01 May 2015

Editorial: Will Thailand Realize Its Submarine Quest?

By Prashanth Parameswaran

Bangkok inches closer towards realizing its long-deferred dream.

As I have written previously, Thailand has been looking to procure up to three submarines by the end of the decade, finally giving the country a capability it has lacked for more than sixty years.

As I wrote then, Thailand has lacked a submarine capability since 1951 and has tried but failed since the 1990s to ink submarine deals with several countries, including most recently Germany and South Korea. While it is clear that Thailand’s submarine quest has once again become a top priority under the ruling military junta since it took over last May, past experience suggests that renewed efforts in this direction ought to be viewed with caution.

Yet recent reports suggest that Thailand’s submarine plans are surging ahead. Last week, the Thai navy formally submitted its request to the Thai government for cabinet approval. The navy has also set up a submarine procurement committee headed by the assistant commander-in-chief of the RTN, Admiral Narongpol na Bangchang. The Bangkok Post cited an unnamed source as saying that this committee can be expected to look at potential deals from several countries and make a decision within three months.

Read the full story at The Diplomat