According to information published by Pattaya Mail on December 31, 2024, Thailand’s Deputy Prime Minister and Defense Minister, Phumtham Wechayachai, has postponed the approval of the country’s ambitious submarine acquisition project due to unresolved issues surrounding engine specifications.
Originally planned for completion by December 2024, the delay stems from the complexity of potentially switching to Chinese-made engines, a decision that has sparked safety concerns and necessitated thorough analysis.
The original submarine design was based on German engine specifications, but NATO sanctions on China have restricted direct procurement of these components. Discussions are ongoing with Germany’s defense attaché to explore a possible exemption, which would allow Thailand to buy German engines directly and install them domestically. Such a move aims to maintain the project’s original standards while adhering to international restrictions.
In the interim, Thailand is exploring alternatives. The government has sought feedback from Pakistan, which operates eight submarines of the same model equipped with Chinese-made engines. Reports on their performance, expected within three to four months, will play a critical role in determining the feasibility of adopting Chinese engines.
The submarine project has already incurred significant costs, with 80% of infrastructure and training completed. Investments include 8 billion baht spent on submarine docks and personnel development. With the vessel priced at 13 billion baht, Phumtham acknowledged that abandoning the project would lead to substantial financial losses and potentially impact national defense capabilities.