Govt aims swapping Chinese sub with frigate

The Thai government may buy a frigate instead of a submarine from China after the Chinese manufacturer was unable to include a German engine as specified in the original deal, Thailand’s defence minister has said.

Thailand has already paid a 7bil baht (RM925.1mil) instalment to China for the purchase of one of three Yuan Class S26T submarines with German-made diesel engines, but the deal was delayed when Germany forbade the use of its engines for Chinese military exports.