Thailand commissions new South Korean-built frigate HTMS Bhumibol Adulyadej
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| Royal Thai Navy frigate HTMS Bhumibol Adulyadej (FFG-471). Photo c/o Royal Thai Navy. |
The Royal Thai Navy's newest and most modern frigate has finally arrive from South Korea, and has been named HTMS Bhumibol Adulyadej (FFG-471), after the late king Rama IX.
The frigate, made by South Korea's Daewoo Shipbuilding & Marine Engineering (DSME), is based on the DW-3000F design, a derivative of the KDX-I destroyer design used on the Republic of Korea Navy's Gwanggaeto the Great-class destroyer, and has design updates and integrated with the latest technology and naval systems.
The ship was originally named HTMS Tachin and was handed-over to the Royal Thai Navy last 14 December 2018, and immediately left South Korea. The ship then made port visits to friendly countries including Hong Kong (China), Da Nang (Vietnam), before heading out for Thailand. The frigate arrived in Thailand last 5 January 2019, and was formally commissioned with the Royal Thai Navy (RTN) on 7 January 2019 in Chonburi.
The Royal Thai Navy is planning to build another ship based on the same design, this time in Thailand using technology transferred by DSME as part of the deal with the RTN.
The ship are to be fully-armed with a 76mm Oto Melara Super Rapid gun, Harpoon anti-ship missiles, ESSM anti-aircraft missiles fired from Mark 41 VLS, a Phalanx CIWS, two DS30 machine gun systems, a six lightweight torpedoes.
[1] Bangkok Post
[2] Thai Military and Asian Region
[3] กองทัพเรือ Royal Thai Navy
Thailand commissions new South Korean-built frigate HTMS Bhumibol Adulyadej
Reviewed by Asia Pacific Defense Journal
on
January 08, 2019
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Reviewed by Asia Pacific Defense Journal
on
January 08, 2019
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