Bangkok looks to the future with new Thai fighters
The Royal Thai Air Force has its heart set on acquiring the F-35A, and has allocated initial funds. (Lockheed Martin)
Thailand wants nothing less than the fifth-generation F-35 in order to modernise its fighter fleet.
Thailand’s Cabinet approved THB13.8 billion ($445 million) on 11 January for the Royal Thai Air Force (RTAF) to procure new fighter jets to replace its F-16ADF fleet that was retired last year.
Via FY2023-26 budgets for a four-year period, ACM Napadej Dhupatemiya, the Air Force Commander, wishes to acquire the F-35A, whose flyaway cost has reduced from $142 million to $82 million over the years.
The MoD will add this acquisition to the 2023 Annual Budget Act, which then must be approved by the House of Representatives.
As with its existing F-16s, the RTAF can only procure the F-35A through the Foreign
Already have an account? Log in
Want to keep reading this article?
Read this Article
Get access to this article with a Free Basic Account
- Original curated content, daily across air, land and naval domains
- 1 free story per week
- Personalised news alerts
- Daily and weekly newsletters
- Free magazine subscription to all our titles
- Downloadable equipment data handbooks
- Distribution rights (Corporate only)
Unlimited Access
Access to all our premium news as a Premium News 365 Member. Corporate subscriptions available.
- Original curated content, daily across air, land and naval domains
- 14-day free trial (cancel at any time)
- Unlimited access to all published premium news
- 10-year news archive access
- Downloadable equipment data handbooks
- Distribution rights (Corporate only)
More from Air Warfare
-
![NAVAIR awards major contract modification for F135 jet engine]()
NAVAIR awards major contract modification for F135 jet engine
Latest modification increases the contract ceiling for the F135 engine in the F-35 fighter aircraft.
-
![US Army orders more Switchblades]()
US Army orders more Switchblades
A $20.6 million deal is the latest order from the US Army for Switchblades, dating back to 2011.
-
![Northrop Grumman opens up on B-21 digital engineering data]()
Northrop Grumman opens up on B-21 digital engineering data
An ‘industry-first’ digital engineering data rights agreement for the B-21, involving Northrop Grumman and the USAF, is designed to improve transparency and collaboration.
-
![Compass Call set for initial EC-37B flight tests in January 2023]()
Compass Call set for initial EC-37B flight tests in January 2023
BAE Systems has completed final hardware component deliveries of its Compass Call airborne EW jammer for the new EC-37B aircraft.
