Possible to use in case of too large groups of Chinese tourists who disturb order and cleanliness?
And of course those M1126 Strykers are also necessary for use against ungrateful foreigners and their sympathizers who dare to question the TM30 (and all those other indispensable rules to keep an eye on them).
Because with those armored vehicles, at least "decisive" action can be taken against them and their accomplices who form a fifth column that threatens national security.
You better be well prepared for this potential threat.
Then Prayut will receive support from the white noses who believe that a strict leader who brings peace and order is necessary in this country. Don't squeak as a 'guest', pay tribute to the heavy hand of the authorities who make life so much more pleasant. Don't interfere with the Thai business and drink your beer quietly. But don't go too far away from your swim or you'll have to go through a whole paper mill. 555
Yes TheoB, indeed, the Chinese coincidentally released a promotional video yesterday on how to act against subversive behaviour, this reminded me of the battles of the Middle Ages,
They are waiting at the gates of Hong Kong to 'liberate' it and be greeted with flowers. (where have I heard that before?)
The Thai government is watching tensely to learn from this, perhaps reason to order a few more submarines (they have enough riotgear) because you never know… ha ha!
Are they going to dredge the entire coastline first, otherwise they won't be able to sail anywhere, above water it will still work, but diving up to two meters?
Hey Yuundai,
no, they are not going to dredge the entire coastline. They are submarines equipped with caterpillar tracks, so they can drive over the seabed…..55555
People who can live in freedom, of course, don't understand an army. Something like a submarine will be necessary in the strategic process. Good for trade and relations. Thanks to an army you can enjoy your life in freedom. The opposite has not yet been proven
The Chinese supply the submarines. I suspect that they also hide equipment in it, so that China always knows where the submarine(s) is/are.
In addition, the purchase is useful for the “pension fund”…
Those submarines can always be used as a tourist (diving) attraction after they have run aground in the seabed.
In short: the purchase fits in with a strategic event, it is good for trade (for clients as well) and relations. But does this increase the enjoyment of our lives in freedom???
The last time Thailand had to use its weaponry against its neighbors to protect its sovereignty was a long time ago. But the prestige toys .. erm .. objects such as the aircraft carrier that they have at the quay is of course a deterrent ... in practice, the weapons have been used more against their own citizens than against foreign powers.
Si vis pacem, para bellum, said Plato. If you want peace, prepare for war. I am in favor of a strong defense, but the army in Thailand is an army with a hydrocephalus. Soon there will be more generals than soldiers….
Being prepared for self-defense or running to the aid of a neighbor is one thing. Who can be against that? But all these toys, all those generals, all that estate the army owns, the abuses of conscription, etc. Sigh
The purchase of submarines is nothing more than a matter of prestige and a way to stay in bed with China. This is nothing special, the Netherlands also buys JSF fighter jets from America for God's sake, and it is not as if that really contributes to a solution for the problems that the Netherlands now has and will have to deal with in the longer term.