Thailand to request funding for initial batch of new fighter aircraft
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| The F-16 Block 70/72 Viper is among those beong considered by the RTAF. Photo c/o Lockheed Martin. |
The Royal Thai Air Force (RTAF) was reported to be raising a request for funding with the Thai Government for the acquisition of an initial batch of 4 fighter aircraft.
The new fighters are needed to start the gradual replacement of ageing fighter aircraft, with the American F-16 Block 70/72 Viper or F-35A Lightning II, and Swedish JAS-39E/F Gripen being considered, according to the RTAF Commander in Chief Air Chief Marshall Punpakdee Pattanakul.
A budget of THB19 billion (US$538 million) is eyed for request in the next fiscal year 2025, with the selected manufacturer required to offer a reciprocal counter-trade proposal to offset the cost.
ACM Pattanakul mentioned but did not confirm that Sweden’s JAS-39E/F Gripen may offer a better offset package than its American competitor, and this would be evaluated further by the RTAF’s selection committee.
The RTAF is expected to not have any issues should it select the F-16 Viper or JAS-39E/F Gripen, as it already operate earlier versions of both types for several years and has established supply chains with both the US and Sweden to sustain both aircraft models.
The indication of interest in the F-35A Lightning II is also a sign that the RTAF has not given up on its sights in the 5th-generation American fighter, which was reported months ago to have been rejected by the US Government.
[1] Bangkok Post
[2] BNN Bloomberg
Reviewed by Asia Pacific Defense Journal
on
February 05, 2024
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