Thailand signs for Chinese landing platform dock Jon Grevatt - Jane's Defence Industry 11 September 2019 Follow RSS The Royal Thai Navy (RTN) has signed a contract to procure from China a Type 071E (Yuzhao)-class landing platform dock (LPD). The deal was signed in Beijing on 9 September and is reportedly worth THB4 billion (USD130 million). Sources in Bangkok confirmed the deal to Jane’s on 11 September but the RTN has not yet provided any official details. Jane’s understands that the service has been looking to secure funds for the acquisition for several years. That funding was provided through the 2020 defence budget, which was announced earlier this month at THB233.35 billion (USD7.6 billion). The new helicopter-capable LPD is expected to be delivered in the early 2020s and will be operated by the RTN as a multirole vessel involved in operations including territorial surveillance and patrol, training, logistics and troop carrying, and disaster relief.