Air force seeks eight F35 fighter jets at a time when Thailand’s defence budget is at a low ebb

[webfact]

Air Chief Marshal Napadej Dhupatemiya of the Royal Thai Air Force, this week, outlined a plan to procure 8 F35 fighter jets from the United States. It comes at a time when the kingdom’s defence budget is at a low ebb after three years of economic difficulty and demands on the government imposed by the virus crisis. It also coincides with heightened tensions in the Asia Pacific and growth in potential threats

 

by Joseph O' Connor

 

Thailand’s military defence expenditure has not been above the NATO recommended level of 2% of GDP since 1997, the year of the Asian Financial Crisis. This year it is projected to be 1.22% or even lower but just above a historic low of 1.05% in 2005 under the popular government of Thaksin Shinawatra which consistently cut spending on arms.

 

After three years of economic malaise and two years of the COVID-19 virus crisis, Thailand is pulling back on government expenditure in 2022 and the country’s military budget is experiencing its third year of decline to one of the lowest expenditure to GDP ratios in the kingdom’s history. This is coming at a time of increased tensions and instability in the Asia Pacific as China and the United States appear increasingly at odds. In a week when the Royal Thai Air Force put forward its plans to purchase eight F35 fighter jets from the US, the question must be asked, what is Thailand’s defence strategy and against whom will it be defending itself against?

 

This week, Air Chief Marshal Napadej Dhupatemiya of the Royal Thai Air Force put forward the air force’s case for the purchase of eight state of the art F35 fighter jets from the United States in a transaction that could cost the kingdom somewhere between $560 million and $648 million or up to ฿21.51 billion in what the air force commander described as a good deal considering the alternative Swedish Saab Gripen jets would cost $670 million or ฿22.24 billion while noting the former price of what is arguably the world’s most sophisticated fighter jet had previously been set at up to $142 million each.

 

Full story: https://www.thaiexaminer.com/thai-news-foreigners/2022/01/04/f35-fighters-proposal-with-defence-budget-at-low-ebb/

 

-- © Copyright Thai Examiner 2022-01-05

 

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[RichardColeman]

Think the fact Thailand has not been invaded during two years of world pandemic, should be evidence that the money would be better spent for the year on infrastructure, feeding the people and re-establishing the 20% tourism GDP. Grow your money from paying tourists next years than starving Thais this year.

[RandiRona]

Surprised that they didnt ask for J aircraft fighters from China......

[sqwakvfr]

I have read the cost to operate the F-35 per hour can be between $8000 to $10,000.  What is the threat to justify this aircraft.  An upgraded F-16 or F-18 could fulfil any air defense mission. 

[ExpatOilWorker]

2 hours ago, RandiRona said:

Surprised that they didnt ask for J aircraft fighters from China......

They might have been asked by China to get a couple of F-35 so the Chinese can study them before the big Taiwanese showdown. 

[CANSIAM]

Ridiculous plan Air Chief Marshall, so many other good and less costly options..........

[malathione]

Good luck with that. Better kiss your relationship with China goodbye before you put in your request. No way you can continue to buy Chinese equipment and state of the art American equipment. Look at the issues with the U.A.E. deal, for instance. I do understand the need to maintain air superiority over the Laotians though. Commies! Kidding, of course.

[BE88]

From Chinese submarines to American F35s, it will be to be seen in which language the Thai armed forces will be able to communicate?

[Gsxrnz]

3 hours ago, sqwakvfr said:

I have read the cost to operate the F-35 per hour can be between $8000 to $10,000.  What is the threat to justify this aircraft.  An upgraded F-16 or F-18 could fulfil any air defense mission. 

Yes, but if you crash half the fleet in the first three months you can quickly reduce your running costs by 50%.

[Henryford]

3 hours ago, RandiRona said:

Surprised that they didnt ask for J aircraft fighters from China......

I am surprised the Chinese didn't offer them for free, for some concessions.....

