"Kong Songpeng, why do you have to choose Chinese frigates? For us, Chinese frigates are too backward and expensive, and buying their frigates is not in line with our Royal Navy at all. ”

As the supreme commander of the armed forces, Chawalit Yongchaiyu, he really didn't understand.

Soviet armament, hardly for their choice.

In the entire Thai defense system, almost most of the weapons and equipment of the land, sea and air are from the United States and other European countries.

"Commander, we need missile frigates and anti-ship missiles! The Americans are reluctant to sell because they want to send the fleet to our country again; the Western countries are reluctant because they know that we have no choice and that the offer is too high. We didn't even feel the need to invite bids and talk to Chinese directly......" Shun Thong Khon Song Phong gave his reasons.

Chawalit Yongchaiyu also knew that what he said was right, and his face was embarrassed, "Khout Songpong, the government only has a total budget of one billion dollars for our aircraft carrier fleet, and this still includes the funds for carrier-based aircraft and supporting escort fleets......

A billion dollars to build an aircraft carrier fleet?

It's a joke.

"The military budget given by the government is like this, if you purchase Chinese frigates, it will cost almost half of the funds, how can you purchase aircraft carriers and supporting fighters?"

"Commander, the biggest reason for choosing the ships of the Chinese Navy is that China has the most experience in dealing with the Vietnamese Navy in this world......" Thuan Thong Khlong Song Phong was unwilling to give up like this, and said another reason for choosing the Chinese submarine.

For the Thai Navy, neither Malaysia nor Myanmar is at all unable to pose a serious threat to them. The Khmer countries were wiped out by Vietnam, and the navy was even more useless.

The only one is Vietnam.

It is a very disturbing thing to be next to such an aggressive country.

Vietnam has taken control of landlocked Laos, has occupied Khmer for several years now, and borders Thailand almost directly.

Won't they do anything to Thailand?

No one believed.

Thailand's economy has grown rapidly in recent years, but it does not have sufficient defense capabilities to maintain economic gains. Under such circumstances, Vietnam, which wants to be the third largest country in the world and the big brother of Southeast Asia, even dares to invade China, so why wouldn't it dare to invade Thailand?

What's more, the bond between the two countries that was formed by Thailand providing a base for the American army when Vietnam invaded the United States has not yet passed.

Although the economy has developed rapidly in recent years, it is unlikely that military spending will increase too much. "The commander of the armed forces, he is still aware of the situation.

The Navy is too much to burn.

However, Thailand's total economic output is not much, and last year's GDP was only $50.5 billion, and according to this situation, this year's maximum is $60 billion, and the expenditure of one billion dollars is almost a year's military spending.

Only by saving can we put together a fleet.

As the Minister of the Navy, Naris Onsuwan is naturally very supportive of the military's preparations to build an aircraft carrier fleet.

As for which country will help them build aircraft carriers, this is not a matter for him to consider.

At present, India is the only country in Asia that has aircraft carriers, and there is no major contradiction between them and India, and the most important task of the navy is to defend against threats from the sea and maintain the security of territorial waters.

Both the king and the government agreed that the Ministry of Defense would naturally have to consider this, but when they were called by the Supreme Commander, they realized that it seemed that their money was not enough to build an aircraft carrier fleet.

"Buying Chinese frigates? It's not appropriate, is it?" Naris Onsuwan thought it was inconceivable about the chief of staff's proposal to buy Chinese frigates.

"Why isn't it appropriate?"

"All our ships are from Western countries, the officers and men of the Navy have adapted to it, and the maintenance and logistics are also based on the ...... equipped by the West" As the commander of the Navy, Naris Onsuwan objected, all on the side that is beneficial to the Navy.

He believes that the navy must adopt a simpler approach.

Since there is little money, it is necessary to cut expenses.

"There is only one aircraft carrier, which cannot form a combat capability, and we need frigates to protect aircraft carriers...... "The commander of the Navy said his thoughts, "We have always used Western warships, although they are backward, but their warships can cooperate well with aircraft carriers......"

"So far, the United States, the United Kingdom, France, and other countries that can produce aircraft carriers have rejected us, and only some shipyards in Spain and Italy have expressed interest in our project...... "The chief of staff said solemnly.

The Navy needs aircraft carriers, and it definitely needs a full-fledged aircraft carrier fleet.

But now, countries that can completely build aircraft carrier fleets are not willing to accept their business at all.

Low money, high demands.

"What if China could provide a full aircraft carrier fleet?" asked Shuntong Khon Songpong.

Everyone was stunned.

China offers a full-fledged aircraft carrier fleet?

It's just a joke.

You know, the Chinese themselves do not have aircraft carriers.

