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| Thailand Fails To Purchase US F-35 Fighter Jets And Switches To Swedish JAS 39 Gripen |
Bangkok - The United States (US) recently rejected Thailand's request to buy F-35A stealth fighter jets. Now, Bangkok is trying to acquire Swedish fighter planes. The Royal Thai Navy (RTAF) is aiming to procure three additional Gripen fighter jets from Sweden to supplement its 7th Wing fleet in Surat Thani province after losing one in an accident.
The RTAF has previously purchased 12 Gripen fighter jets, which cost around 2 billion baht each. In addition, Sweden will not only provide the fighter jets that the RTAF wants, but will also upgrade the radar system.
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The source said the radar system, which has been in service for a decade, will undergo a major upgrade at an estimated cost of 4 billion baht. The source further revealed that the supreme commander of the RTAF, ACM Alongkorn Wannarot, has yet to form a panel to assess and select the successor to the royal F-16 fighter jet, which has been in service for three decades.
Despite United States suggestions that the RTAF consider acquiring 4.5 generation fighters such as the F-16 Block 70 and F-15, the current budget for fiscal year 2024 falls short of the amount needed to enter into contractual agreements for such a procurement.
In May, the US rejected Thailand's request for an advanced F-35A stealth fighter jet. The reason is that the Southeast Asian country is not ready in terms of infrastructure facilities to accommodate the fifth generation fighter jet. The American rejection was revealed by the Bangkok Post citing an RTAF source.
According to a source familiar with the matter, US Ambassador Robert F Gordec conveyed a Pentagon message to RTAF Chief ACM Alongkorn Wannarot during a visit to the Thai RTAF headquarters in Don Mueang.
The US Ambassador's visit, coupled with the unofficial rejection of Thailand's offer of F-35 fighter jets, demonstrates the carefully orchestrated diplomatic engagement between the two countries. During his meeting with Alongkorn Wannarot, Ambassador Gordec reportedly stated that the US Department of State believes the Thai RTAF may not be sufficiently prepared in terms of infrastructure facilities to accommodate the F-35 fighter jets.
In particular, concerns were raised regarding airbase security, airfield capability, maintenance infrastructure, and the availability of trained pilots and other essential personnel. Ambassador Gordec stressed that achieving F-35 integration readiness would require substantial time and significant financial investment.
Nevertheless, the United States did not completely reject Thailand's request to buy F-35 fighter jets. Instead, the US has expressed a willingness to reconsider the request once the RTAF has reached a certain level of readiness, possibly within the next five to ten years.