Royal Thai Navy Plan to Scrap Two Ex Knox-class Frigate

02 Februari 2023

FFG-461 HTMS Phutthayotfa Chulalok ex Knox-class frigate (photo: Sompong Nondhasa)

Personal and tactical training Fleet of battles Marine Corps Command and the Anti-Aircraft and Coast Guard Command Royal Thai Navy on 15 December 2023 in the area of ​​Sattahip Bay, Gulf of Thailand and Naval Training Range No. 15, Hat Yao, Sattahip District, Chonburi Province.

It is part of the fiscal year 2024 training. Training throughout the year until the last month of 2023 has seen the readiness of the Royal Thai Navy's weapons, equipment, and personnel, such as the BTR-3E1 8x8 wheeled armored vehicle. Thai Marines from Ukraine can still be used even though the producing country is at war.

In addition to progress regarding China's S26T submarine project, whether it will continue or not. The Thai Defense Minister, Mr. Suthin Khlangsaeng, told the media that the Royal Thai Navy still insists on the need to have submarines for its use. The Attorney General decides on legal issues before the state-to-state contract expires on December 30, 2023.

FFG-462 HTMS Phutthaloetla Naphalai ex Knox-class frigate (photo: Sompong Nondhasa)

As for the frigates of the HTMS Phutthayodfa Chulalok series, two ships that have already been retired are HTMS Phutthayodfa Chulalok and HTMS Phutthalertlaphalai which is a Knox class frigate that was previously stationed in the US Navy that was procured during the year 1994-1997 by HMS Phutthalertlaphalai discharged from active duty in 2015 and HMS Phutthayodfa Chulalok discharged from active duty in 2017.

Recently, the Navy came up with the idea of ​​selling it for parts. But they will not be sunk to become artificial reefs. After having to bear the cost of millions of baht in maintenance to turn it into a floating museum anchored by two boats outside Chuk Samet Pier, Sattahip Naval Base for many years, which has few visitors, is not worth it.

In addition to the salvage of the Royal Rattanakosin series corvettes Sukhothai Royal Ship that has been sinking since December 18-19, 2022, waiting for a budget of approximately 200,000,000 baht after the new Thai government and the bidding process for contractors for a long time It is expected that the ship can be salvaged around March-April 2024.

RTN Fokker 27-400M (photo: Marco Dirkx)

In fiscal year 2024, the Royal Thai Navy will likely begin the project to procure a second high-performance frigate. That should be a series of frigates HMS Bhumibol Adulyadej, the second boat has a limit of approximately 17,000,000,000 baht ($470,653,500) which is different from the new frigate project 4 ships that will have a selection competition including a project to improve the Combat Management System (CMS) of the 2 Royal Pattani series offshore patrol boats, HMS Pattani and HTMS Narathiwat. Coast Guard Fleet patrol boats, at least Six ships have also been upgraded and installed new EO/IR cameras from IAI Israel.

Followed by in fiscal year 2025, there will be a project to procure transport aircraft to support naval operations. Which is likely to replace the transport aircraft 1st Battalion Fokker F-27 MK400, as well as the anti-ship aircraft, 1st Battalion Fokker F-27 MK200, which are reported to be possibly retired already, and a medium-sized transport helicopter that will complement the transport helicopter, Sikorsky MH-60S Knighthawk, which has 2 machines, and may replace the transport helicopter Bell 212 which has 6 machines that have been used for a long time, but no further details are available at the time of this writing.

In 2025, the Naval Aviation Division will still receive 7 Elbit Systems Hermes 900 unmanned aerial vehicles that also signed the procurement on September 21, 2022. You can see that there are many projects that require money.

(AAG)