8-6-2024 (BANGKOK) The Royal Thai Air Force (RTAF) is set to establish a dedicated selection committee this month to decide on the acquisition of new fighter jets. The high-stakes decision will pit Sweden’s Gripen aircraft against the formidable F-16 jets from the United States, as the RTAF seeks to bolster its aerial prowess.
Providing an update on the 19-billion-baht (approximately $517 million) plan to procure four new fighter jets, Air Force Commander ACM Phanphakdee Phatthanakul revealed that while the details are nearing completion, the RTAF remains open to further proposals to ensure the best possible deal for the nation.
In a bid to thoroughly evaluate the options, ACM Phanphakdee and a dedicated RTAF working panel undertook visits to Sweden and the United States last month, engaging in talks and workshops with the Swedish supplier SAAB and American manufacturer Lockheed Martin.
“We’ll keep our options open until the formation of the committee to select the aircraft model,” ACM Phanphakdee stated. “All official documents will be reviewed in the selection process. The meeting results may not be used. We must be thorough and prudent.”
Underscoring the RTAF’s commitment to transparency and accountability, the air force commander assured that the procurement scheme would adhere to the government’s offset policy and other requirements for national capability development stipulated by the air force itself. The offset policy mandates that countries supplying new military hardware to Thailand must reciprocate by offering equal economic valuations in bilateral trade.
ACM Phanphakdee further revealed that the air force’s chief-of-staff and the Office of the RTAF’s Comptroller are prepared to defend the procurement scheme before the House committee vetting the spending plan for the 2025 fiscal year, demonstrating the RTAF’s readiness to undergo rigorous scrutiny.
While the final decision remains pending, sources close to the matter suggest that the RTAF is likely to favour the Gripen E/F fighter jets from Sweden. The Swedish supplier, SAAB, is said to have presented a compelling proposal concerning the offset policy, which may ultimately sway the selection committee.
According to reports, the Swedish manufacturer’s offer includes grants for military training and maintenance, as well as the replacement of the Erieye radar system installed in its Saab 340, a Swedish airborne early warning aircraft. This comprehensive package holds particular significance for the RTAF, which already operates a fleet of 12 Gripen fighters based at Wing 7 in Surat Thani, acquired in 2013, albeit losing one aircraft to a crash four years later.
