Admiral Phairoj, Commander of the Royal Thai Navy, explained to the Special Budget Committee for fiscal year 2027, urging confidence that Thailand’s naval forces clearly surpass those of Cambodia, and confirmed the need for eight high-performance frigates by 2037.
On 17 July 2026, reporters reported that military representatives were scheduled to provide explanations at the Special Committee meeting reviewing the fiscal year 2027 budget bill at the Parliament building, with representatives from various military branches including Admiral Phairoj Fuangchan, Commander of the Royal Thai Navy. and Air Chief Marshal Ukrit Boontanon, Supreme Commander, among others.
Admiral Phairoj responded to questions from the committee regarding Navy readiness following Cambodia’s receipt of corvette-class ships from China, stating The Navy's preparations have been ongoing continuously, closely monitoring movements of the Cambodian Navy. Please be assured that our naval forces clearly surpass theirs in weapons, equipment, and personnel expertise, with a clear doctrine capable of effectively safeguarding our sovereignty.
Regarding the plan to acquire the second and third submarines using Chinese engines instead of German MTU engines, we are confident these engines will be used to generate power and function while the submarine is at the surface. Additionally, the Pakistan Navy, which operates ten similar submarines, uses the same Chinese engines and has confirmed their reliability and efficiency. Compensation, extended warranty on parts, and weapons support have been agreed upon as part of the engine change. Upon delivery of the first submarine at the end of 2028, its quality will be assessed to determine cost-effectiveness. If satisfactory, the second and third units will proceed. No expenses have been incurred yet; funds remain reserved. We have clarified with the Budget Bureau that we will seek permission to reallocate funds to avoid issues with budget ceilings.
The Navy Commander emphasized progress on the frigate acquisition project stating the criteria are clearly defined in the Terms of Reference (TOR) and invitation documents. We specify our requirements in the TOR, including that the ship design must be delivered to us after construction so that future builds can reuse the same design, saving approximately 3-4 billion baht per vessel. Regarding Offset policy, sellers are required to return some financial benefits by investing, transferring technology, or supporting the buyer’s domestic industry. Non-compliance will be contractually stipulated. This will be drafted separately from the shipbuilding contract. Future payment milestones will be tied to fulfillment of Offset obligations. According to the Navy’s strategy, eight high-performance frigates are desired by 2037.
(File photo)