Turkish Ambassador Eyes Thai Navy Interest in Turkish Frigates, Proposes 100% Local Ship Construction with Design Rights Transfer
Turkey's ambassador hopes Thailand's Navy will select Turkish frigates, with one Turkish company offering to build ships 100% in Thailand and transfer design technology, while respecting Thailand's final decision.
On June 29, Turkish Ambassador Jülide KAYIHAN revealed at the Turkish Embassy in Bangkok that Turkey seeks to develop military relations with Thailand, following similar partnerships with Indonesia and Malaysia. The ambassador highlighted Turkey's diverse defense industry, which includes frigates, tanks, armored vehicles, fighter jets, three-dimensional air defense systems, drones, and missiles—all field-tested domestically and NATO-compliant.
With the Thai Navy currently evaluating frigate designs, Turkey respects Thailand's selection process without pressure, hoping only for the best outcome for Thailand and anticipating future cooperation opportunities. Turkish company ASFAT, one of the bidders in the frigate project, has proposed constructing ships entirely in Thailand while transferring design rights—representing the highest level of technology transfer—enabling Thailand to independently build future frigate variants. The proposal also includes an investment offset program.
Company TAIS, which proposed the I-Class Frigate design, noted that this vessel class currently serves in the Turkish Navy, and Indonesia recently ordered two units of this model.
