SHAH ALAM: Royal Thai Air Force (RTAF) on Tuesday announced it has selected the Saab Gripen E/F fighter jets from Sweden over the US-made F-16 Block 70 Vipers. In a statement, RTAF chief ACM Phanphakdee Phattanakul said the selection committee made its decision after studying additional details submitted by both contenders on Aug 20.
The details are issues with offsets – such as technology transfer and training – of which was a great importance to the Thai military in procurement.
After reviewing the factors, the panel chose the Gripen E/F over the F-16 Block 70/72 jets, ACM Phanphakdee was quoted as saying in a statement. RTAF will be the second export customer for Gripen E/F after Brazil. RTAF already operates 11 Gripen C/D fighters.
The statement released on Facebook as translated into English:
The Air Force has selected JAS 39 Gripen E/F to be included in the new squadron attack squadron.
According to the Air Force, the project of providing the 1st phase replacement fighter aircraft in the fiscal year 2568-2572 to replace the 19th/K or F-16 A/B fighter aircraft at 102th Squadron, 1st Squadron, which has been on duty since the year 2018. ศ. 2531 has been more than 36 years. The procurement project is a project that the Air Force gives great importance as specified in the White Book of Air Force. ศ. 2567 (RTAF Whitepaper 2024). Since it is a project that requires a high budget from the taxes of the citizens, the Committee considers choosing and determining the method of supplying a replacement fighter aircraft of the Air Force, which is assigned by the Commander of the Air Force. Therefore, it is aware that the consideration of carrying out such a project will have to be done with careful detail in order to make it worthwhile to provide a fighter fighter aircraft for the mission of defense of the country. Ngnoi, 30 years.
Both, the replacement attack fighter aircraft must be a better capable aircraft than the attack fighter aircraft that the Air Force is active at the moment. Commonality & Continuity can be developed according to the strategy of the Air Force and Thai Army in the future. Also, Offset Policy must be implemented in order to develop towards sustainable self-reliance. Economic value and increase Thailand’s chance to compete in the international stage.
Based on the above key principles and considerations, the Model Selection Committee has carefully specified the procedures and criteria for consideration, taking a period of more than 10 months to implement. It can be concluded that the JAS 39 Gripen E/F fighter jet has a capability range that meets the principled and strategic needs of the Air Force, is free of operation and can be developed further leading to increased multidimensional operational capability. ( Multi-Domain Operations) between the Air Force together with the Thai Army Command, Army, Navy and other security agencies, under a network-centered operational concept in the future, as well as in line with the allocated budget framework by the Air Force, throughout the proposal under the direct import of weapons compensation policy to create opportunities for the development of the defense industry leading to self-reliance. Standard level entry and indirect reimbursement to provide scholarships to overseas personnel both within the Air Force and the general public to have advanced knowledge and skills, including technology transfer in the environment and agriculture, all the way to the creation of innovation hubs leading to enhanced revenue generating productivity and increasing the competitiveness for Thailand to further develop the economy in various fields in the long term.
The Air Force therefore asks for the confidence of its brothers and sisters to carry out the project to procure JAS 39 Gripen E/F Fighter Fighter Jet to provide a value under public tax budget. Transparent, verifiable and efficient, it will result in the acquisition of high-performance tactics to be used to defend sovereignty and preserve national air interests. It can respond effectively to current and future environmental threats, according to the Statute. Budget picture and country’s development approach according to government policy.
With the selection, the procurement programme will now move to the Thai government and the Cabinet which in recent days saw the recent election of Prime Minister Paetongtarn Shinawatra. It is unclear when the contract will be signed though.
— Malaysian Defence
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Current RTAF Fighter fleet
Fighter – 1 Squadron – F-16A block 15 ADF – to be replaced with Gripen E/F
Fighter – 1 Squadron – F-16A block 15 OCU
Fighter – 1 Squadron – F-16A block 20 MLU
Fighter – 1 Squadron – Gripen C/D
Fighter – 1 Squadron – F-5TH Super Tigris
LIFT – 1 Squadron – T-50TH
Attack – 1 Squadron – Alpha Jet
Attack – 1 Squadron – AT-6TH Wolverine (turboprop)
Next in line to be replaced is the F-16A block 15 OCU, planned to be before 2030. Probably with more Gripen E/F, but will not be surprised if this is to be yet another different type of fighter.
What’s the numbers, Marhalim? So not the F16 like the Phiillipines as reported (which IMHO is financed by the US).
I believe the selection is more due to long waiting time for new Vipers coming off the line which gets prioritised to replenish those older USAF & ANG Vipers that being donated to Ukraine (and also delivering to EU partners that are donating their Vipers to Ukraine too).
Around a dozen or so. When the C/D Gripens were bought the Thai PM then was Thaksin. Now as the PM is Thaksin’s daughter just appointed, the air force selected a new version of the Gripen.
“Thaksin’s daughter just appointed”
“air force selected a new version of the Gripen.”
Implying just a coincidence or some political decision in background?
