Thailand to build submarine maintenance facilities

BANGKOK, March 9 (TNA) - The Royal Thai Navy prepares to build submarine maintenance facilities on a 16-acre plot of land in Chon Buri Province in the Thai East. The construction at the northern side of the Mahidol Adulyadej Navy Yard will take about three years and it is a preparation for a new procurement of a made-in-China S-26T submarine, expected to be considered by the Thai Cabinet next week. A highlight of the S-26T submarine is that it can dive for a longer period, compared to the same class of submarines in the region. With the combination of Chinese and Russian technologies, the S-26T submarine is armed with guided missiles and torpedoes. A main mission of the S-26T submarine is to safeguard national sovereignty through patrols for intelligence purposes. If the planned procurement is approved by the Thai Cabinet, it will be the purchase of the first submarine in Thailand, worth 13.5 billion baht, to be delivered over the next six years. (TNA)