Royal Thai Navy Agree to Postpone Submarine Procurement

21 Juli 2021

A model of CSIC S-26T submarine (photo : MSN)

Navy spokesman confirmed that The Navy is willing to delay the second and third submarine procurement projects without requesting the project budget allocation, which is listed in the 2022 Budget Expenditure Act.

It said the Navy had proposed a budget for procuring a second and third submarines according to the Navy's strategy and it is a duty to prepare as necessary to protect maritime sovereignty and national interests at sea. Having 3 submarines to cover the seas on both sides increase the maritime potential of the Thai Navy to be much more, saying that the supply of submarines It is the most suitable and cost effective way to use the budget from the tax of the people.

Reduction of Installment from 7 years

The Navy spokesman added that The Navy has returned the budget for the year 2020 of 3,375 million baht, year 2021 of 3,925 million baht, and in 2022, the Navy has negotiated with the Chinese side to request a reduction in the payment period. The first installment in 2022 is 900 million baht, and there will be a 6-year installment payment until it reaches 22,500 million baht (therefore, it can be assumed that the remaining payments after another 5 years, approximately 4,320 million baht per year).

But from the crisis situation that affects the people very much, as a result, The Navy has considered together with the Ministry of Defense. Therefore, we would like to postpone the project for procurement of submarines for the 2nd and 3rd ships without requesting the budget allocation of the project for procurement of submarines, boats 2 and 3, which are listed in the 2022 Budget Expenditure Act, and hope that benefit the people of Thailand help solve national problems, reduce conflicts of opinion for Thailand to continue to survive from Covid-19.

(TAF)