The Royal Thai Air Force (RTAF) announced on 27 August that it has selected the Saab JAS 39 E/F Gripen over the Lockheed Martin F-16 Block 70/72 to replace a squadron’s worth of ageing F-16A/B aircraft.
“The Design Selection Committee set detailed consideration procedures and criteria, which took more than 10 months to complete,” the RTAF said in its statement. “It was concluded that the Gripen E/F fighter has the ability to meet the tactical needs as laid out by the doctrine and strategy of the air force.”
The F-16A/B aircraft being replaced are currently being operated by 102 Squadron in the RTAF’s Wing 1 in Nakhon Ratchasima province and have been in service since 1988, the service noted in its statement.
“The replacement fighter aircraft must be aircraft with better capabilities than the fighter aircraft currently in service,” said the RTAF, adding that the new aircraft are expected to serve for at least 30 years.
The also revealed that the anticipated deal will also include defence offsets such as investment in local industry as international scholarships to Thai military personnel and civilians to boost self-reliance.
The plan to acquire new combat aircraft centres on the replacement for the RTAF’s ageing Lockheed Martin F-16A/B fleet which will be retired in 2028. It is understood that this programme will be divided into three phases, with the first expected to begin in October 2025.
The first phase for four aircraft will reportedly cost an estimated 19 billion baht (US$559 million). The service also released a request for proposals (RFP) in October 2023 for possible contenders, although no specific fighter type was mentioned in the proposal. However, it has been widely considered that the Saab JAS 39E Gripen and Lockheed Martin F-16 Block 70/72 are the two current frontrunners.
Both companies already have a strong track record in Thailand, with Lockheed Martin supplying RTAF’s current F-16A/B fleet while Saab has provided its JAS 39C/D Gripen and Saab 340 airborne early warning and control (AEW&C) aircraft.
Thailand’s earlier ambition to acquire the fifth-generation Lockheed Martin F-35 Joint Strike Fighter did not gain traction with the United States government.
The RTAF’s previous white paper was published in 2020 and had outlined the various missions undertaken by the service in air defence and reconnaissance operations, as well as its roles in tactical airlift and search and rescue.
by Jr Ng
