Thailand Plans Submarines Purchase To Modernize Armed Forces

Thailand may plan to purchase submarines for its navy as an effort to modernize its armed forces.

Defence minister Prawit Wongsuwon was quoted as saying by Bangkok Post on Wednesday that the country needs to equip its navy, who wants Thailand’s fleet to be on par with neighboring countries.

However, he refused to comment on the budget allocation for the same. "I can't say exactly how many percent (chance there is). But when I said the navy has a chance, it means more than 50% or 60%,'' Prawit added.

The budget could be around 36 billion baht ($1.1 billion), the report said.

In July last year, the navy opened an ultra-modern, 540-million-baht submarine base and training centre in Chon Buri province, when the country did not own a single submarine.

Thailand has not had a submarine since 1951, but has been trying for several years to get some. In 2011, the military negotiated to buy six small used submarines from Germany for 7.7 billion baht (US $ 236,589) and considered buying two larger new vessels from South Korea, but both deals fell through.

Navy officials say they want submarines to protect the Gulf of Thailand and Thai interests on the high seas.