ฟริเกตยุโรปในฝันของไทย? SIGMA vs FDI ในงบ 35,000 ล้าน

If the Thai government does indeed approve a budget of 35 billion baht for two new frigates for the Royal Thai Navy, the next question is...what European options might we have if we want to move from mid-range ships to something a little more "full-on"? In this clip, Mik takes a look at two major families that have been asked about in the comments: The SIGMA family from Damen, Netherlands, and FDI/Belharra from Naval Group, France. He then tries to draw some "rough" ROM figures: if we were to fit within the Thai budget of 35 billion baht for two ships, what seems more feasible in the real world, and what is becoming more of a dream ship? In this video, we'll discuss each aspect in an easy-to-understand manner. • Overview of the specifications of the SIGMA 10514 / family compared to FDI / FDI HN • Displacement, length, and role in the fleet: medium-sized multi-role ships vs. AAW / blue-water flagships • Real-world cases of Morocco and Indonesia using SIGMA for both export and domestic modular construction • Cases of France and Greece with FDI projects that have pushed the specifications and prices up to "regional flagship" levels • Comparison of specifications and price ranges (ROM) in both US dollars and Thai baht, using an assumed exchange rate of 1 USD ≈ 35 baht • Simulations: o If Thailand deploys two SIGMA ships, how much budget will be left for purchasing weapons, training personnel, and implementing ToT for Thai private companies? o If Thailand deploys two FDI ships with specifications similar to those for France's own use How tight will the budget be? o And if one day we really want to pursue FDI like the "full-flagship Greek deal," how much will it end up costing the entire project? We also touch on another important issue: the technology transfer (ToT) model and industrial return. How does the Indonesian SIGMA model, where PT PAL builds modular ships locally, compare with the Greek FDI model, which uses an industrial return of ~25% to the domestic industry? How does this compare if Thailand wants to use the new frigate project as a lever to upgrade the entire Thai shipbuilding industry? As always, all the figures in this clip are ROMs from public data. We've taken a rough average and converted them to reflect the "budget scale" only. They are not official prices used in actual negotiations. The actual figures could be significantly higher or lower. This depends on the specifications, contract conditions, weapons packages, training, and after-sales support of each country. Finally, Mick would like to invite everyone to think together: If you had a budget of 35 billion baht for a two-ship frigate project, which would you choose? • Two SIGMA ships, partially built locally Focus on the number of ships and the lifting of the Thai shipbuilding industry. • Or one FDI as a high-end European flagship, offering maximum capabilities in one ship, but at the cost of compromises in terms of ship volume and budget flexibility. Feel free to share your views in the comments below. As always, Mik reads every comment. If you like this content analyzing warships, defense budgets, and regional military deals, please like, share, and subscribe to the channel. So you don't miss the next episode of the 365 Days of Identity Project. There are still warships, aircraft, and military toys from many countries waiting. B-roll video credits: • How this Long Range Ocean Patrol Vessel (POLA) ARM Reformador was built by Damen Shipyards - Damen • Sea Trials of the first SIGMA 10514 PKR frigate for the Indonesian Navy - Damen • [#THROWBACK] Backstage of the launch of FDI HS Kimon - Naval Group • Greece’s first FDI HN Frigate Kimon was technically launched by Naval Group - Naval News • 15.09.2025 FDI ​​Amiral Ronarc'h de Lorient - Naval Group • FDI Amiral Ronarc'h, premiere of sea trials - Naval Group • Why This Crazy New French Frigate Could Intimidate Enemies - Beyond Explained • [REWIND] Describe the Coulisses du chantier de la premier FDI - Naval Group