Bhumibol Adulyadej-class
Summary
| Origin country | 🇹🇭 Thailand |
| Category | Frigate |
| Subtype | Frigate |
| Manufacturer | Daewoo Shipbuilding & Marine Engineering |
| Year commissioned | 2019 |
| Approx. unit cost | $482 million |
| Units | FFG-471 HTMS Bhumibol Adulyadej |
Operators
Technical specifications
| Displacement | 3700 tons |
| Range | 4000 km at 18 knots |
| Crew | 141 members |
| Width | 14.4 m (47.2 ft) |
| Length | 124.1 m (407.2 ft) |
| Air Park |
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| Propulsion | 2 × Diesel engine MTU 16V1163 M94 (11,840 kW) and 1 × General Electric LM2500 gas turbine (25,100 kW) |
| Armament |
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| Maximum speed | 33 knots |
Description
HTMS Bhumibol Adulyadej (FFG 471) is the lead ship of its class of frigates for the Royal Thai Navy. Developed from the South Korean Gwanggaeto the Great-class destroyer, the vessel was constructed by Daewoo Shipbuilding & Marine Engineering. The ship was ordered in 2013 as part of the High-Performance Frigate Boat Project. It was laid down on May 15, 2016, launched on January 23, 2017, and commissioned on January 7, 2019. Originally named HTMS Tha Chin, the vessel was renamed by royal decree before entering service.
The vessel utilizes the DW-3000F hull design, which incorporates stealth technologies to reduce radar cross-section, heat radiation, and acoustic signatures. The ship is designed for three-dimensional combat operations involving surface, underwater, and air domains. The naval combat system is integrated into a network-centric warfare architecture via Link E, Link RTN, and Link G data links. This allows for coordinated operations with other Royal Thai Navy vessels, such as HTMS Naresuan, HTMS Taksin, and HTMS Chakri Naruebet, as well as Royal Thai Air Force Saab JAS 39 Gripen multirole fighters. The hull and the Mk 41 Vertical Launch System are structured to support future upgrades, including the potential integration of RIM-66 Standard MR surface-to-air missiles.
HTMS Bhumibol Adulyadej is in active service and is based at the Sattahip Naval Base. Following its commissioning, the ship has participated in bilateral maritime engagements, including the 2019 Guardian Sea and CARAT Thailand exercises conducted with the United States Navy.