The modern Royal Thai Navy is a surface force built primarily around local and regional defense, particularly as the country borders a long-running coastline nestled between regional players Myanmar, Laos, Vietnam, Campbodia, and Malaysia. Currently lacking an undersea force, the country has partnered with defense powerhouse China to deliver up to three Type S26T fleet submarines beginning in 2023. Its lone aircraft carrier, the ex-Spanish Navy Principe de Asturias, operates as HTMS Chakri Naruebet supporting only a rotary-wing force. The amphibious assault arm is considerable and includes primary warfare ships backed by a fleet of landing vessels. Seven frigates and seven corvettes mack up the backbone of the surface fleet but the bulk of its strength resides in the patrol force covering offshore and fast attack vessels of many types - Chinese, British, American, Italian, and Thai in origin. Mine warfare is handled by a collection of five sweepers. Beyond this, support ships bridge gaps in the network. Force Balance is considered Average and Median Hull Age reaches nearly 24 years. On-order units cover submarine, amphibious warfare, and patrol roles.
The following represents an overview of the modern naval fighting capabilities of the Royal Thai Navy (2023). The service currently counts 86 total units in its active naval inventory. This total includes frontline commissioned vessels but excludes smaller patrol vessels, auxiliary / survey ships, replenishment, and historical ceremonial types. The WDMMW review takes into account specific categories of warships covering attack, defense, and general support designs. Inventory numbers and related unit types are provided as-is and derived from publically-available information / sources. "On Order" totals found at the bottom of this article are related to any future hulls currently under procurement/construction though said hulls may not be delivered for service in the current year for various reasons.
Updated: 1/13/2023 | © www.WDMMW.org
Helicopter Carriers (1)
Hulls focused on launching, retrieval, and maintenance of mulitiple rotary-wing platforms.
NOTES: HTMS Chakri Naruebet is the ex-Spanish Navy Principe de Austurias aircraft carrier hull; used solely with rotary-wing elements.
Destroyers (4)
Multi-mission hulls developed for Blue Water environment; operating independently or as part of the main surface fleet.
Frigates (7)
Hulls defined as dimensionally smaller than Destroyers, though larger than corvettes, having Blue Water capabilities.
Corvettes (6)
Hulls defined as dimensionally smaller than frigates but larger than OPVs, capable of operating independently or as part of the main fighting fleet.
NOTES: Sukhothai (FS-442) was lost in December 2022 after taking on water and losing power.
Mine Warfare (5)
Hulls outfitted for the purpose of mine countermeasures/countermine warfare.
Offshore Patrol Vessels (51)
Hulls defined as OPVs and outfitted for the purpose of close-to-shore defense / deterrence.
Amphibious Assault (12)
Hulls designed specifically for the support of amphibious-minded, offshore / close-to-shore operations.
On Order (6)
Hulls set to be delivered in the current procurement year or in subsequent year(s).
On Order Commitment: 6 Units
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