SpaceKadet

I'm not taking offence. You can call me anything you want. I don't even know what a 'leftie woke cultist' might be. Maybe some helpful MAGA dogmatist could point me to their dictionary so I could learn...

Oh, so I am now a leftist woke cultist... You MAGAs are so simplistic and ignorant about anything outside your orb. Anybody disagreeing with your point of view is just a leftist wokie (or did you mean Wookie?) Just grow up and get some education before calling other people names. Reading up on world history would be a starting point. Not just the 200 years of your constitution. And don't forget, you're all mixed blood imports.

If Obama and Biden allowed it, then Trump certainly encourages it!

If I'm driving on a two lane highway, and driving over the speed limit, which I always do, I always drive in the right hand lane, and will not move for anybody. It's dangerous driving in the left hand lane on most roads I've seen here. Weaving in and out to overtake slow trucks, bikes and other slow traffic. And contesting all the ghost drivers/riders. Besides, generally, the road surface is much worse in the left hand lane because of the heavy traffic. Some (long) time ago, there was a question here on TV if it was allowed to overtake in the left hand lane on a clearly marked two lane highway. A member consulted the Highway Code in Thai, and replied that is was allowed. Just like on the American highways. The rules are different in Europe though, but then, drivers are better at following rules there. I think the violation as stated above is for the standard one lane roads.

What is the difference between violation 11 and 17, or violation 21 and 22? Or is it just the weird Thai logic in play?

What is going on in the world right now? Russia/Ukraine, Israel/Palestine, Israel/Iran, China/Taiwan, China in SCS, and on top now Thailand/Kampuchea. Is really WW3 coming?

Correction; only losers wear Rolex. It's just an overpriced poser watch. I would never buy one, real or fake. After I given both my Omegas (Seamaster in titanium and Constellation) as an early inheritance to my son, I only use Citizen. Have three of them. The most accurate watch, and solar powered. Never need to change the battery.

Interesting sideline from the Operation Spider Web, the recent Ukrainian attack on the very remote Russian air bases, some of them thousands of kilometers away. It allegedly crippled up to 30% of Russian long distance strike capability, nuclear and conventional. This would never happen with the deployment of JAS-39, as the Gripen doesn’t need an extended and vulnerable air base and can operate from a straight normal road of less than 1000 meters, and can be battle ready again in just 20 minutes, requiring the staff of only 6 conscripts. To replace the largest component, the engine, takes less than one hour. The software is very advanced and modularized. It can be upgraded in less than one hour, without affecting any other software components. So to add a new weapon capability, would only upgrade the weapon part, without affecting any other critical component, like aircraft handling, navigation or targeting… Bloody brilliant. Also, the Gripen does not need to rely on AWACS support, as the other modern fighters do. They share their radar data in a mesh network between all members in the squadron. Additionally, all JAS-39E record and store the RCS signatures of all adversaries and share it with the rest of the pack. There goes the perceived stealth of F-35…… Is there really anything negative to say about the JAS-39? (Well, apart from the use of the American GE414 engine!)

The JAS-39E is using GE F414 engine. Much more powerful.

Obviously, you have not done your research. We don't know how much the Thai government will pay for the JAS, and again, there are no second hand fighters on the market, which you were referring to. And just to piss on your dinner further, JAS-39 has the lowest operating cost of all fighters out there, plus other benefits. Spread that over the estimated lifespan of 20 or so years and come back to me. Follow the link to the Alaska Red flag article I posted earlier, where JAS-39 just ghosted all F-16 and the mention to Loyal Arrow exercise in Sweden where it ghosted 2 F-15's while the thirds one just cowardly run away.... We're talking real muscle here, boy..... Not to even mention the well knows fact that an older Swedish fighter (J-37) is the only one ever to get a weapons lock on an SR-71. Again, real war tech, not Lego crap from America. https://stratpost.com/gripen-operational-cost-lowest-of-all-western-fighters-janes/

To all those proponents of American F-16, and how JAS-39 has not proved itself in real combat. https://www.globaldefensecorp.com/2021/01/07/gripen/ Let's face it people, JAS-39 is the most advanced Gen4 fighter out there, and perfect for the countries that need an air force for the defensive purpose, and do not require an offensive fighter like F-35 or F-22, which are pure offensive weapons requiring a huge infrastructure to be effective. Even F-15, F-16 or F-18 do not pass the bill, due to to their huge infrastructure requirements. A JAS-39 can be refueled and rearmed and back in action in 20 minutes landing and taking off on a normal road, compared to F-16 requiring 2-3 hours and large airfield infrastructure, including a huge cadre of highly trained technicians. The only reason that JAS-39 has not sold more is purely political, and it's good to see that Thailand, for once, is acting sensibly.

Correction. JAS-39 is using GE designed F414G engine, manufactured under license and modified by Volvo FM (FlygMotor) in Sweden. It would require spare parts from Sweden. However, as I mentioned in a post above, theoretically US could block the export of the engine, but as they offer F-16 with GE F110 engine, that would certainly be regarded as unfair business practices.

Don't understand your post. Gripen is a modern aircraft and not available on the second hand market. Countries that buy Gripen don't do it to sell it again. They will stay in their air forces for 20 years, maybe longer. We are not talking car deals here. There is also a lease option. How much would Thailand sell their F-16 for? The only thing that old F-16's are good for is as a gift to Ukraine. But, since you obviously have done the calculation, please do enlighten us.

Smart thinking Batman! And not far from the reality. The JAS-39 is using GE F414G engine, which is made under license and modified by Volvo FM. In theory, US could block the sale of the engine, same as they were trying to do on the JAS-39 Colombia deal. IMO, the JAS-39 should never have used an American engine, and instead used the excellent engines from Rafale or Typhoon fighters, or let Volvo FM develop a new local engine like they did for the Swedish J-35 Draken and J-37 Viggen.

They already have access to 12 (now 11), since 2011. It's not very easy to reverse-engineer advanced military war tech. Unless you are a Chinese engineer employed on the design of the F-22, then later go back to motherland and create J-20. Oh, those stupid gullible Americans....