Spain's Navantia offers to build frigates in Thailand

Spanish defence company Navantia has proposed building a new frigate for the Royal Thai Navy entirely in Thailand, alongside a technology transfer programme aimed at strengthening the country's shipbuilding industry.

Speaking at a briefing at the Bangkok Marriott Hotel on 8 May, Jose Ignacio Navas Rubio, Navantia's regional director for Asia in commercial and business development, said the company had submitted a "low-risk" proposal after being approached by the Royal Thai Navy over plans to build a frigate domestically.

Under the proposal, the frigate would be constructed 100% in Thailand through cooperation with local shipyards and Thai companies, while Navantia would provide the design, technical oversight and technology transfer needed for production, integration and testing.

Rubio said the project would maximise participation from local operators and help develop Thailand's capabilities in advanced naval shipbuilding.

Suradet Tanpaiboon, president of the Thai Shipbuilding and Repairing Association, said Thai industry was ready to support the project in areas including engineering adaptation, manufacturing engineering, construction and quality control. He added that technology transfer, supply chain development and construction experience from the project would benefit Thailand's future development of warships and other high-technology vessels.

Navantia is one of six companies that submitted proposals for the Royal Thai Navy's frigate procurement programme. Other bidders include South Korea's Hyundai Heavy Industries and Hanwha Ocean, Singapore Technologies Engineering, and Turkish firms Askeri Fabrika ve Tersane İşletmeleri and TAIS Gemi İnşa ve Teknoloji.

A navy-appointed committee is currently reviewing the proposals, including technical capabilities, industrial offset packages and pricing. The selection process is expected to take more than one month.