Thailand, a country at the intersection of the Pacific and Indian Oceans, has a vast coastline but also faces a series of maritime sovereignty disputes. In order to protect its rights and interests, Thailand has taken action by introducing a series of advanced military equipment, including some Chinese-made warships. These modern warships provide Thailand with a powerful combat force.
According to the latest news, the Thai Navy and China have once again reached an agreement to introduce a Type 071 landing ship. This is the first time China has exported such warships, and this decision is significant. The Type 071 landing ship has a displacement of 25,000 tons, which has a significant advantage among the world's major navies. It is equipped with a variety of advanced weapon systems, including close-in artillery and anti-aircraft missiles, and is extremely capable of self-defense.
Perhaps the Type 071 landing ship is not well understood, but it is actually a popular amphibious warfare ship, mainly used to project troops on land. Such ships can carry multiple armored vehicles and hundreds of heavily armed soldiers, providing powerful support for a variety of missions. To further enhance its combat performance, the Type 071 landing ship's superstructure has been optimized, which makes it more suitable for a variety of missions.
Thailand had previously ordered frigates from South Korea, but eventually terminated its cooperation with South Korea due to a lack of access to complete weapons systems and electronics. Subsequently, Thailand and China began to work closely together, and China provided more favorable terms of cooperation, allowing Thailand to obtain relatively low-priced Type 071 landing ships. This is an important gain in the deal for Thailand, especially given the high cost of missiles and electronics.
The introduction of the Type 071 landing ship gives Thailand greater maritime combat capabilities, which is a qualitative leap compared to the previously introduced "pocket aircraft carrier" with a displacement of only 11,000 tons. Moreover, its price is relatively reasonable, only $130 million. This is undoubtedly a wise decision that strengthens Thailand's defence capabilities and contributes to international maritime peace and security.