US declines Thai F-35 fighter request, offers F-15 and F-16
The US has declined Thailand's informal request for F-35 fighter jets, citing infrastructure concerns.
The US has advised the Royal Thai Air Force that the service is not ready to operate the F-35 yet, according to local media reports.
The US DoD has informally declined Thailand's request to purchase F-35 fighter jets, as revealed by a source within the Royal Thai Air Force (RTAF) to local media.
Instead, the US has proposed F-16 Block 70 and F-15E Strike Eagle fighter jets as viable alternatives.
The decision from the Pentagon was communicated by Robert F Gordec, the US ambassador to Thailand, during a recent meeting with ACM Alongkorn Wannarot, the RTAF's Commander-in-Chief, at the service's headquarters in Don Mueang.
Ambassador Gordec cited the US Department of State's assessment, which indicated that the RTAF may not currently possess the necessary infrastructure facilities
Already have an account? Log in
Want to keep reading this article?
More from Air Warfare
-
![Trump’s drone directives win US industry support but questions remain over ability to challenge Chinese market dominance]()
Trump’s drone directives win US industry support but questions remain over ability to challenge Chinese market dominance
New presidential directives for UAV production are intended to remove bureaucratic barriers and support suppliers.
-
![Enhancing education: How CAE is embracing new technology to boost military training]()
Enhancing education: How CAE is embracing new technology to boost military training
In Conversation... Shephard's Gerrard Cowan talks to CAE's Marc-Olivier Sabourin about how the training and simulation industry can help militaries achieve essential levels of readiness by leveraging new technology, innovative procurement methods and a truly collaborative approach.
-
![Paris Air Show 2025: New capabilities, partnerships and next-gen programmes remain priority for industry]()
Paris Air Show 2025: New capabilities, partnerships and next-gen programmes remain priority for industry
As European countries increase their defence budgets, the Paris Air Show will look to how the aerospace industry’s responds, with programme progression, new technology and industrial partnerships all expected to take centre stage at Le Bourget.
-
![Paris Air Show 2025: Airbus Helicopters unveils new crewed-uncrewed teaming solution]()
Paris Air Show 2025: Airbus Helicopters unveils new crewed-uncrewed teaming solution
The solution, named HTeaming, has already been tested in flight with a Spanish Navy H135 helicopter and an Airbus Flexrotor uncrewed aerial system (UAS).
