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Bangkok Post
5 days ago
- Business
- Bangkok Post
New sub can be 'ready in three years'
The navy's new submarine can be completed within three years, following the recent cabinet approval of Chinese-made engines, Adm Jirapol Wongwit, commander of the Royal Thai Navy (RTN), said on Wednesday. The confirmation came following the cabinet's approval of an amendment to the submarine procurement, including a switch from German-made engines to Chinese-made ones. Adm Jirapol said Thailand and China would draft a new contract. The Thai attorney-general will then have to approve it before the two sides agree. After that a new timeframe of about 1,200 days will come into effect, and the ship-building will finish ahead of the expected deadline in three years. Another key issue is crew readiness as with the project has already been stalled for nearly three years, and some personnel initially assigned for the submarine have since been promoted or reassigned, he noted. Adm Jirapol also confirmed plans to procure two frigates, also approved by the cabinet, although funding is currently available for only one, he added. The navy chief also commented on Cambodia's seemingly closer ties with the United States, saying Thailand must monitor this. "International relations can change at any time, depending on how countries want to safeguard their own interests," he said, adding Thailand must be mindful of its own strategic positioning. Addressing reports the US might be granted the use of the Phangnga naval base, Adm Jirapol simply said Thailand welcomes visits from all friendly nations without conditions, and ties between the two nations were strong. Phangnga base is small, he noted, but with plans afoot to expand naval capabilities in the Andaman Sea, questions have arisen over who would provide the support for that, said Adm Jirapol.
The Diplomat
07-08-2025
- Business
- The Diplomat
Thailand's Cabinet Approves Changes to Troubled Chinese Submarine Deal
The Chinese submarine will now be fitted with a Chinese-made diesel engine, in lieu of the German engines included in the original deal. After a long delay, Thailand has finally agreed to accept the installation of a substitute engine in its Chinese-made submarine rather than a German one, ending a long delay over the troubled project. In a decision on Tuesday, the country's cabinet approved changes to the submarine contract, agreeing to the substitution of the previously planned MTU396 German diesel engines with the Chinese-made CHD620 propulsion system. It also extended the construction timeline by 1,217 days. In 2017, Thailand's cabinet approved the purchase of a Yuan-class S26T submarine for 13.5 billion baht ($417 million), with delivery expected in 2023. But the purchase ran into trouble when the Chinese state-owned submarine developer was unable to acquire a German MTU396 diesel engine for the boat, due to a European Union arms embargo on Beijing. Several rounds of negotiations ensued, in which the Chinese side sought to convince the Royal Thai Navy (RTN) to accept a Chinese-made prototype CHD620 propulsion system, which it said would be functionally equivalent to the cutting-edge MTU396 engines manufactured by Germany's Motor and Turbine Union company. In 2021, construction on the submarine came to a halt, and the boat is currently around two-thirds finished. Throughout the negotiations, the Thai government mooted a number of alternative options, including canceling the submarine contract and a proposal to purchase a Chinese-built frigate in place of the troubled submarine. It now appears to have accepted the fact that the German-made engine is not feasible, and that pulling out of the project could create unnecessary frictions between Bangkok and Beijing. It is unclear whether the amended agreement involves any compensation from the Chinese side. In a statement yesterday, the RTN expressed its 'gratitude' to the Cabinet for approving the amendment to the agreement. 'This allows the Royal Thai Navy to proceed with the submarine procurement project, enhancing its comprehensive naval capabilities across the surface, above, and below water dimensions,' it stated, adding the submarine 'will further enhance the country's security and maritime interests.' It said that the Chinese engines 'have been tested and proven to have performance and safety comparable to or better than previous models.' Also on Tuesday, the Thai cabinet approved the acquisition of four Gripen JAS 39 fighter jets worth 19.5 billion baht (around $602.5 million) from Sweden's Saab AB. The Royal Thai Air Force (RTAF) announced plans in June to purchase a total of 12 jets over a 10-year period, as a replacement for its ageing fleet of U.S.-made F-16s and older Gripen JAS fighters. 'The Cabinet has approved the purchase of JAS 39 Saab Gripen to strengthen the Royal Thai Air Force and protect Thailand's sovereignty,' the RTAF said on its official Facebook page. Several of the RTAF's F-16s were used to target Cambodian military installations during the two countries' recent border conflict, which killed at least 40 people and displaced upward of 300,000. The Cambodian press reported that the Thai bombing actions had led the Swedish government to cancel the upcoming Gripen purchase, although the Swedish embassy in Bangkok later denied the report. A signing ceremony for the Gripen deal is scheduled to take place in Sweden on August 25.
