Bangkok, Thailand: The Thai government has formally agreed to buy four new Gripen fighter jets from Sweden. This decision comes barely a week after a fragile ceasefire was achieved in a series of deadly border battles with Cambodia. The Royal Thai Air Force (RTAF) posted on its official Facebook site about the $600 million deal, saying that the purchase is meant to “strengthen the Royal Thai Air Force and protect Thailand’s sovereignty.”
This purchase is part of a long-term plan to update Thailand’s air force, which now flies 11 obsolete Gripen C/D models and dozens of F-16s that were bought in the 1980s. After a 10-month examination by a procurement committee, the decision to buy the latest Saab JAS 39 Gripen E/F variants was taken. The committee chose the Scandinavian-manufactured jets over American F-16s. The new planes will be very important replacements for the RTAF’s old F-16s, which will be retired between 2028 and 2035. The first four jets should arrive by 2029.
The recent border confrontation with Cambodia, which killed more than 40 people, showed how important Thailand’s air power is. During the five days of fighting, the RTAF used its F-16 and Gripen jets to attack military sites across the border. This was the first time the Gripen fighter jet had ever been used in combat, which apparently put Sweden in a difficult position because it has severe rules against exporting weapons.
Thailand’s entire defense budget is 200 billion baht (about $6 billion), and this purchase is an important part of its efforts to modernize its force. The government wants to improve its air defense and keep its air superiority in the region.