The Navy Commander announced the conclusion of the frigate shipbuilder selection and is preparing to submit the results to the Defense Ministry. He expressed hesitation about revealing the company's name, noting that holding a press briefing could be a double-edged sword.
On 23 July 2026, after the Defense Council meeting, Admiral Fairoj Fuangchan, the Navy Commander, spoke about progress in procuring a high-performance frigate valued at 17 billion baht. He said he had been informed of the name of the selected shipbuilding company by Admiral Korawit Khayarothee, Commander of the Naval Fleet and chair of the frigate procurement committee. He is currently reviewing the document details thoroughly before proceeding with the next steps.
When asked about when the winning company's name would be disclosed, the Navy Commander said he needed time to consider. He viewed the press announcement as potentially a double-edged sword and emphasized the need to be cautious to avoid breaching legal procedures. However, he confirmed that the entire process was proceeding smoothly.
Regarding the official procedures ahead, the Navy Commander must sign off on the results before forwarding the matter to the Permanent Secretary of Defense for contract approval. Then, the Minister of Defense will present the matter to the Cabinet for consideration and approval, as the procurement project’s value exceeds 1 billion baht.