Bangkok Post
07-08-2025
- Business
- Bangkok Post
Cabinet permits changes to sub deal
The cabinet has approved amendments to the long-delayed Chinese procurement submarine project, including a switch from German-made engines to Chinese-made ones and a 1,217-day extension to the construction timeline. Acting Prime Minister Phumtham Wechayachai, who also serves as deputy prime minister and interior minister, said the cabinet approved the resolution on Tuesday. However, he declined to disclose further details. Under the revised agreement, the Yuan Class S26T submarine project, originally signed as a government-to-government deal between Thailand and China, will now be equipped with a Chinese CHD620 diesel engine, replacing the originally specified German MTU396 engine, which could no longer be procured due to export restrictions, said a source. The submarine contract was signed in 2017 between the Royal Thai Navy (RTN) and China Shipbuilding & Offshore International Co. However, the project stalled in 2021 when Germany refused to supply the MTU engines due to the military nature of the deal and concerns about end-use. As of now, work is 64% complete, with 10 of 18 payment instalments worth 7.7 billion baht disbursed. The remaining 40% of the contract, worth 5.5 billion baht, is still pending. RAdm Paraj Ratanajaipan, deputy spokesman of the RTN, expressed gratitude to the cabinet for greenlighting the changes, which he said would enable the navy to continue with the procurement and bolster its capabilities across all naval dimensions -- surface, air, and underwater. The diesel-electric engine has passed rigorous quality testing, RAdm Paraj said, adding it exceeds the performance and safety standards of the original German engine and has been certified by Lloyd's Register, the global maritime classification society. Moreover, this engine is already in use in submarines operated by other countries, he added. "We ask for the public's confidence that the RTN will employ this strategic asset to defend our sovereignty, safeguard maritime interests and assist Thais in all circumstances," he said. Mr Phumtham, meanwhile, declined to offer any further comment on military procurement matters, including the Royal Thai Air Force's proposed purchase of Gripen fighter jets, which he described as "confidential information". Asked about the cabinet's deliberation on Tuesday on the RTN's submarine acquisition, Mr Phumtham said the cabinet had been briefed on the matter and unresolved details were still being worked out. When reporters asked whether the military was planning to request additional armaments in the near future, Mr Phumtham was quick to shut down the question.
Yahoo
22-07-2025
- Business
- Yahoo
ReposiTrak Adds 30 Cheese Suppliers to the Queue, Including Domestic Producers and Importers
Driven by retailer demand for greater food safety and transparency, suppliers of all food categories are lining up to join the rapidly growing ReposiTrak Traceability Network SALT LAKE CITY, July 22, 2025--(BUSINESS WIRE)--ReposiTrak (NYSE:TRAK), the world's largest food traceability and regulatory compliance network, leveraging its established inventory management and out-of-stock reduction SaaS platform, is proud to add 30 purveyors of domestic and imported cheese to the queue of companies joining the ReposiTrak Traceability Network® (RTN). These companies will efficiently exchange intricate, FDA-required Key Data Elements (KDEs) for each Critical Tracking Event (CTE) in their supply chains, with the goal of meeting the growing traceability demands of their retail customers. The suppliers who are preparing for traceability include a California-based importer and processor of Italian cheeses and olive oils, including many grated and shredded varieties; an organic, grass‑based dairy processor out of Delaware; and a Columbia-based company that works with local farmers producing fresh, authentic dairy products derived from 100% grass-fed buffalo milk. "Many traceability programs require food traceability data for all foods – or entire categories of food such as cheese. That's because there is risk for the retailer if food traceability data is missing, incomplete or inaccurate," said ReposiTrak Chairman and CEO Randy Fields. "We help cheese suppliers to meet the many different traceability requirements of each of their customers." The ReposiTrak Traceability Network requires no additional hardware. Every traceability data file is checked using a 500+ point error detection process and ReposiTrak's U.S.-based team works with suppliers to make corrections, so that the data is as complete and accurate as possible before it reaches their retail, wholesale or foodservice customers. About ReposiTrak ReposiTrak (NYSE: TRAK) provides retailers, suppliers, food manufacturers and wholesalers with a robust solution suite to help reduce risk and remain in compliance with regulatory requirements, enhance operational controls and increase sales with unrivaled brand protection. Consisting of three product families – food traceability, compliance and risk management and supply chain solutions – ReposiTrak's integrated, cloud-based applications are supported by an unparalleled team of experts. For more information, please visit View source version on Contacts Investor Relations Contact:John Merrill, CFOInvestor-relations@ OrFNK IRRob Fink646.809.4048rob@ Sign in to access your portfolio
Bangkok Post
07-07-2025
- General
- Bangkok Post
US, Thai, Canadian navies in gulf drills
The United States Navy (USN), Royal Thai Navy (RTN), and Royal Canadian Navy (RCN) have joined forces for the 31st annual Cooperation Afloat Readiness and Training (Carat) Thailand maritime exercise, which began on Monday in Sattahip district, Chon Buri. The US embassy said the drill, which runs through July 18, is designed to enhance regional security cooperation, strengthen maritime partnerships, and improve interoperability among allied navies in the Indo-Pacific region. This year's at-sea operations will feature anti-submarine warfare drills, air defence, and surface action group coordination, as well as mine countermeasures and search-and-rescue training. Participating vessels include the Independence-variant littoral combat ship USS Santa Barbara, alongside three RTN warships -- HTMS Naresuan, HTMS Saiburi, and HTMS Rattanakosin. The shore phase of Carat Thailand will involve professional exchanges on topics such as maritime domain awareness, medicine, and explosive ordnance disposal. Cultural and community events are also planned, including a joint sports day, public performances by US and Thai navy bands, and volunteer service activities. Approximately 1,000 naval personnel from the three countries are participating in the exercise, which takes place in the upper Gulf of Thailand. Capt Matt Scarlett, head of the US delegation, emphasised the value of both operational training and people-to-people engagement: "From joint exercises at sea to community events ashore, Carat strengthens our bonds of friendship and improves our ability to address shared maritime challenges."
