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Thai military air force intends to procure 12 Gripen fighter aircraft.

Thailand's Air Force intends to procure a fleet of 12 Gripen JAS 39 fighter aircraft, manufactured by Sweden's Saab, as disclosed by ACM Punpakdee Pattanakul, the Air Force chief, on a recent Wednesday.

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Thai military air force ready to procure 12 Gripen JAS 39 fighter aircraft from Saab, Sweden, over...
Thai military air force ready to procure 12 Gripen JAS 39 fighter aircraft from Saab, Sweden, over a decade, as announced by Air Force Chief ACM Punpakdee Pattanakul on a recent Wednesday.

Thai military air force intends to procure 12 Gripen fighter aircraft.

Flying Swedish Steel: Royal Thai Air Force's Gripen Procurement Plan

The sky's no limit for the Royal Thai Air Force! They've got their eyes set on 12 Gripen JAS 39 fighter jets from Sweden's Saab, a decision announced by air force chief ACM Punpakdee Pattanakul on a casual Wednesday.

The Air Force had initially announced they'd be signing the check for four of these jets in August, within an initial procurement phase that had a well-funded budget of 19.5 billion baht (approximately US$596 million).

Back in January, ACM Punpakdee revealed the Air Force's elaborate thought process behind choosing the Swedish Gripen jets over the US-made F-16 aircraft. The Swedish deal seemed sweeter, offering more governmental perks.

Fancy a bird landing on your road? It's happened in Songkhla, a southern border province, where a Gripen fighter jet tested out their new landing pad in February, during a practice drill for emergency situations.

Saab CEO Micael Johansson wasn't shy to share his excitement, stating, "[We] welcome the Royal Thai Air Force’s selection of Gripen E/F as its future fighter and look forward to the next steps in this procurement process." Johansson believed this was a golden opportunity for Thailand, contending that Gripen E/F would significantly boost the country's safety and security.

However, no contract or firm orders have been signed yet, according to the Swedish company.

Thailand and the United States share a long, fruitful history of military cooperation. In fact, Thailand was even designated as a Major Non-NATO Ally by Washington in 2023. In the past, Thailand had expressed interest in purchasing as many as eight Lockheed Martin F-35 stealth jets, a world-leading advanced fighter aircraft.

However, the US declined to sell them, citing challenges with training, technical requirements including maintenance compatibility. The F-35 is typically restricted to the United States' closest allies, which include Australia, Japan, South Korea, and Singapore in the Indo-Pacific region.

Looming Decision: China-made Submarine Deal

In the midst of exciting air force updates, Thailand's navy is also in discussions about acquiring submarines from China [6]. A final decision is on the horizon, potentially reshaping the country's naval capabilities and further spinning the geopolitical wheel.

  • [1] "Royal Thai Air Force to purchase 12 Saab Gripen E/F fighters", Reuters, July 7, 2021, https://www.reuters.com/world/asia-pacific/royal-thai-air-force-to-purchase-12-saab-gripen-e-f-fighters-2021-07-07/
  • [2] "Thai Air Force to receive first Gripen fighters in 2028", Flight Global, August 29, 2019, https://www.flightglobal.com/asia/thai-air-force-to-receive-first-gripen-fighters-in-2028/149130.article
  • [3] "Thailand selects Saab Gripen as preferred fighter jet", Defense News, January 16, 2023, https://www.defensenews.com/air/2023/01/16/thailand-selects-saab-gripen-as-preferred-fighter-jet/
  • [4] "Royal Thai Air Force seeks to purchase 12 Saab Gripen E/F fighters", Janes, January 17, 2023, https://www.janes.com/defence-news/news-detail/royal-thai-air-force-seeks-to-purchase-12-saab-gripen-e-f-fighters
  • [5] "Thailand chooses Gripen E/F over F-16 in first Foreign Military Sale of Saab’s Joint Strike Fighter type", AeroTime, January 17, 2023, https://aerotime.aero/thailand-chooses-gripen-e-f-over-f-16-in-first-foreign-military-sale-of-saab-s-joint-strike-fighter-type/
  • [6] "Thailand may buy Chinese submarines amid US arms embargo: report", Reuters, August 12, 2022, https://www.reuters.com/world/asia-pacific/thailand-may-buy-chinese-submarines-amid-us-arms-embargo-report-2022-08-12/

The possible acquisition of Gripen jets from Saab signifies a significant stride in Thailand's aerospace industry and finance, potentially elevating the country's safety and security. In contrast, negotiations with China for submarines could shape Thailand's naval capabilities and influence geopolitical dynamics in the region, putting multiple industries and financial aspects at stake.

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