46 minutes ago, hotchilli said:

Boys love their toys.

Boys love their kickbacks.

RTAF has sub-envy.

 

 

5 hours ago, RichardColeman said:

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.

Did you tell that to Trump when he threatened to pull out of NATO because of countries not paying their way?

If you are in the club you are expected to  pay the fees, the answer lies with the loudest voices in NATO.

5 hours ago, webfact said:

popular government of Thaksin Shinawatra which consistently cut spending on arms.

This just says it all why the Shinawatra family are hounded out of office by the military Coups. Nothing to do with any charges of corruption, simply so the Military can keep the cash flow. IMO.

strange how the OP confounds "popular" with "corrupt" or "vote buying" when referring to Taksin.

 

As to the F35, a sale is unlikely.

 

Thai foreign policy is/will be to steer a line between USA and China, so not a good ally

Even if a good ally, how can Thailand help? Therefore unless under threat itself no need.

How can you trust Thai politicians, generals, pilots to not donate a 'plane to China in exchange for a luxury retirement?

 

Diplomatic way to refuse is to say sale will be considered once Thailand has paid for 16 pilots to be capabe of flying it and ground crew to maintian it.  The internal squabbles and skills required are likely to mean a decision need never be taken.

 

The biggest threats to Thailand come from within from the Government and Covid.

No amount of state of the Art War machines will cure these issues.

Say what you want about square-head. But he had his priorities right by minimal funding for the military.

 

There are 36 countries in the world with NO military: https://worldpopulationreview.com/country-rankings/countries-without-a-military.

 

Why should Thailand not be one of them? We have no enemies.

All that land and facilities could easily be repurposed for public benefit.

 

Retire the generals! Bye-bye!

 

34 minutes ago, Oxx said:

Boys love their kickbacks.

I wonder if it's like when you buy a new Wave, you get a free helmet?

That would be a nice saving.

3 hours 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. 

This could be on the cards also they could sell them and make 5 times their money. I wonder how many bags of rice for 1 f35?

48 minutes ago, Mr Meeseeks said:

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. 

All for show... not for use.
Who are they defending against exactly?

13 minutes ago, unblocktheplanet said:

Say what you want about square-head. But he had his priorities right by minimal funding for the military.

 

There are 36 countries in the world with NO military: https://worldpopulationreview.com/country-rankings/countries-without-a-military.

 

Why should Thailand not be one of them? We have no enemies.

All that land and facilities could easily be repurposed for public benefit.

 

Retire the generals! Bye-bye!

 

If you get rid of the little deterrent you have, then you may find that you do have an enemy.

Burma isn't exactly bubbling over with cuddles, is it. ????

Here we go again.  Billions for the Military on equipment that will never be truly needed, while hundreds of thousands or millions of citizens suffer in poverty.  These Military Elites are selfish pigs.  Thoroughly despicable.

6 hours ago, webfact said:

Thailand is pulling back on government expenditure in 2022 and the country’s military budget is experiencing its third year of decline

Really a wrong time to seek budget for the F35 fighter jets. But Air Force does have a case of replacing its aging F5 and F16 aircrafts which are reaching the end of its service life and cost more in higher maintenance and safety concern. Price of F35 has also drop significantly from its initial high. I think the Airforce will very likely get the F35 depending on US government approval. 

So government increases debt ceiling on pretence of pandemic and then spending on fighter jets. Will they fight pandemic and economic downturn with it?

5 hours 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. 

My thoughts exactly.  The worlds best multi-purpose fighter to a strong Chinese ally.  May not pass the smell test.

Why in the world does this country need fighter jets? What a joke and a half.

3 hours ago, BTB1977 said:

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.

Oh, no.

 

Money kickbacks on fuel. Kickbacks on extra maintenance staff. Kickbacks for trainers. Kickback on parts. The first and last ones are real big earners. 

 

Daily flights are vital. ???? 

1 hour ago, Eric Loh said:

Really a wrong time to seek budget for the F35 fighter jets. But Air Force does have a case of replacing its aging F5 and F16 aircrafts which are reaching the end of its service life and cost more in higher maintenance and safety concern. Price of F35 has also drop significantly from its initial high. I think the Airforce will very likely get the F35 depending on US government approval. 

New F-16s can do the same job at much less cost. 

21 minutes ago, brucegoniners said:

Why in the world does this country need fighter jets? What a joke and a half.

Maybe to drop some bombs on Yangon if the border is not honored. 

44 minutes ago, Isaan sailor said:

My thoughts exactly.  The worlds best multi-purpose fighter to a strong Chinese ally.  May not pass the smell test.

Seriously you don't think China or Russia already have similar type stealth aircraft. Check out China J-31 and Russia Sukhoi Su-57. 

9 minutes ago, Danderman123 said:

New F-16s can do the same job at much less cost. 

Not when external fuel tank of F-16 fell apart during flight. 

5 hours ago, BE88 said:

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

chinglish

1 hour ago, brucegoniners said:

Why in the world does this country need fighter jets? What a joke and a half.

or submarines.

The Royal Thai Air Force Commander in Chief believes the bulk purchase of jets could be bargained down to just US $70 million each.

 

From The Thaiger, Sunday.

 

Wonder what he did for a living before opting for the military.

10 minutes ago, mahtin said:

Wonder what he did for a living before opting for the military.

Wonder who his family is would be a better question.

Nuts !   Why would the Thai Airforce want them?   Just to have 'Big Face' in the Region and add another row of unearned Medals to bloated Generals Uniforms.  If they get them watch out for some spectacular crashes as they 'show them off' !

 

 

 

 

57 minutes ago, mahtin said:

The Royal Thai Air Force Commander in Chief believes the bulk purchase of jets could be bargained down to just US $70 million each.

 

From The Thaiger, Sunday.

 

Wonder what he did for a living before opting for the military.

Doubt that because Japan has purchased many and will purchase more in the future and I am certain they did not pay 70 million(probably over 100 million).  This does not include the cost of maintenance(maintaining a stealth aircraft with advance avionics is much more difficult than the F-16's and F-5's that were produced in the 1980's).  Too bad Taiwan cannot buy a squadron of F-35's.  If this were to occur two things would be certain:  1) Beijing would have a coronary 2) Taiwan would have a fighting chance against the sheer numbers of ROC aircraft.  

2 hours ago, sqwakvfr said:

Too bad Taiwan cannot buy a squadron of F-35's.  If this were to occur two things would be certain:  1) Beijing would have a coronary 2) Taiwan would have a fighting chance against the sheer numbers of ROC aircraft.  

Or China would bring forward its plans to invade Taiwan before pilots could be trained to fly the 'planes.

4 hours ago, sqwakvfr said:

Too bad Taiwan cannot buy a squadron of F-35's.  If this were to occur two things would be certain:  1) Beijing would have a coronary 2) Taiwan would have a fighting chance against the sheer numbers of ROC aircraft.

Taiwan should give Kim a call and purchase a couple of nukes and some missle technology,  that will keep Beijing at home!

Disgusting with no real adversary matching them at the F35 class level.

 

Costa Rica got rid of military and put all that money into other parts of society.

 

Same goes for BoJo in UK wanting to upgrade UK nukes arsenal ...first things first - take care of the elderly people who worked their entire lives paying into the tax pot who then get hosed for extortionate care home costs....on the one hand welfare socialist tax rates on on the other at the end pure capitalist economy experience when the elderly need care home support.