Likely coincidence that said I do not know enough about Thai politics to say whether politics got something to do with it.
@ joe
For now zero used F-16s from USA is going to Ukraine. No brand-new F-16V is being built for USAF or ANG.
Most going to Ukraine are from European countries (Norway, Belgium, Netherlands). And those F-16s don’t need to be replaced by F-16V, as they are already replaced by F-35.
If Philippines do take 40 F-16Vs, then the queue will be long. But if Thais decide now instead of Gripen E/F, they will be in front of Philippines in the queue no issues.
As for now new vipers backlog are for Slovakia (14-final delivery end 2025) Bulgaria (16), Morocco (25), Jordan (8) and Taiwan (66)
Slowly move out the US dependency.
There’s a huge wide reason why the Thai pick the gripen to the F16 ranging from technicality to geopolitics. Though IMHO technicality play a minor roles on why the F16 isn’t selected.
A major consideration would probably be operating costs; Gripen is cheaper. It also required a less extensive support infrastructure. The Thais are like us; buying stuff but not allocating the needed sustainment funds. Long history of this.
“The Thais are like us”
Their current Gripen user so its not like this new buy is totally alien to them. Its an extension of what they already had. IndonAF otoh…
Dear Joe,
I believe the selection is more due to long waiting time for new Vipers coming off the line which gets prioritised to replenish those older USAF & ANG Vipers that being donated to Ukraine
+++++++++++++++++++++++++
Since when did Uncle Sam gave its promise to send their F-16s to Ukraine? Lol!
”The Thais are like us”
Yes thank you but I was not referring to the Gripen but a long list of other things they bought since the 1970’s; things which gave them immense problems; from their A-7s, to their mini carrier; to their Chinese MBTs and IFDVs and other things. I’m aware they are a Gripen user, thank you. With Gripen and Eriye they became the 2nd air arm in the region to have a networked centric capability. Something I mentioned here a while ago.
Michael – ”Slowly move out the US dependency.”
You really think so? They are a U.S. non NATO ally. It has probably to do more with costs.
“No brand-new F-16V is being built for USAF or ANG.”
V variant are designed to be drop in upgrade for older Viper variants, so expect USAF & ANG to purchase the upgrade kits, however its still takes time to make these as the subsystems orders will also need to fight for allocation to new builds Vs.
“Since when did Uncle Sam gave its promise to send their F-16s to Ukraine? Lol!”
Uncle Sam gave a lot of promises which they didnt fulfill. They also gave a lot of equipment which they hadnt promised at first (HIMAR). Who are you to say what Uncle Sam does or does not do? LOL!
Most – if not all – of what the Yanks promised to Ukraine has been delivered. Sure; some things were verboten at first but were eventually approved; driven by prevailing conditions.
Out of topic. Saw on tik tok our SU30mkm no.01 finally can fly again
Azlan “You really think so? They are a U.S. non NATO ally. It has probably to do more with costs.”
Most countries has a military thought in some cases some military has a country. Historically speaking The Thai military ain’t particularly a big fan of democratic self determinism nor they are remotely interested in America current obsession with China nor they are in needs of US help as Vietnam had stopped being a threat to the.
Dear Joe,
Uncle Sam gave a lot of promises which they didnt fulfill. They also gave a lot of equipment which they hadnt promised at first (HIMAR). Who are you to say what Uncle Sam does or does not do? LOL!
Their current Gripen user so its not like this new buy is totally alien to them. Its an extension of what they already had. IndonAF otoh…
***************
Joke’s on you here for always writing falsified and fabricated news regarding the jet fighters ESPECIALLY. Too many times until it hurts to read what you post here.
Reiterating what HULUBALANG had said to you as well in his post, Uncle SAM hasn’t bought any F-16 since 2005 AND WILL NOT BE UPGRADED TO THE V CONFIGURATION.
BTW, stop being Kurang Ajar and be respectful to the ASEAN neighbours. It’s Indo or Indonesian. What you wrote is derogatory and insulting, you seriously look down on other countries.
Easy for you to do so right as a keyboard warrior, eh GI Joe?
All this talk hardly masks the capability gap of ours…
1) Are we buying another 18 FA50 LCA/ FLITs
2) Are we still interested in buying more modern aircraft like TAI Kaans or KAI KF21s
3) Are we aggressively pushing to secure the Kuwaiti Legacy Hornets
and
4) As I speak, are we interested in getting Sukhoi SU30s from HAL India, as they now seem to have renewed interest in restarting their SU30 production lines with Russian support.
This government isn’t any better at giving us a thorough heads up of possible military acquisitions…
zaft – ”Most countries has a military thought in some cases some military has a country. Historically speaking ”
Thanks for the update but you’re going off tangent and drawing some ”off’ conclusions.
None of the above.
Taib – ”are we interested in getting Sukhoi SU30s from HAL India”
Why would we given the issues we have with the MKMs? On top of that the next MRCA should be something more cotemporary and easier to support.
