The Royal Thai Navy's new Korean-made frigate, the FFG-471 HTMS Tachin, is scheduled to arrive in Thailand on Jan 6 next year, while a second new frigate will be assembled in Thailand by navy personnel trained by the Korean shipbuilder, according to an informed source.
A ceremony marking the delivery of HTMS Tachin took place at Daewoo Shipbuilding & Marine Engineering (DSME) in South Korean on Friday, said the same source.
The ceremony was attended by Adm Poolsak Ubolthepchai who represented the navy.
HTMS Tachin is a high-performance further developed version of the Gwanggaeto the Great-class destroyer, equipped with DW-3000F class stealth technology, and built to the standards of both the US military and South Korean navy, according to the source.
The Royal Thai Navy had initially planned to purchase only one ship but subsequently decided to assemble another in Thailand on its own, said the source.
The vessel sails with a 136-man crew, has a storage displacement of 3,700 tonnes, a maximum speed of 30 knots/hour and a range of 4,000 nautical miles.
The multi-role stealth frigate is intended for use in war, protecting Thailand's marine sovereignty, ensuring security along marine transport routes and escorting transport ships.
The HTMS Tachin can also be used in joint operations along with some other ships in the navy's fleet, including HTMS Chakri Naruebet and HTMS Rattanakosin, according to the same source.