HTMS Bhumibol Adulyadej received its name from His Majesty King Maha Vajiralongkorn Bodindradebayavarangkun (Rama X), who graciously bestowed this name. It honors His Majesty King Bhumibol Adulyadej the Great (Rama IX) as a mark of respect and remembrance. The ship was originally named HTMS Tha Chin before being renamed with this prestigious title on 4 January 2019 and officially commissioned on 7 January 2019.
HTMS Bhumibol Adulyadej is a high-performance frigate with capabilities comparable to a destroyer, developed from the Kwanggaeto Class Destroyer (KDX-I) design. It is built to U.S. military and South Korean naval standards, offering high survivability in combat and resilience against nuclear, chemical, and biological contamination. It can withstand sea storms of level 6 and above, reach a top speed of 30 knots, and has an operational range of 4,000 nautical miles. The crew consists of 141 personnel, with Captain Smithnat Khunwat as its first commanding officer.
The Royal Thai Navy was honored to receive the name HTMS Bhumibol Adulyadej from His Majesty King Maha Vajiralongkorn Bodindradebayavarangkun. This name, taken from King Bhumibol Adulyadej, means “Power of the Land” (Bhumibol) and “Incomparable Authority” (Adulyadej), bringing great auspiciousness and immense pride to the navy and all personnel.
HTMS Bhumibol Adulyadej was designed using stealth technology to reduce radar detection. It is capable of three-dimensional combat operations: underwater warfare using towed and hull-mounted sonar to detect distant targets and engage submarines with torpedoes and long-range weapons; anti-air warfare employing long- and medium-range 3D radars to detect, track, and coordinate with allied ships and aircraft, attacking targets with ESSM missiles and naval guns. Although specific weapons details are confidential, the ship ranks among the top modern destroyers in Southeast Asia, equipped with advanced weapons for underwater, surface, and air combat.
Surface warfare operations utilize a combat system interoperable with the frigates HTMS Naresuan and HTMS Chakri Naruebet, enabling effective battle group operations alongside Air Force fighter jets. The ship can also attack surface and underwater targets using its onboard helicopter. Self-defense includes guided missiles, naval artillery, anti-aircraft guns, a close-in weapon system (CIWS) known as Phalanx, electronic countermeasures, centralized and decentralized damage control systems, emission control, and the capability to detect, intercept, analyze, and jam electromagnetic signals from targets.
Currently, HTMS Bhumibol Adulyadej serves as a cutting-edge frigate in Southeast Asia, deployed to safeguard Thailand's maritime sovereignty, escort supply vessels, maintain security and safety of sea lines of communication, protect maritime rights, conduct search and rescue operations at sea, and provide humanitarian aid and disaster relief.