Gripen jets, Photo: Kalle Parkkinen / Shutterstock Editorial
The Thai military has announced its intention to modernize its fleet of fighter jets by selecting Swedish Gripen aircraft over the American F-16s, AFP reported on Wednesday.
Following a ten-month selection process, the JAS 39 Gripen E/F model was deemed the most suitable for the country’s needs, according to a statement released by the Royal Thai Air Force on Tuesday.
“We have carefully evaluated this purchase to choose the best option for our national defense for at least the next 30 years,” the statement said.
The Gripen “aligns with the strategic principles of the Royal Thai Air Force,” the Thai military added.
While the acquisition of Lockheed Martin’s latest generation F-16 fighter jets is still under consideration, the final decision will rest with the Thai government.
The Gripen jets will replace the aging F-16 A/B models acquired in the late 1980s.
No specific details were provided regarding the number of aircraft Thailand might purchase, but earlier reports in defense media suggested that the country intends to acquire around ten such aircraft.
Currently, Thailand operates 11 older Gripen jets as well as dozens of F-16s.
“We can confirm that the Thai military has publicly expressed its interest in acquiring Gripen jets. This is very good news for Saab and Sweden,” said Mattias Radstrom, press relations officer at Saab, the manufacturer of Gripen aircraft.
“At this stage, there is no contract or order. We look forward to continuing discussions with the Royal Thai Air Force and Thai authorities,” he added.
