Now that a major war has erupted between Thailand and Cambodia, Bangkok’s carrier has been transformed from an object of prestige into a capable military platform.
With a shocking war between Cambodia and Thailand underway, it is important to understand the capabilities of the two powers in Southeast Asia. The scenes coming from the frontlines are truly shocking in terms of their intensity. Many may assume that these two countries lack the capabilities to engage in such serious fighting. In fact, however, these countries are quite capable of engaging each other.
This is especially true of Thailand, which has enjoyed strong military ties with the West—notably the United States and NATO—for many years. Cambodia, too, is beginning to enjoy the fruits of a relationship with China that includes purchasing some of China’s most advanced weapons and platforms.
All About Thailand’s Aircraft Carrier
Some in the West may not realize it, but Thailand even has an aircraft carrier. Known as the Chakri Naruebet, this ship signifies Thailand’s ambition to become a real maritime power.
Commissioned in 1997, it is the Royal Thai Navy’s (RTN) flagship and the only aircraft carrier ever operated by a Southeast Asian nation. Named after the Chakri Dynasty, which has ruled Thailand since 1782, the vessel was intended to enhance the country’s amphibious capabilities, support disaster relief, and provide a platform for aerial operations.
The carrier’s journey from a prestigious acquisition to the subject of intense debate, however, highlights the challenges of maintaining advanced military assets in a national military system with a limited budget. Despite its relatively impressive design, the “Thai Titanic” and “Floating Royal Throne” has been underutilized due to high operational costs.
The origins of the HTMS Chakri Naruebet trace back to the early 1990s, when Thailand sought to modernize its navy amid regional tensions and a growing economy. Initially, the RTN planned to acquire a 7,800-long-ton helicopter carrier from the German shipbuilder Bremer Vulcan, but this contract was canceled in 1991 due to escalating costs and design issues. Instead, on March 27, 1992, Thailand signed a contract with the Spanish shipbuilder Brazán (now Navantia) for a larger vessel based on the Spanish Navy’s Principe de Asturias, itself derived from the US Navy’s “Sea Control Ship” concept.
Construction began in October 1993 in Ferrol, Spain. The keel was laid on July 12, 1994, and the ship was launched on January 20, 1996, in a ceremony attended by Queen Sirikit of Thailand. Sea trials followed from October 1996 to January 1997, with aviation trials conducted in Rota, Spain. The carrier arrived in Thailand on August 4, 1997, after a 42-day voyage, and was formally commissioned on March 27, 1997—exactly five years after the contract was signed.
The HTMS Chakri Naruebet is classified by the RTN as an “Offshore Patrol Helicopter Carrier,”but it functions as a light aircraft carrier, albeit the smallest operational one globally with provisions for fixed-wing aircraft. Propulsion is provided by a combined diesel or gas (CODOG) system, consisting of two Bazán-MTU 16V1163 TB83 diesel engines (each producing 5,600 brake horsepower) for cruising and two General Electric LM2500 gas turbines (each delivering 22,125 shaft horsepower) for high-speed dashes.
The carrier has a maximum speed of 25.5 knots (about 30 miles per hour), and a cruising speed of 17.2 knots, with a range of 10,000 nautical miles (or 11,508 statute miles). The ship’s complement includes 62 officers, 393 enlisted sailors, and 146 aircrew, with space for up to 675 additional personnel such as the Royal Thai Marines.
As for the ship’s armament, it is relatively light and mainly focused on self-defense. She possesses two .50-caliber machine guns, four 20mm autocannons, and three Matra Sadral sextuple launchers for Mistral surface-to-air missiles that were installed in 2001. The ship is fitted, though not normally equipped, with an eight-cell Mark 41 Vertical Launch System (VLS) for Sea Sparrow missiles and four Phalanx close-in weapon systems. Sensors include a Hughes SPS-52C air search radar, two Kelvin-Hughes 1007 navigation radars, and countermeasures, like the SRBOC decoy launchers and an SLQ-25 towed decoy.
Upgrades to the were made by Saab in 2012 that included a 9LV Mk4 command and control system and a Sea Giraffe AMB radar, with data links to other RTN assets and Gripen fighters completed by 2021. There is a 12-degree ski-jump ramp for short takeoff and vertical landing (STOVL) operations, two 20-ton aircraft lifts, and hangar space for 10 aircraft.
Chakri Naruebet was designed to operate a mixed air group of up to six AV-8S Matador (Harrier) V/STOL fighters and four-to-six S-70B Seahawk helicopters, with capacity for additional rotary-wing aircraft like Sikorsky Sea Kings, S-76s, or CH-47 Chinooks—up to 14 helicopters in total. In 1997, Thailand acquired nine secondhand Matadors from Spain, initially forming the backbone of its naval air force.
Thailand’s Naval Air Wing Is No Longer Airworthy
There have been many operational challenges over the course of the Chakri Naruebet’s service life, though. Prominent among these were shortages in spare parts and pilot training issues. This reduced the effectiveness of the carrier. By 1999, only one of the hand-me-down Matadors Thailand received from Spain was airworthy. The entire fleet of Matadors from Spain was ultimately decommissioned by 2006.
Today, the HTMS Chakri Naruebet operates primarily as a helicopter carrier, deploying models like the Sikorsky SH-60 Seahawk for anti-submarine warfare, Sea Kings for transport, and Chinkooks for heavy lift. This shift reflects budget constraints but maintains utility for troops transport and surveillance.
The helicopter carrier continues to serve in a ceremonial and support capacity. It is often open to the public for tours at Chuksamet Pier in Sattahip, boosting naval outreach. Recent discussions, including speculative reports of upgrades for a “return in 2026,” suggest potential modernization to enhance capabilities, though no confirmed plans have materialized beyond past sensor improvements.
However, now that a major war has erupted between Thailand and Cambodia, it seems that the carrier will become more important to the Thai military that seeks to maintain a level of prestige—and capabilities—over the Cambodians.
About the Author: Brandon J. Weichert
Brandon J. Weichert, a Senior National Security Editor at The National Interest as well as a contributor at Popular Mechanics, who consults regularly with various government institutions and private organizations on geopolitical issues. Weichert’s writings have appeared in multiple publications, including the Washington Times, National Review, The American Spectator, MSN, the Asia Times, and countless others. His books include Winning Space: How America Remains a Superpower, Biohacked: China’s Race to Control Life, and The Shadow War: Iran’s Quest for Supremacy. His newest book, A Disaster of Our Own Making: How the West Lost Ukraine is available for purchase wherever books are sold. He can be followed via Twitter @WeTheBrandon.
Image: Wikimedia Commons.
