Hanwha Ocean has been selected as the preferred bidder to build a frigate for the Royal Thai Navy, the South Korean shipbuilder announced on September 9.
The selection precedes a final contract and allows the two sides to negotiate the vessel’s technical specifications and overall project scope.
According to a public notice from the Royal Thai Navy, a budget of THB16.73 billion ($509.4 million) has been proposed for one frigate and integrated logistics support. Hanwha Ocean competed against shipbuilders from Spain, Singapore and Turkey.
The company previously delivered the frigate HTMS Bhumibol Adulyadej to Thailand in 2018. Further project terms will be established through negotiations between the shipbuilder and the Thai Navy.
The selection was also supported by South Korean government and military agencies, including the Ministry of National Defense, Defense Acquisition Program Administration and Republic of Korea Navy.
Defence cooperation between South Korea and Thailand has included bilateral defence exchanges, naval talks, port visits by South Korean vessels to Thailand and participation in the Cobra Gold multinational military exercise.
If a final contract is concluded, Hanwha said the programme would add to South Korean naval shipbuilding activity in Southeast Asia.