Of course it has; all laid out on paper. A road map so to speak. The question is funding…
@Melayu Ketinggalan
LOL! You got nothing to contribute here and nothing to add. I will put you on my ignore list. LOL!
@Zaft
“Thai military ain’t particularly a big fan of democratic self determinism”
Its historical as they have a legacy of military coup de etat rules (like a dozen!) so they always have a dim view of democracy that strays from their perception of good governance (whatever that is). Now that its back in the hands of Shinawatra family, lets see how long this will last. But buying EU fighters wouldnt necessarily mean a shift in policy, this isnt their first Gripen buy, and they had bought military hardware from China as well.
@Taib
1) The ink on the initial deal havent dried yet. Be patient and wait until 1st batch is operational and that TUDM are fully satisfied otherwise no point to get an illsuited platform.
2) We dont have the money for that yet.
3) Based on news media, we are but it depends on Kuwait which are delaying further as their SH are late in delivery.
4) TUDM has enough of Russkies, and even then HAL SU30 are for local consumption, Russia wont give them the export okay as yet.
“Of course it has; all laid out on paper. A road map so to speak.”
We need a firm roadmap on funding. And while we do have that plan in RMKs its also tend to change year to year now.
@taib
1) yes, also seem KAI had initiated the preliminary works for a single seater maritime strike capable version of FA50.
2) NO. If anything AF would probably prefer American jet for obvious reason.
3) yes. But it depends on the Kuwaiti
4) NO. In fact even their pilot opinionated that the few that we had would enter into an active reserves status soon.
”We need a firm roadmap on funding”
Must as well say we need oxygen if you want to state the obvious. The times when an indication of firm funding is given over a long term basis is rare.
” And while we do have that plan in RMKs its also tend to change year to year now.”
It has always ”changed”; from the days of PERISTA; the 1988 British MOU and other things. ”Change” driven by political changes; threat perception shifts and other things. Was merely pointing out to Taib that there is a roadmap; so to speak.
”But it depends on the Kuwaiti”
Yes it does but not entirely. Other factors at play.
”In fact even their pilot opinionated that the few that we had would enter into an active reserves status soon.”
If you’re referring to that article about the pilot who was in Singapore; he
”opinionated ” that due to a spares issues the fleet would be inoperable. The MKMs are not doing well; hence my comment in the other post about why the RMAF has no choice but to pursue the Kuwaiti angle. Like the RMN relifing its 50 year FACs which were in very bad condition. Also, as you’re aware we do or have planes in ”active reserve status”. They are ”active” or ”operable;; or not but never in ”active reserve status” per see.
Azlan “Like the RMN relifing its 50 year FACs which were in very bad condition.“
We don’t run a charity here. Either the navy be useful to the gov and the taxpayers and rehulled their laksamana and FAC. Or they lose both ship type as well as the staff and those ships supporting bases permanently. Law enforcement should be the navy sidegig not their main gig and it’s Doesn’t take a genius to figure out that the Chinese LMS has horrible ROI. It’s cost as much as KM tun fatimah and only 30 mil ish less the the upcoming MMEA Mothership. Ship that is twice and 400% bigger in size. So no the gov aren’t going to buy brand new patrol boat for the navy because buying patrol boat for the CG has better ROI. But obviously rehulling have much better ROI. Which is why the gov agreed to it.
As for the hornets. Mathematically speaking retiring the MKM and using the money to sustain additional hornet at least on paper have stupidly great ROI. Spareparts and weapons are plentiful, upgrade is relatively cheap with R&D had been paid for by others, don’t have to waste money and time inventing doctrine and tactics as we can learns from others. Can operate in a network environments and have the capability for interoperability and interchangeability something the MKM could never do.
“firm funding is given over a long term basis is rare.”
Not really, as I pointed out during RMK presentation, there indicated what defence equipment which to buy in said RMK. So a good estimate would be within the 5 years RMK. The problem is, that funding will be used for other purpose years later than was earlier announced.
Politics aside, it makes good sense. The Gripen ecosystem is already present in-country, and they probably do not need much adaptation for ground crews to learn about the newer Gripen E. The avionics and EW will set it apart from the older Gripens. That’s about it…
Because everybody knows F16 will be ended. If the US will not use it anymore then F16V is the last dna. All F16 users try to get F35 (as F16 replacement) or buy something else.
@ Romeo
I believe F-16s will be flown long after Gripens are retired and I am long dead.
It will probably be in production long after the Gripen production ends.
The F-16 has the longest confirmed calculated and tested airframe flight hour life of any jet fighters in the world (13,856 Equivalent Flight Hours). To compare, after 10 years our SU-30MKM only has flown an average of 800 hours each. Hornets for example have designed life limit of 6000 hours.
https://www.twz.com/11530/usaf-and-usn-both-come-to-terms-with-long-4th-generation-fighter-futures
A reason why even used F-16s are highly sought after. Argentina recently became the newest F-16 operator, buying 24 used F-16s from Denmark for just USD320 million.
https://pbs.twimg.com/media/GLSqnUeXwAAjhvX.jpg