Bangkok: Gen. Nattapol Nakphanit, Deputy Minister of Defense, confirmed an ongoing strategy to reduce military personnel while increasing salaries within the Ministry of Defense’s budget.
According to Thai News Agency, the Royal Thai Navy initially requested two frigates, but policy concerns over potentially wasting 35 billion baht led to a decision to purchase one frigate at a time.
In his explanation, Gen. Nattapol addressed the apparent increase in the Ministry of Defense’s budget, clarifying that its proportion relative to the national budget has actually decreased. This budgetary nuance is tied to regulations that categorize certain submitted documents as secret. The Ministry has been systematically reducing its workforce, particularly targeting senior officer positions, with a reduction goal from 378 to 384 positions by 2027. As of 2025, 308 senior officer positions have already been reduced.
The Ministry of Defense has maintained a steady production of personnel from cadets to non-commissioned officers since 1987, with a commitment to not increase these numbers. Gen. Nattapol expressed gratitude for feedback on the Ministry’s Early Retire project, emphasizing that the initiative is funded internally, sufficient for 7-10 months.
Personnel reductions have been ongoing since 2020, with a target to reduce the workforce by 5% by 2027, equating to approximately 12,000 positions. This year alone, the Ministry has reduced 9,000 positions, bringing the current active duty personnel to 228,000 from last year’s 230,000.
The personnel budget increase stems from government-mandated salary adjustments, including a 10% salary increase over two years and setting a minimum salary of 18,000 baht for personnel with bachelor’s degrees. Additionally, special compensation for conscripts is set to rise to 11,000 baht per month, with further adjustments for entry-level civil servant salaries.
The Royal Thai Army’s current white paper outlines strategies for weapon procurement, with a focus on Free Grade ships. The original Navy request for two ships worth 35 billion baht has been adjusted to one ship at a time, costing 17.5 billion baht, to mitigate potential financial risks.
Gen. Nattapol also showcased domestically produced military equipment, including a range of weaponry and vehicles such as the 120 mm grenade launcher, DTI-2 self-propelled rocket launchers, bomb disposal robots, surveillance robots, and unmanned aerial vehicles, highlighting the capabilities of the Thai military industry.