The construction of the first BAE Systems-designed offshore patrol vessel (OPV) for the Royal Thai Navy is underway.

Under the contract, signed in June 2009, the BAE-designed 90m-long OPV will be built by Bangkok Dock to meet the specific requirements of the navy.

The multimission OPV will be used by the navy for economic exclusion zone roles and routine patrols and border controls.

The vessel will also be used for fishery protection tasks, disaster relief and for the protection of natural resources in the Gulf of Thailand and the Andaman Sea.

The core platform design for the OPV is based on the design for the smaller River Class vessels used by the UK Royal Navy.

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