Thai submarine faces indeterminate delay due to engine woes
Thailand will have to wait a considerable period of time before it gets its hands on an S26T submarine. (Photo: author)
An 'oversight' by the Chinese shipbuilder has thrown Thailand's submarine procurement into chaos.
The Royal Thai Navy (RTN) is facing a considerable and worrying delay for a solitary S26T diesel-electric submarine from China. The reason is the choice of propulsion unit.
Originally, China proposed to use MTU 12V 396 SE84 diesel engines to run the electric generator set in the submarine. However, Germany refused to sell the power plants because of an EU arms embargo on China.
This was confirmed last year by German military attaché Philipp Doert, who stated no export licence had been issued because it was intended for a Chinese military item. He further noted: ‘China did not ask/coordinate with
Already have an account? Log in
Want to keep reading this article?
Read this Article
Get access to this article with a Free Basic Account
- Original curated content, daily across air, land and naval domains
- 1 free story per week
- Personalised news alerts
- Daily and weekly newsletters
Unlimited Access
Access to all our premium news as a Premium News 365 Member. Corporate subscriptions available.
- Original curated content, daily across air, land and naval domains
- 14-day free trial (cancel at any time)
- Unlimited access to all published premium news
More from Naval Warfare
-
![Kongsberg to develop improved Naval Strike Missile]()
Kongsberg to develop improved Naval Strike Missile
Kongsberg’s Naval Strike Missile was developed in the early 2000s and delivered to the Norwegian Armed Forces from 2011 to 2015. The new missile will be a collaborative project between Norway and Germany and has been planned to be deployed on both countries' naval vessels.
-
![Birdon selected for new Australian medium littoral craft with plans for the heavy element to follow]()
Birdon selected for new Australian medium littoral craft with plans for the heavy element to follow
The Royal Australian Navy is developing a new amphibious capability that will allow it to forward position Australian Army units from shore-to-shore or ship-to-shore at long distances. This will enhance the Australian Defence Force’s (ADF’s) rapid deployment capability and ability to operate in a contested environment.
