Thailand places $1bn dollars order for Chinese submarines

Thailand Navy Chief, Kraisorn Chansuvanich, said on Thursday that the country has placed a- 36 billion baht, approximately 1.1 billion dollars order for three Chinese-made submarines as it seeks to boost its naval power.

The Navy picked the Chinese offer after looking at alternatives bids from six countries, including Germany, France and Russia.

The subs, the first in the Thai fleet, are to be commissioned in the next 6-7 years.

The Thai government has in the past said it needs a bigger navy to protect its 3,219-kilometre coastline.

NAN