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Thai Navy (RTN) could accept Chinese-made engines for the S26T Yuan-class submarine

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Thai Navy (RTN) could accept Chinese-made engines for the S26T Yuan-class submarine
PUBLISHED : 10 AUG 2022 AT 06:32

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The Royal Thai Navy (RTN) could accept Chinese-made engines for the S26T Yuan-class submarine it is in the process of buying, it was revealed on Tuesday.

Speaking to media, RTN spokesman Pokkrong Monthatphalin said that China Shipbuilding & Offshore International Co (CSOC) has sent the specifications of an improved version of its CHD620 diesel engine to replace a German-made MTU396 diesel engine.

He said the RTN's chief-of-staff, Adm Thaloengsak Sirisawat, had stressed that any alternative must match the specifications of the agreed model and the RTN will carry out a thorough assessment which is expected to be finished by Sept 15. If the specs prove satisfactory, the RTN will ask CSOC to send it the engine for testing. If it passes, there will be no need to amend the contract, Vice Adm Pokkrong said.

Under the contract, CSOC is permitted to make changes to any parts of the submarine as long as replacements are of at least equal quality, he said.

"But if the substitute from CSOC cannot pass the test, the contract must be terminated, and the two sides will have to hold talks to discuss compensation or a refund.

"However, the RTN would prefer not to completely reset the process, if possible," Vice Adm Pokkrong said.

He added that CSOC will be using the new engines in its own submarines, and Thailand and Sri Lanka will be among the first foreign recipients of the model.

Asked whether the substitute breaches the contract, which stipulates that the engine must already be in active use by any nation, Vice Adm Pokkrong said that the RTN would have to sort this problem out.

The RTN had earlier set on Tuesday as the deadline for CSOC to honour its agreement to supply the S26T Yuan-class submarine with German-made MTU396 diesel engines.

During recent talks, the deadline was pushed back when Liu Song, a visiting vice president of CSOC, claimed the German manufacturer's decision not to supply an engine was final, according to Vice Adm Pokkrong.

CHD620 diesel engines were also offered, but the RTN declined as they are not in current use anywhere, he noted.

Thailand procured its first Yuan-class S26T submarine from China back in 2017 for 13.5 billion baht.

The next delivery, scheduled for September 2023, may be postponed until April 2024.

 
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Very likely China need to complete this deal at a loss to compensate RTN for change of requirement from German engine to Chinese one. Closing this deal and making RTN accept Chinese one could pave way for future deals of other countries. Given China financial power, such loss are manageable.
 
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Very likely China need to complete this deal at a loss to compensate RTN for change of requirement from German engine to Chinese one. Closing this deal and making RTN accept Chinese one could pave way for future deals of other countries. Given China financial power, such loss are manageable.
If they want to lose money, there is no need to trade.

China needs many submarines, they can make submarines for the Chinese navy.
 
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They are doing an accessment, the Chinese engine must have impressed them so they changed their mind.
 
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They are doing an accessment, the Chinese engine must have impressed them so they changed their mind.

They didn't change their mind Germany refused to supply the engine.

Aside from the good relations between Thailand and China, the secondhand submarine offer was made partly because the German supplier of submarine engines refused to sell one to China after learning that it would use the engine for assembling a new submarine for sale to another country

 
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If the engines are good Pakistan can consider them too
 
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As reported, China bought the IP of German diesel engine MTU-396 quite a few years ago with an end user agreement that the China made MTU-396 variants can only be used in China. China then developed their own variant for submarine use, AKA conventional submarine 039 series. Therefore, when they tried to market new submarines to Thailand and Pakistan, they have to buy those engines from the Germans as their own ones are not allowed to export.

Due to recent political climate and probably pressure from the Americans, MTU refuse the sales, and hence the problem.

China has proposed MMW 620 engine to the sales. This product was initially developed by Germany's MAN. However the full IP was bought out by a Chinese company. MMW 620 has slightly better spec than MTU-396. However, it has not been used in many enough naval ships in China yet. So some customer are concerned about its service records.
 
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They didn't change their mind Germany refused to supply the engine.

Aside from the good relations between Thailand and China, the secondhand submarine offer was made partly because the German supplier of submarine engines refused to sell one to China after learning that it would use the engine for assembling a new submarine for sale to another country


Its reasonable.
Germany want to sell directly to a costumer country and not via a third country.

Anyway, if those indiginous chinese engines are good enough for PLAN, it should do fine for Thai Navy too.
 
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It's "Made in China" it's self explanatory. :bad:
China is using MTU-396's indigenous variants on their 039 submarines. They know everything about the engine and have their own tech upgrades. The only problem is that they are not allowed to export due to IP restriction.
 
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They didn't change their mind Germany refused to supply the engine.

Aside from the good relations between Thailand and China, the secondhand submarine offer was made partly because the German supplier of submarine engines refused to sell one to China after learning that it would use the engine for assembling a new submarine for sale to another country

They did change their minds,in April Thailand refused to use
Chinese engine scheme.
 
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Not great news for Pakistan's much needed submarine order. I feel the navy should order the U-214 direct from Germany (ties are good) , at least three to help smooth the release of the further engines.
 
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It's "Made in China" it's self explanatory. :bad:
Iphone is also made in China and selling at premium and seems doesnt stop people fighting for it to get one even for the rich.

Not great news for Pakistan's much needed submarine order. I feel the navy should order the U-214 direct from Germany (ties are good) , at least three to help smooth the release of the further engines.
Given Pakistan financial status, that is out of question. Chinese submarine is the best option for PN.
 
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3G conventional submarines have only five choice: Germany type 214, Russia Lada class, China Yuan Class, Japan Souryu class, France Scorpene class.

Germany's type 214 is the best, France's Scorpene class is the worst, and the other three are similar.

If the budget is sufficient, choose type 214. if the budget is insufficient, choose yuan class. if the relationship with China is not good, choose Scorpene class.

Do not consider the submarines of Russia and Japan. Buying Russian submarines will be punished. Japanese submarines are more expensive than type 214.
 
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