China to deliver 2,500-ton diesel-electric submarine to US’ oldest ally in Asia

https://interestingengineering.com/military/china-to-deliver-submarine-to-thailand?utm_source=reddit&utm_medium=social&utm_campaign=reddit_share

Posted by TwilightwovenlingJo

2 comments

  1. Thailand, one of the United States’ oldest allies in Asia, has reportedly signed a deal with China to buy a Chinese-built Type 039A (Thai-designated S26T) diesel-electric submarine. This comes after years of delays, following the sub’s hull being built back in 2019.

    Allegedly, the project was stalled when Germany refused to supply engines (because of the EU arms embargo on China imposed after the 1989 Tiananmen Square crackdown in Beijing). Thailand has now accepted a Chinese-made engine, following China’s demonstration of its reliability through extensive testing.

  2. The acquisition sounds like one giant fiasco. How do you sign a contract without securing the engine. MTU supplies China civilian ship building, but it shouldn’t be assumed that Germany would provide export certificate for a military vassel, much less a submarine. The shipbuilder is contractually obligated to compensate the buyer for accepting a power train other than what they signed for. 

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