Thailand’s state-owned defence company United Defense Technology (UDT) has signed a partnership agreement with ASFAT A.Ş., a defence company affiliated with Turkiye’s Ministry of National Defence (MoD), to meet the Royal Thai Navy’s (RTN) requirement for four new frigates. The signing ceremony occurred at the Royal Thai Navy Headquarters on 6 February and was first reported by thaimilitary.blogspot.com. 

According to TurDef’s research, the matter initially surfaced on intelligenceonline.com, highlighting the TAIS consortium’s interest in Turkiye. Subsequently, a 4 February report by newsatsea.com revealed that UDT had entered negotiations with TAIS—formed by Anadolu, Sedef, and Sefine Shipyards—for the Bora 115 frigate. However, with no further updates on the negotiations, it appears that UDT and TAIS could not reach an agreement, leading to UDT’s partnership with ASFAT instead. 

Thailand Anticipates a MİLGEM-Based Vessel 

The Royal Thai Navy is reportedly expecting a project based on the MİLGEM programme: an Ada-class corvette or an I-class frigate from ASFAT. This is unsurprising, as the MİLGEM platform has a modular structure, allowing different configurations. The I-class frigates were derived by extending the hull of the Ada-class corvettes, while a similar structure was used to develop the Hisar-class Offshore Patrol Vessel (OPV). 

ASFAT has previously built Ada-class corvettes for the Pakistan Navy as Babur-class corvettes, while STM built a variant for the Ukrainian Navy, named the Hetman Ivan Mazepa-class. STM will also construct the same design for the Royal Malaysian Navy under the LMS Batch 2 project. 

Under a technology transfer and investment agreement to strengthen Thailand’s shipbuilding sector, the Royal Thai Navy seeks financing from the government and parliament in fiscal year 2026 for the first two frigates, which will be constructed in Thailand. The building of the two last ships is set to start in 2027.

ASFAT is not the only contender for the project. Other international companies that have expressed interest include: 

- Republic of Korea’s Hanwha Ocean, which has been eyeing a contract for a second HTMS-class frigate, 

- Germany’s tkMS and Thailand’s Marsun, offering the MEKO A-100 frigate design, 

- The UK’s Babcock International, proposing the Arrowhead 140 frigate, 

- With displacements ranging from 3,100 to 6,000 tonnes, the Netherlands’ Damen shows the SIGMA frigate concept.

-France’s Naval Group, scheduled to provide designs ranging from the 111-metre Gowind-class, the 142-metre FREMM, or the 122-metre FDI frigate.

Spain’s state-owned Navantia Shipyard has also shown interest in the initiative; the Spanish ambassador to Thailand has underlined the company’s financial stability and capacity to build and maintain vessels for the RTN.

The Royal Thai Navy currently operates seven frigates. Between the late 1980s and early 1990s, it bought six from China. In 2019, its most recent frigate, HTMS Bhumibol Adulyadej, was commissioned. The intended purchases complement a larger initiative to upgrade the fleet and improve maritime security.