Naresuan-class frigate

The Naresuan class Frigate, (Thai: นเรศวร) is a modified version of the Chinese-made Type 053 frigate, cooperatively designed by the Royal Thai Navy and China but built by the China State Shipbuilding Corporation in Shanghai. The ships came at 2 billion baht each, less than the 8 billion baht claimed price tag for Western-built frigates.

HTMS Naresuan (FFG 421)
Class overview
Builders:	China State Shipbuilding Corporation, Shanghai
Operators:	Royal Thai Navy
Preceded by:	Type 053 frigate
In commission:	1994–
Completed:	2
Active:	2
General characteristics
Type:	Frigate
Displacement:	2,985 tons full load
Length:	120.5 m
Beam:	13.7 m
Draught:	6 m
Propulsion:	2 × General Electric LM2500 gas turbines and 2 × MTU 20V1163 TB83 diesel engines, driving two shafts with controllable pitch propellers in CODOG configuration.
Speed:	32 knots (59 km/h) max
Range:	4000 nmi(7408 km) at 18 kn
Complement:	150
Sensors and processing systems:	Saab Sea Giraffe AMD 3D surveillance radar Thales LW08 long range search radar Raytheon AN/SPS-64 Navigation radar Selex IFF SIT422CI&M425 Saab 9LV Mk.4 with Saab TIDLS combat management system 2 × Saab CEROS 200 Fire Control Radar Atlas DSQS-24d sonar
Electronic warfare & decoys:	ESM ITT ES-3601 (AN/SLQ-4) ECM Type 984-1 noise jammer&Type 981-3 deception jammer Decoys Terma SKWS (C-Guard)
Armament:	1 × 5 in/54 (127 mm) Mk-45 Mod 2 naval artillery gun 2 × 30mm MSI-DSL DS30MR automated small calibre gun 8 cell Mk.41 vertical launch system for 32 x RIM-162 ESSM 8 × RGM-84 Harpoon SSM launcher 2 × triple 324 mm Mk-32 Mod.5 tubes
Aircraft carried:	1 x Super Lynx 300

The Thai Navy complained of the poor quality of the ships. The ship's damage control system was very limited, with very basic fire suppression systems. It was claimed that if the ship's hull was breached, the ship would be quickly lost to flooding. The Thai Navy had to spend considerable time and effort to correct some of these issues.[1]

Ships in the class

Name	Number	Builder	Launched	Commissioned	Decommissioned	Status
HTMS Naresuan	421	China State Shipbuilding Corporation	July 1993	15 December 1994		Active
HTMS Taksin	422	China State Shipbuilding Corporation	1994	28 September 1995		Active

Upgrade

On 3 June 2011, Saab announced[2] that it was awarded a contract for the upgrading of the two Naresuan class frigates. The scope of the upgrade will include Saab's 9LV MK4 combat management system, Sea Giraffe AMB, CEROS 200 fire control radar, EOS 500 electro-optics system and data link systems for communications with the newly acquired Royal Thai Air Force Erieye surveillance aircraft.[3][4]

References

1. "NARESUAN (TYPE 25T) (FFG)". GlobalSecurity.org.
2. "Saab receives order from Thailand regarding the upgrading of combat management system and fire control systems". Saab. 3 June 2011.
3. "BAE Systems Awarded ESSM Upgrade Contract for Thai Navy". 3 July 2013.
4. "Advanced Technology from Saab for Fleet Thailand". 2 July 2014.