China Cuts Steel for Thailand’s First S26T Submarine

06 September 2018

Ceremony of first steel cutting for RTN's S-26T (photo : TAF)

China's Wuchang Shipbuilding has held a first steel cutting ceremony for the Royal Thai Navy's (RTN's) first S26T (Thailand) diesel-electric submarine (SSK).

Steel for the vessel was cut on 4 September at Wuhan, China, in a ceremony attended by senior officials from the RTN.

The RTN signed a contract with the China Shipbuilding and Offshore International Company (CSOC) in May 2017 for one S26T SSK. The government-to-government contract is worth THB13.5 billion (USD410 million), and calls for the delivery of the boat by 2023.

The S26T SSK is derived from the People's Liberation Army Navy's Yuan-class (Type 041) submarine, but neither the RTN nor CSOC has given further details of the platform.

(Jane's)