Thai Navy To Retire Ratcharit- Prabparapak-Class Missile Boats By 2026

Thailand Navy is eyeing for larger platforms such as landing platforms or docks (LPDs) and frigates in the coming years and also has planned to retire Ratcharit Prabparapak-class missile boats over next 10 years.

The moves are part of its efforts to prepare the Royal Thai Navy (RTN) for future maritime security challenges, the service will progressively decommission its Ratcharit and Prabparapak classes of missile-armed patrol boats by 2026, IHS Jane's reported Wednesday.

The vessels, which have been in service since the 1970s, are now less relevant given the rise of asymmetric security challenges, such as maritime terrorism and piracy, said Captain Prawoot Rodmanee, chief of the RTN's submarine squadron, during his presentation at UDT Asia 2017 in Singapore on 17 January.

Earlier in December, the Royal Thai Navy (RTN) has taken delivery of six new M21 patrol boats built by local shipyard Marsun, reflecting the country's growing naval shipbuilding capabilities.