The Royal Thai Navy wishes to inform the public that from December 9-19, 2025, Admiral Nares Wongtrakul, Assistant Commander-in-Chief of the Royal Thai Navy and Chairman of the Submarine Procurement Project Executive Committee, along with his delegation, was assigned by Admiral Pairoj Fuengchan, Commander-in-Chief of the Royal Thai Navy, to travel to the People's Republic of China to monitor the progress of the submarine procurement project and discuss military cooperation with relevant agencies.
The delegation visited the Shanghai Marine Diesel Engine Research Institute (SMDERI) in Shanghai, an agency that designs and researches submarine and surface ship propulsion systems. They received a presentation on technology from representatives of the China State Shipbuilding Corporation (CSSC) and the Air-Independent Propulsion (AIP) Institute, reflecting the technological readiness of the manufacturers.
Subsequently, on December 12, 2025, the delegation traveled to Wuchang Shipbuilding Industry Group Co., Ltd. (WSIG) in Wuhan to monitor the progress of the construction of the S26T submarine. Confirmation of the operational plan and quality control was received. The delegation also received a briefing on the project's timeline from senior executives of China Shipbuilding Trading Co., Ltd. (CSTC) and WSIG.
In addition, the delegation visited the Royal Thai Navy Engineering University in Wuhan, a leading institution for submarine personnel development. They observed demonstrations of submarine escape training, surface ship damage control training, submarine simulation training systems, and various course instruction. The university demonstrated its readiness to accommodate Royal Thai Navy personnel for training according to international standards.
The Royal Thai Navy affirmed that the submarine procurement project is a crucial national security project, being conducted with prudence, transparency, and prioritizing national interests. This progress monitoring reflects the Royal Thai Navy's commitment to pushing the project forward according to plan, in order to strengthen national defense capabilities and sustainably safeguard national maritime interests.


























