The navy has revived its plan to buy submarines after Defence Minister Prawit Wongsuwon responded positively to the idea.
Gen Prawit, who visited the navy headquarters on Monday, “agrees and wants the navy to conduct a new study” of submarine types and prices, navy chief Adm Kraisorn Chansuwanich said.
The minister’s positive reaction to the proposal gives the navy hope of acquiring submarines after its purchase plan for second-hand submarines from Germany failed to win approval from the Defence Ministry under the Yingluck Shinawatra government.
A military source said the navy stands a better chance of getting a submarine fleet under the present military government because the regime has a better understanding of the armed forces than civilian governments.
The submarine purchase plan was originally proposed by former navy chief Kamthorn Pumhiran.
In 2012, the Royal Thai Navy decided to give up its plan to purchase six used U-206A submarines, designed for coastal patrol operation, at a cost of 7.5 billion baht from Germany, according to a navy source.
The decision to revive the plan comes less than a year after former defence minister Yutthasak Sasiprapa voiced concerns. Gen Yutthsak said he needed to study the project's cost-effectiveness.