China to build naval ship for Thailand, the largest yet for a foreign country.

China State Shipbuilding Corporation (CSSC) will build a Type 071E amphibious transport dock ship for export to the Royal Thai Navy, the largest naval ship the nation will have built for a foreign user. Thailand signed the contract with China for the procurement of a Type 071E landing platform dock (LPD) on September 9, 2019.

Type 071 amphibious transport dock ship Changbai Shan (Picture source: Wikipédia)

China State Shipbuilding Corporation Limited (CSSC) and the Royal Thai Navy held the signing ceremony of the shipbuilding agreement on exporting Type 071E landing platform dock (LPD) in Beijing on September 9. This is the first time for China to export abroad amphibious transport dock or dock landing ship, and also marks a major achievement between China and Thailand in comprehensive strategic cooperation, which is of great significance for the further deepening of China-Thailand military trade cooperation and promotion of regional peace and stability. Leaders from relevant state and military departments of both countries attended the signing ceremony.

The company said the deal was a major new accomplishment in the strategic cooperation between the two countries, adding that it would substantially deepen collaboration in the arms trade and also help strengthen regional peace and stability.

It is reported that being a specific model for international trade, Type 071E has been integrated with several major improvements and upgrades in comparison with its prototype, based on the experience and lessons accumulated through years of practice and the needs of potential foreign trade customers. It is even more advanced in technology and more powerful in comprehensive performance than the PLA’s in-commission Type 071 integrated LPD. There are six Type 071s in service with the PLA Navy, according to military observers who follow the Navy's weapons development.

According to information from CSSC, the Type 071 is China's largest landing craft and boasts advanced weapons systems. It is 210m long and 28m wide and has a full-load displacement of 25,000 metric tonnes. The vessel is capable of sailing more than 18,500km in a single operation, the company said. The Type 071E amphibious transport dock ship is also classified as a type of landing platform dock. The ship will be RTN's biggest warship, eclipsing HTMS Chakri Naruebet, the flagship of the RTN and its only aircraft carrier.

According to information from CSSC, the Type 071 is China's largest landing craft and boasts advanced weapons systems. It is 210m long and 28m wide and has a full-load displacement of 25,000 metric tonnes. The vessel is capable of sailing more than 18,500km in a single operation, the company said. The Type 071E amphibious transport dock ship is also classified as a type of landing platform dock. The ship will be RTN's biggest warship, eclipsing HTMS Chakri Naruebet, the flagship of the RTN and its only aircraft carrier.