Navantia to equip Thailand's Pattani class with Catiz combat system

A Royal Thai Navy Pattani-class OPV, HTMS Pattani , which will be fitted with the Catiz CMS from Navantia. (US Navy)

Spanish shipbuilder Navantia has received a contract to upgrade the Royal Thai Navy's two Pattani-class offshore patrol vessels (OPVs).

As part of the upgrade, the two OPVs will be fitted with Navantia's Catiz combat management system (CMS), the company said in a 22 August statement on the contract.

Catiz is a multirole system that is based on the company's Sistema de Combate de los Buques de la Armada (SCOMBA) CMS that has been developed for the Spanish Navy.

In addition to the new CMS, Navantia will integrate systems from other manufacturers, although details on these were not provided in the statement.

Navantia will also provide life-cycle support documentation and conduct training for Royal Thai Navy personnel in the operation and maintenance of the new systems.

The Royal Thai Navy commissioned its Pattani-class OPVs, HTMS Pattani and HTMS Narathiwat , in December 2005 and April 2006 respectively.

Both vessels were launched by China's Hudong Shipyard at its facilities in Shanghai in September 2004 and March 2005 respectively.

Each vessel displaces approximately 1,400 tonnes at full load and measures around 95.5 m in overall length. Powered by two Ruston diesel engines, the class can attain a top speed of 25 kt and a standard range of 3,500 n miles at the cruising speed of 15 kt.

The class is equipped with a 76 mm OTO Melara gun in the primary position and two 20 mm cannons. It can carry a helicopter on its flight deck at the aft, making the OPV suitable for a variety of missions including maritime patrol, surveillance, and search-and-rescue operations.