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Type 071E landing platform dock (LPD)

China and Thailand signed a deal for a Chinese shipbuilding company build a Type 071E landing platform dock (LPD) warship for the Thai navy. The agreement would procure the landing platform dock (LPD) worth 6.1 billion baht [$200 million] to help ease the burden on the HTMS Angthong. The HTMS Angthong is currently the navy's only existing amphibious transport dock, and is half the displacement of the new ship. The ship, which was built in Singapore for 4.9 billion baht, has been used on numerous missions. The Bangkok Post reported that the new ship's construction would last three years, suggesting a launch in 2022 and delivery in 2023.

The move showed deepened arms trade cooperation between the two countries. China and Thailand signed the agreement in Beijing on 10 September 2019, with the general manager of the China State Shipbuilding Corporation Limited (CSSC), Yang Jincheng, and the commander-in-chief of the Royal Thai Navy, Luechai Ruddit, participating. This marked the first time China has exported an LPD. The signing ceremony was attended by Adm Chorchat Krathes, the navy's special adviser and deputy commander-designate.

Navy commander Luechai Ruddit said construction of the Chinese-built vessel will take three years, and once in service, the new LPD will allow the navy to undertake a wider scope of operations. The Type 071 LPD is a 20,000 ton-class warship that can carry combat personnel and equipment, including air-cushioned landing craft (LCAC), amphibious assault vehicles, tanks and helicopters. It is part of the main battle equipment being used by China's People's Liberation Army Navy.

Thailand could use the warship to conduct naval transport missions, boosting the country's troop deployment capability in the high seas. It can also be used for civilian purposes, like disaster relief and humanitarian rescue missions, because as a large naval platform, it can carry relief goods and get victims out of disaster areas.

The variant of the Type 071 for Thailand is called the Type 071E, with the E possibly meaning "export." It could be a customized version based on the needs of the Thai navy, though it would likely have no significant changes compared to the domestically commissioned ones in China. Thailand operates other Chinese weapons like the VT4 tanks made by the China North Industries Corporation (NORINCO). The arms trade cooperation between the two countries is getting deeper, and Thailand could purchase even more Chinese weapons like LCAC, amphibious assault vehicles, and helicopters that could fit the Type 071E.

Lloyd's Register (LR) has been selected to provide assurance and certification services to Hudong-Zhonghua Shipbuilding Group (HZ) for significant naval projects with the Royal Thai Navy. Thailand signed a contract with China for the procurement of a Type 071E landing platform dock (LPD) on September 9, 2019. China State Shipbuilding Corporation (CSSC) will build the amphibious vessel for the Royal Thai Navy. The deal was reported to cost only Bt6.1 billion (200 million USD). The People’s Liberation Army Navy (PLAN) currently has five vessels of the Type 071 class commissioned in its fleet, with three more on the way. Thailand becomes the first export customer of the class.

"Being selected to collaborate on these naval vessels is testament to our longstanding relationship with Hudong-Zhonghua and both navies. We successfully completed work on two 95 m Offshore Patrol Vessels (OPV) for the Thai Navy between 2003-2006 and supported the construction of three [2,800-tonne] corvettes for the Algerian Navy between 2013 and 2016" said LR head of greater China Maogen Xue. David Lloyd, LR's Global Naval Business Director said: "We are delighted to have been chosen by Hudong-Zhonghua to support them in these two very different projects, demonstrating LR's ability to provide flexible, tailored naval assurance and certification services that support our clients in the best manner possible. This also attests to the strong relationship between the two companies, as well as the mutual desire to expand the considerable experience in naval shipbuilding the partnership will bring to navies around the world."

The 210-meter Landing Platform Dock (LPD) ship for the Royal Thai Navy, can carry up to 800 marines and 20 amphibious vehicles, and has a well-deck that can deploy up to four Landing Craft Air Cushion (LCAC) vehicles - or hovercrafts - of approximately 150 tonnes each. The ship is also fitted with two large hangars that can carry up to four helicopters and a flight deck that can operate two helicopters. The expected delivery date of the LPD ship is 2023. The ship is an export variant of LPDs currently in service with the Chinese People's Liberation Army (PLA) Navy, which are also being built at HZ. LR will provide design and construction certification services to HZ in accordance with LR's Naval Ship Rules.