[Nigeone]

Takes about a year to train a already combat ready pilot to fly F35 's and all training  is carried out currently in USA including UK pilots . Its a joint venture with UK instructors to and split between simulator and solo flying. No two seater option. Ground crew also takes along time in training so sorry , cant see this getting off the ground . I dont believe Thai pilots will be at the current standard of F35 training pilots so will take years . Maybe they can park the F35  on the Aircraft carrier 

Edited January 5, 2022 by Nigeone

[RandiRona]

1 hour ago, ExpatOilWorker said:

They might have been asked by China to get a couple of F-35 so the Chinese can study them before the big Taiwanese showdown. 

Well. They arent getting it. US didnt give it to Turkey and holding to UAE due to espionage threat. Thailand need to prove that they have threat from something like SU 57 to warrant a beast like F-35.

[RandiRona]

2 minutes ago, Henryford said:

I am surprised the Chinese didn't offer them for free, for some concessions.....

I think they are getting great bargains by just offering Belt and Roads to countries so they dont need to actually sell nothing ????

[tonray]

Do the planes have to apply for QR codes prior to entry into the country ?

[tandor]

...so tell me, where is the threat to Thailand's security that requires these aircraft, plus submarines. I thought you would put things on hold for 5 years spending-wise and build your coffers. 

[tandor]

12 minutes ago, tonray said:

Do the planes have to apply for QR codes prior to entry into the country ?

...they will be wrapped in 'moth-balls', so should be fine!

[rwill]

A10's are probably better for crowd control.

[tandor]

58 minutes ago, malathione said:

Good luck with that. Better kiss your relationship with China goodbye before you put in your request. No way you can continue to buy Chinese equipment and state of the art American equipment. Look at the issues with the U.A.E. deal, for instance. I do understand the need to maintain air superiority over the Laotians though. Commies! Kidding, of course.

...nothing like 'over-kill'....elephant stamping on a peanut.

 

[tandor]

1 minute ago, rwill said:

A10's are probably better for crowd control.

do they have wider muzzles to spray the infidels?

[hotchilli]

4 hours ago, webfact said:

In a week when the Royal Thai Air Force put forward its plans to purchase eight F35 fighter jets from the US, the question must be asked, what is Thailand’s defence strategy and against whom will it be defending itself against?

Boys love their toys.

[hotchilli]

4 hours ago, sqwakvfr said:

I have read the cost to operate the F-35 per hour can be between $8000 to $10,000.  What is the threat to justify this aircraft.  An upgraded F-16 or F-18 could fulfil any air defense mission. 

A cheap Chinese drone with a stick of dynamite could cover Thailands air defense needs,

[rwill]

7 minutes ago, tandor said:

9 minutes ago, rwill said:

A10's are probably better for crowd control.

do they have wider muzzles to spray the infidels?

GAU-8/A cannon fires up to 70 rounds/second of 30MM shells.

[wombat]

1 hour ago, ExpatOilWorker said:

They might have been asked by China to get a couple of F-35 so the Chinese can study them before the big Taiwanese showdown. 

Smart thinking 99

[wombat]

6 minutes ago, hotchilli said:

Boys love their toys.

Maybe could swap subs for planes in the playpen.

[Gsxrnz]

4 hours ago, sqwakvfr said:

I have read the cost to operate the F-35 per hour can be between $8000 to $10,000.  What is the threat to justify this aircraft.  An upgraded F-16 or F-18 could fulfil any air defense mission. 

I have no knowledge of defense fighter aircraft.  I have some knowledge of Thailand.

 

A forty year old Cessna armed with a paint-ball gun would be overkill for Thailand's air defense.  

[Tracyb]

More pipe dreams from the asshats in charge…..

[JeffersLos]

I'm surprised the Immigration biometrics department haven't put in a request for a few. 

 

 

[BTB1977]

It amazes me every time I go visit family in Korat.  The military jets are flying around all day. In what seems every day. The cost of this is just a waste of money. I would think once a week would be more then enough. 

[Mr Meeseeks]

5 hours ago, webfact said:

historic low of 1.05% in 2005 under the popular government of Thaksin Shinawatra which consistently cut spending on arms.

One of the main reasons for the coups right there imo. 

 

Oh how they'd love him back now. 

[Mr Meeseeks]

33 minutes ago, hotchilli said:

Boys love their toys.

They couldn't care less about the toys, it's the kickbacks they are interested in. 

 

The toys will be unusable within a matter of years, if not months.