By Thai Newsroom Reporters
THAILAND IS YET TO CHOOSE either to buy a squadron of Lockheed Martin F-16 Block 70 or Saab JAS 39E jet fighters, said Defence Minister Suthin Khlangsang today (July 15).
Though the air force has already evaluated both rival jets and given more points to the Swedish-built JAS 39E Gripen fighters than the US-built F-16 Block 70 Fighting Falcon jets, it remains to be seen which one the Thai air force will finally purchase, the Pheu Thai-attached Suthin said.
Central to the air force’s decisive procurement rationale for either one of the rival fighter jets is the primary roles for the multirole combat aircraft to play with respect to national air defence as well as strategic and tactical combat capabilities, according to the civilian defence minister.
Suhtin said Prime Minister Srettha Thavisin and he himself are yet to make a final decision on the air force’s combat aircraft procurement project, given relevant information and feedback from commanding air marshals.
However, the defence minister stopped short of elaborating as to how soon “the final decision” would be made, saying there is yet a long way to go.
Suthin who is scheduled to pay an official visit to Washington at the invitation of his US counterpart Lloyd Austin next month concluded that the US and Sweden are generally seen on the same side of the fence regarding the world superpower-led defence alliance and cooperation and that Thailand’s final option between the F-16 Block 70 or JAS 39E would ultimately be no critical cause for concern to either manufacturing country.
The air force has originally planned to procure a squadron of eight multirole combat aircraft to replace the ageing General Dynamics F-16 Fighting Falcon jets currently deployed at Wing 1 in Korat and Wing 4 in Takhli as well as the upgraded Northrop F-5TH Super Tigris jets currently deployed at Wing 21 in Ubon Ratchathani whilst a squadron of JAS 39 Gripen jets are currently deployed at Wing 7 in Surat Thani.
CAPTIONS:
Top: F-16 Block 70 at Lockheed Martin Greenville, South Carolina site. Photo: Lockheed Martin
Insert: Saab JAS 39E fighter jet. Photo: Thai Rath
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