Saab Plans Defence Production Centre in Thailand

Swedish defence company Saab plans to expand investment in Thailand after the Royal Thai Air Force approved the first phase of a procurement project for four Saab JAS 39 Gripen E/F fighter jets valued at around 19.5 billion baht. The development is set to deepen industrial cooperation between Saab and Thai defence and manufacturing partners.

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Fredrik Lindblom, vice president and country manager of Saab Thailand, said the company is seeking Thai industrial partners to jointly manufacture selected Gripen aircraft components locally under Thailand’s offset policy framework. He said Saab’s strategy goes beyond aircraft delivery and focuses on long-term technology transfer and industrial development within Thailand.

The procurement decision by the Royal Thai Air Force provides the immediate context for Saab’s expanded plans. The company has operated in Thailand for more than 40 years and serves customers in more than 100 countries worldwide. Saab is now aiming to build local capability in aerospace production and defence technology through structured partnerships with Thai industry.

Lindblom said there are currently no plans to establish a full aircraft assembly line in Thailand. Instead, Saab will work with qualified Thai manufacturers through OEM partnerships and explore opportunities to strengthen the country’s aviation and defence industrial base. The company also plans to establish a research and development centre in Thailand under the offset programme to support technology transfer and workforce development.

Training and skills development will be a key part of the cooperation, including technical training for military personnel and support for educational institutions to help build a future high-tech workforce. Saab also highlighted plans to support network-centric warfare systems, including real-time data sharing between military branches, with Thailand’s domestically developed Link TH tactical data link system identified as a foundation for future integration.

Beyond fighter aircraft, Saab said it is interested in expanding into radar systems, command-and-control technologies and counter-drone defence systems, reflecting growing concerns over unmanned aerial threats in modern warfare. The company said Thailand has potential to become a regional centre for security and defence technology in the Asia-Pacific region.

Khaosod reported that Saab’s cooperation with Thai partners is expected to develop further under the offset framework linked to the Gripen procurement programme, with a focus on industrial participation, technology transfer and capability building rather than full aircraft assembly in Thailand.

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Adapted by ASEAN Now Khaosod 19 May 2026