"China doesn't have its own aircraft carriers, and it is impossible to even build them!" the commander of the navy shook his head, feeling that the chief of staff was making a bit of a big joke.

"You can ask them, if the Chinese can really provide an aircraft carrier fleet and even carrier-based fighters as we ask, maybe we can get a far more powerful aircraft carrier fleet than the Western countries provide." What's more, they're cheap and have no strings attached. "Shuntong Kongsongpeng's proposal made everyone think that this guy had accepted the benefits of the Chinese.

If it weren't for the fact that they hadn't had contact with the Chinese, they would have to be so suspicious.

"It's not that the Chinese don't have aircraft carrier projects, it's just that because of their economic problems, aircraft carriers are not built. In the first two years, China has already started training courses for aircraft carrier captains, and according to information, they have even begun to select carrier-based aircraft pilots...... "the chief of staff insisted."

China's aircraft carrier program is discontinued, everyone knows about it.

However, the Chinese Navy has begun to train aircraft carrier captains and carrier-based aircraft pilots, and Shuntong Kong Songphong also inadvertently knows about this.

In addition, the appearance of China's new frigate in the South China Sea this time made those bastards of the Vietnamese Navy retreat, and made Thuan Thong Khlong Sompong feel that he could ask the Chinese side first.

If China can provide a full aircraft carrier fleet within their plans, it will be a very good thing for the entire Thai Navy.

"The Chinese themselves do not have aircraft carriers because they do not have the money to build them. We don't have high requirements for aircraft carriers, and with China's capabilities, they can help us build them, and this is also a huge opportunity for them, which is the view of His Majesty the King...... "Shun Thong Khon Song Phong has brought out King Bhumibol Adulyadej.

Everyone couldn't help but be a little shocked.

Why does the king have something to do with this?

"Our biggest enemy now is aggressive Vietnam, and countries like the United States, they only care about their own interests, and they don't consider our interests, which is a clear example of this during the Vietnam War......

Regarding the dissatisfied eyes of the Minister of National Defense, Chawalit Yongchaiyu, Shuntong Khon Songpong could not explain it at this time.

He did something unorthodox, bypassing the Supreme Commander and going to the king, which should not have been.

Can only be explained after coming down.

"The government agreed to increase some of the military spending, which is also the king's intention. Prime Minister General Bing Tinsulanong is the main promoter of our aircraft carrier program......"

The Thai military has always had a great influence on the government.

Many prime ministers are even directly military personnel.

In this way, it becomes much easier for the whole country to make military decisions, and the military takes precedence.

"Commander, this is what the king and the prime minister meant, you are already opposed to the aircraft carrier plan......" After coming down, Shuntong Khlong Songphong found Chawalit Yongchaiyu to explain.

He was picked up by Chavali, and naturally he did not want his leaders to misunderstand that he had defected to the government.

Chavali sighed and shook his head, "Our country's economy may not be able to afford an aircraft carrier fleet. Although ocean-going combat capabilities are very much needed. ”

In the end, he still didn't say anything.

The Thai side hopes that China can provide a complete aircraft carrier fleet, which suddenly feels that the Hudong shipyard has come to the opportunity.

At the same time, I also felt more pressure.

At present, the decommissioned aircraft carrier bought back from Australia is being drawn.

There is simply no domestic experience in building aircraft carriers.

"We must continue this opportunity, even if we don't make money, we must do it. Qi Zhiyuan found Zheng Yucheng and others to discuss, and Zheng Yucheng said without hesitation.

How good it is to use Thai money to accumulate China's manufacturing experience.

"We don't have experience, and the Thai side doesn't have a lot of time...... Qi Zhiyuan is worried.

Wang Guilin looked at Zheng Yucheng from the side, "There should be a problem here, right? At the beginning, let us participate in the bidding for the procurement of their frigates, this is normal." But now let's provide an entire fleet solution, which is a bit of a stretch. We don't have aircraft carriers ourselves. ”

There are many doubts about the matter.

In any case, Thailand should not seek an aircraft carrier solution from China.

China itself does not have aircraft carriers, nor does it have a plan for the construction of large warships, let alone the experience of building aircraft carriers.

"Even if they think that we have experience in building aircraft carriers, what about carrier-based aircraft?

This is the biggest problem.

China not only does not have aircraft carriers, but also does not have carrier-based fighters.

"Why don't you ask Xie Kai? He's a young man with a different way of thinking than we do. Wang Guilin offered to ask Xie Kai.

Xie Kai looked at Qi Zhiyuan and Zheng Yucheng in front of him with an incredulous face, "Make no mistake, right? The Thais took the initiative to ask us to purchase an aircraft carrier fleet? Or is it a solution for the entire aircraft carrier fleet? Do we have our own aircraft carriers?"

It's almost a joke.

At least, Xie Kai thinks it is.