Page 10 - DEFENSE & SECURITY 2022 - Day 2 | DAILY NEWS

the addition of further weapons or know, new capabilities based on the
BANGKOK
DOCKS
EXPLORES THAI
OPV UPGRADE
The Bangkok Dock Company which
built two Offshore Patrol Vessels
(OPV) for the Royal Thai Navy (RTN)
is exploring future upgrade options
which could result in an enhanced
class of OPVs. The upgrade would
be performed in partnership with
BAE Systems once requirements
and scope of work is finalised by
the RTN. The Thai shipyard is the
primary interface with the RTN for
the potential upgrade effort, which
could result in a new class of four
OPVs. Speaking to Daily News, a BAE
Systems official said the company’s
OPV design was highly configurable,
“one of the things we have done is
explored with Bangkok Docks the
potential of changing the design in
terms of length, which clearly allows
THAILAND
EYES F35A,
KEEN ON
THE LOYAL
WINGMAN
Thailand could join the list of US
partners in Asia to acquire the F-35A. over three decades. According to
Earlier this month, Thailand’s
House Budget Scrutiny Committee
approved a budget of 369 million
baht (US$14.7 million) for the 2023
fiscal year for the Royal Thailand
Air Force (RTAF) to procure two
10 AUGUST 30 2022
systems on board.” The options being ever-changing requirements.” The
considered are an increase in the Bangkok Dock Company has built
OPV length to 91m, 94m or 111m. The
two OPVs - HTMS Krabi and HTMS
latter size would increase the OPV’s Prachuap Khiri Khan under licence
using the BAE Systems OPV design.
size and capability nearing that of
a Frigate over Corvette, as it would BAE Systems has worked with the
allow additional space for incorpo- Thai shipyard since 2012, when the
ration of more sophisticated sensors agreement to build the 90m OPVs
and weapons. “So, I think the mes- in Thailand was initiated. These
sage we really want to get across to OPVs were based on an in-service
the Royal Thai Navy in conjunction Royal Navy design which was also
with Bangkok dock is this is a very purchased by the Brazilian Navy.
adaptable design. Together, we The first of the Class, HTMS Krabi
have delivered two fantastic ships, was launched by Bangkok Docks
but it can continue to evolve for the in 2013. Both OPVs have been sig-
future it can continue to offer you nificantly modified from the original
BAE Systems base design. This has
resulted in both OPVs being tailored
to meet RTN requirements featuring
Thai specific combat management
systems, different radar and different
weapons and systems. The RTN OPVs
are also fitted Harpoon Block II anti-
ship missiles. HTMS Prachuap Khiri
Khan is fitted with a OTO MELARA
76/62 SRMF, 30mm DS30 MR and a
12.7 mm machine gun.
unarmed F-35A, the Lockheed the model entered the market. The
Martin-produced stealth fighter. The other options for Thailand when it
country will pay in installments, over comes to fifth-generation stealth
four years, the total cost of 7.4 billion fighters are Russia’s Su-57s and
baht (US$207 million) for the two jets. China’s J-20s. Countries are gen-
According to Air Force Chief ACM erally shying away from Russian
Napadej Dhupatemiya, Thailand weapons given the country’s war
will equip the two aircraft with its on Ukraine, and the J-20s are not
own weapons systems. According to for export.
the Air Force Chief, the RTAF hopes The RTAF’s existing fleet, which
includes F-16 and F-5 jets and 12
to have a 12-strong fleet of F-35As
by 2032. Experts however are of the Swedish JAS-39 Gripen fighters,
opinion that budgetary constraints commands plenty of respect. The
might force the service to be satis- JAS-39 Gripen fighters are under-
fied with a lesser number of aircraft. going MS20 configuration upgrades
to enhance ground and air-to-air
Thailand, which wants to have combat capabilities. According to
Southeast Asia’s mightiest air force,
the Air Force Chief, the RTAF is also
is looking for a new fleet of fighter interest in the concept of the Loyal
Wingman, an unmanned aerial vehi-
jets as the F-5 and F-16 aircraft are
ageing, having been in service for cle that flies as part of a team with
a manned aircraft. Co-developed
sources, buying new aircraft would by Boeing and Australia’s air force,
be economically more feasible in the the loyal wingman can be fitted with
long run than doing maintenance a weapons system and provides
on ageing aircraft. The F-35s have support to the manned aircraft.
become an attractive proposition Acquiring the local wingman would
for the service because the price of help Thailand to reduce the number
the jet has come down from US$142 of new fighter jets that it plans to
million to US$82 million since the time acquire.
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