Royal Thai Air Force’s bid for Saab’s Gripens backed by defence minister
Saab’s JAS39 Gripen E/F aircraft is the upgraded variant that could replace Thailand’s aging F-16s. (Photo: Saab)
The Thai government minister expressed confidence in the aircraft type, noting that a decision on the selection process between the Gripen and F-16 would be “made soon”.
Thailand Defence Minister Phumtham Wechayachai has revealed that the Royal Thai Air Force (RTAF) plans to move forward with its acquisition of Saab’s JAS 39 E/F Gripen jets, reportedly expressing backing for the Swedish-made fighter.
As first reported by The Nation, the defence minister said he had “instructed the RTAF to carefully select the most effective fighter jets” and revealed that the government was in discussion with Saab about “potential benefits for the [RTAF], such as technology transfer”.
While the RTAF announced the selection of the Gripen E/F fighter in August 2024 over the F-16 Block 70/72 as a replacement
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