Thailand Decision on submarine deal only after talks, says Navy chief

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The Royal Thai Navy is expected to make a decision on the Chinese submarine deal by the end of this month.​

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Commander-in-chief Admiral Somprasong Nilsamai said on Friday that the Navy will hold talks with the manufacturer China Shipbuilding & Offshore International Co (CSOC) at the end of the month. The production of the Yuan-class S26T submarine came to a halt in early March when Germany blocked the export of the MTU396 diesel engine to China.

When asked if the Navy would consider changing the submarine’s engine, Somprasong only said he would wait for negotiation results first.
The admiral also chose not to confirm if the Navy will cancel the contract in line with Prime Minister Prayut Chan-o-cha’s earlier statement. Prayut had told the press that the contract should be cancelled if the engine is not the same as specified in the agreement. Somprasong only said things would become clearer after the negotiation.
Meanwhile, Navy chief of staff Admiral Thalerngsak Sirisawat said an agenda has been set for the negotiation with CSOC.
The Navy signed a 13.5-billion baht deal in 2017 with CSOC for the purchase of an S26T submarine fitted with MTU396 diesel engines from Germany’s Motor and Turbine Union Company.

However, Germany blocked the export in line with a European Union arms embargo imposed on China after the 1989 Tiananmen Square massacre.

 

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He also claimed that the first submarine, due for delivery, has no engines because China cannot manufacture diesel engines for submarines and will have to buy them from Germany.

Under the CSOC contract, the submarine must be powered by engines supplied by Germany's MTU, but the company refused to sell the engine to China, Mr Yutthapong alleged.

He said he had received information that the CSOC will replace Germany's engine with a Chinese-made engine for the submarine instead.

Mr Yutthapong said he will bring the matter to the attention of Prime Minister Prayut Chan-o-cha, and ask him to stop any move to replace the engine type stipulated in the contract.

The change could lead to a glitch in the submarine, putting naval officers at risk, Mr Yutthapong said.

 

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He also claimed that the first submarine, due for delivery, has no engines because China cannot manufacture diesel engines for submarines and will have to buy them from Germany.

Under the CSOC contract, the submarine must be powered by engines supplied by Germany's MTU, but the company refused to sell the engine to China, Mr Yutthapong alleged.

He said he had received information that the CSOC will replace Germany's engine with a Chinese-made engine for the submarine instead.

Mr Yutthapong said he will bring the matter to the attention of Prime Minister Prayut Chan-o-cha, and ask him to stop any move to replace the engine type stipulated in the contract.

The change could lead to a glitch in the submarine, putting naval officers at risk, Mr Yutthapong said.


The same is the problem with the subs contracted for Pakistan. They were supposed to be equipped with MTU diesels but Germany later backed out - now they're going with lower quality Chinese ones.
 

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The same is the problem with the subs contracted for Pakistan. They were supposed to be equipped with MTU diesels but Germany later backed out - now they're going with lower quality Chinese ones.

This seems to be an issue all round, S.Korea can't export their tanks. Turkey under a veiled embargo, has been halted from producing MBT.

Delaying tactics from Germany only makes other countries stronger, China, S.Korea and Turkey all have their own propulsion projects.
 

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I think this is for just one sub to start with. 2 more on option.
Mitsubishi make submarine engines for SÖRYU class. But they most likely, wouldn’t sell the engines to China either.
 

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Strange, Thailand should just scrap the entire project and buy the type-209 with AIP.
 

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According to information published by Gavroche Thailande on April 9, 2022, the Royal Thai Navy will decide at the end of the month if they cancel the buy of the first Chinese Yuan-class (S26T) submarine, due to a German decision to block the exportation of MTU396 diesel engines.

On July 2, 2015, the Royal Thai Navy (RTN) officially selected the Chinese Yuan-class platform (Type 041) to fulfill a requirement for three submarines.

The RTN's acquisition committee had voted unanimously to purchase the submarine, which was designated S26T (Thailand), a modified export version of the Yuan class.

 

Anmdt

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According to information published by Gavroche Thailande on April 9, 2022, the Royal Thai Navy will decide at the end of the month if they cancel the buy of the first Chinese Yuan-class (S26T) submarine, due to a German decision to block the exportation of MTU396 diesel engines.

On July 2, 2015, the Royal Thai Navy (RTN) officially selected the Chinese Yuan-class platform (Type 041) to fulfill a requirement for three submarines.

The RTN's acquisition committee had voted unanimously to purchase the submarine, which was designated S26T (Thailand), a modified export version of the Yuan class.

There are optional engines, possibly there is none meeting their criteria.
Chinese could go for a discount to mount an optional engine, it is a gen-set after all :).
 

Gary

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There are optional engines, possibly there is none meeting their criteria.
Chinese could go for a discount to mount an optional engine, it is a gen-set after all :).
Sure, but the contract stated it must be GERMAN
 

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The Royal Thai Navy (RTN) may settle for Chinese-made engines for the S26T Yuan-class submarine it’s within the course of of shopping for, it was revealed on Tuesday.

Talking to media, RTN spokesman Pokkrong Monthatphalin stated that China Shipbuilding & Offshore Worldwide Co (CSOC) has despatched the specs of an improved model of its CHD620 diesel engine to switch a German-made MTU396 diesel engine.

He stated the RTN’s chief-of-staff, Adm Thaloengsak Sirisawat, had burdened that any different should match the specs of the agreed model and the RTN will perform an intensive evaluation which is predicted to be completed by Sept 15. If the specs show passable, the RTN will ask CSOC to ship it the engine for testing. If it passes, there shall be no must amend the contract, Vice Adm Pokkrong stated.

Underneath the contract, CSOC is permitted to make adjustments to any components of the submarine so long as replacements are of a minimum of equal high quality, he stated.

“But when the substitute from CSOC can not cross the check, the contract should be terminated, and the 2 sides must maintain talks to debate compensation or a refund.

“Nevertheless, the RTN would favor to not utterly reset the method, if doable,” Vice Adm Pokkrong stated.

He added that CSOC shall be utilizing the brand new engines in its personal submarines, and Thailand and Sri Lanka shall be among the many first international recipients of the mannequin.

Requested whether or not the substitute breaches the contract, which stipulates that the engine should already be in lively use by any nation, Vice Adm Pokkrong stated that the RTN must kind this drawback out.

The RTN had earlier set on Tuesday because the deadline for CSOC to honour its settlement to produce the S26T Yuan-class submarine with German-made MTU396 diesel engines.

Throughout current talks, the deadline was pushed again when Liu Track, a visiting vp of CSOC, claimed the German producer’s resolution to not provide an engine was remaining, based on Vice Adm Pokkrong.

CHD620 diesel engines had been additionally provided, however the RTN declined as they aren’t in present use anyplace, he famous.

Thailand procured its first Yuan-class S26T submarine from China again in 2017 for 13.5 billion baht.

The following supply, scheduled for September 2023, could also be postponed till April 2024.

 

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