THE exact delivery period of Thailand’s first attack submarine purchased from China remains unsettled amid issues of engine replacement and certification.
In 2017, the Royal Thai Navy signed a $402 million deal for the yuan-class S26T submarine with China.
The submarine was scheduled to be delivered to Thailand this September but the COVID-19 pandemic and engine issues concerning the submarine postponed the delivery to April 2024.
The future of the project became uncertain after Germany last year refused to sell the critical engine to China as a result of the European Union arms embargo imposed on Beijing in 1989 after the Tiananmen Square Massacre.
To address the issue, China proposed to replace German technology with a Chinese-made engine.
After months of rejecting proposals, Thailand finally considered the Chinese-made engine as long as it will meet three critical conditions imposed by the navy.
Plans to procure a Chinese-made engine still need certification from the Chinese Defense Ministry.
