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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