BANGKOK (NNT) - Royal Thai Air Force Spokesperson Air Vice-Marshal Prapas Sornchaidee has announced that a committee reviewing Thailand’s fighter aircraft acquisition plan has concluded that the Kingdom should purchase 5th-generation fighter jets, as they are best suited for current strategic demands.

 

Air Vice-Marshal Prapas said a panel chaired by Deputy Air Chief Marshal Thanasak Metanan assessed the air force’s policies, missions and operational plans and decided that 5th-gen fighter jets possess the critical functions necessary to safeguard national security interests.

 

The jets under review included the US-made F35, China’s J-20 and Russia’s SU-57.

 

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According to Air Vice-Marshal Prapas, necessary functions include network-centric operations, counter-air strikes, surveillance and reconnaissance, long-range operations, and effective control of air operations. He added that this generation of fighter jets will also feature crucial capabilities such as stealth, supercruise, sensor fusion and high maneuverability.

 

The panel, which was set up on January 10, also considered the aircraft’s systems’ reliability, the air force’s budget, delivery schedule and technology transfer offers.

 

A committee report is expected to be presented to Air Force Commander Air Chief-Marshal Napadej Dhupatemiya next month for further consideration. Thailand currently operates 12 JAS-39 Gripen fighter jets and dozens of F-16 and F-5 fighter jets from the United States.

 

-- © Copyright NNT 2022-03-08

 

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Absolute madness. 

Well, they’ll need something, they’re running out of F16’s.... 

 

https://aseannow.com/topic/1252759-thai-air-force-f16-jet-crashes-while-on-training-flight-pilot-safely-ejects/

 

16 minutes ago, snoop1130 said:

crucial capabilities such as stealth

Are yes absolutely a vital component when shooting up your own population.

I think China will make an offer for their jets that cannot be refused .

Why any country would spend so much on defence is a mystery, the much feared Russian Bear is getting a very painful greeting from a much smaller opponent .

Better ways to spend the money , I.e. education , health , social services etc.

I very much doubt the US would be prepared to supply Thailand with this sort of tech considering their close ties with China, also the F35 isn't just a jet, it is a whole technology system integrated with other asset platforms and systems, of course that latter could be excluded, another question is - where is Thailand going to find the money to fund such a program noy only the purchase of the jets but also maintinance and support - I call this wishful thinking or a pipe dream might be more accurate - not a hope in hell   

but the thai army is the most powerful in the region.

All neighbours are impoverished and small countries (bar  Malaysia), with poorly equipped and organised military.

 

55 minutes ago, PJPom said:

I think China will make an offer for their jets that cannot be refused .

Perhaps a sneaky way for the Chinese to get their mitts on the F-35  up close and personal?

 

47 minutes ago, smedly said:

I very much doubt the US would be prepared to supply Thailand with this sort of tech considering their close ties with China, also the F35 isn't just a jet, it is a whole technology system integrated with other asset platforms and systems, of course that latter could be excluded, another question is - where is Thailand going to find the money to fund such a program noy only the purchase of the jets but also maintinance and support - I call this wishful thinking or a pipe dream might be more accurate - not a hope in hell   

The SAAB Gripens were funded by a government to government frozen chicken deal. Maybe somtam or durians could be to goto currency.

 

With or without engine?

17 minutes ago, internationalism said:

but the thai army is the most powerful in the region.

All neighbours are impoverished and small countries (bar  Malaysia), with poorly equipped and organised military.

 

Both Singapore and Malaysia, probably Indonesia and Myanmar can beat Thailand on a bay day for them. Certainly Vietnam could.

 

The Thai military is vastly over officered and bloated with useless generals. The majority of its troops are undertrained conscripts. 

 

They would need to buy at least 20 F35's as there will always be 4 or 5 being serviced, probably the same number grounded waiting for spares and they will cost over 960,xxx baht per flying hour to use.

 

https://www.flightglobal.com/fixed-wing/lockheed-agrees-to-30000-per-flight-hour-cost-for-f-35a-by-fy2023/145448.article

 

The F-35 Joint Program Office has awarded Lockheed Martin a sustainment contract for the F-35 that commits the company to reduce the operating cost of the stealth fighter to $30,000 per flight hour by fiscal year 2023, down 10.7% from FY2020.

 

The F-35 has been savaged by critics who say its high-operating costs – $33,600 per flight hour in FY2020 – make buying and sustaining a fleet of the stealth aircraft unaffordable. The jet has also been plagued with a litany of manufacturing and maintenance problems that made it at times unable to complete missions.

 

There is a lot more in the link.

 

 

 

 

 

 

38 minutes ago, TallGuyJohninBKK said:

Perhaps a sneaky way for the Chinese to get their mitts on the F-35  up close and personal?

 

That was my first thought to. The americans certainly are aware of that issue so i'm kinda curious on why they would take such a big risk for such a small unimportant country. 

4 hours ago, internationalism said:

but the thai army is the most powerful in the region.

All neighbours are impoverished and small countries (bar  Malaysia), with poorly equipped and organised military.

 

I hope this is sarcasm. Viet Nam is the only country in SE Asia in the last 60 plus years with any real combat and war experience and it's not even close. 

Not only that, VN has taken great measures to upgrade her military esp. with the threat of China looming around the corner. 

We are talking about a country that is probably more war prepare than most nations around the world due to its past history. 

 

Currently, Vietnam’s active-duty military consists of a 412,000-member army, a 42,000-member navy, a 30,000-member air and air defense force, and a 40,000-member paramilitary border defense corps. Vietnam also had a 4-million to 5-million-member paramilitary reserve force, consisting of the People’s Self-Defense Force and the rural People’s Militia.

 

FYI, it took VN just 2 weeks, 2 freaking weeks to overrun and completely take over Cambodia and ousted the Khmer Rouge in 1978. 

 

 

27 minutes ago, BayArea said:

I hope this is sarcasm. Viet Nam is the only country in SE Asia in the last 60 plus years with any real combat and war experience and it's not even close. 

Not only that, VN has taken great measures to upgrade her military esp. with the threat of China looming around the corner. 

We are talking about a country that is probably more war prepare than most nations around the world due to its past history. 

 

Currently, Vietnam’s active-duty military consists of a 412,000-member army, a 42,000-member navy, a 30,000-member air and air defense force, and a 40,000-member paramilitary border defense corps. Vietnam also had a 4-million to 5-million-member paramilitary reserve force, consisting of the People’s Self-Defense Force and the rural People’s Militia.

 

FYI, it took VN just 2 weeks, 2 freaking weeks to overrun and completely take over Cambodia and ousted the Khmer Rouge in 1978. 

 

 

VN is not thai neighbour.

They are equal in military ranking

https://www.globalfirepower.com/countries-comparison-detail.php?country1=vietnam&country2=thailand

10 minutes ago, internationalism said:

VN is not thai neighbour.

They are equal in military ranking

https://www.globalfirepower.com/countries-comparison-detail.php?country1=vietnam&country2=thailand

equal in military ranking doesn't win battles and wars in real life scenarios. 

About time.  They should've stopped focusing on submarines and done this a long time ago.

Thailand shouldn't be allowed to buy F-35s. Thailand hasn't demonstrated adequate alliance to Western nations, USA, democracy, moral or civil values of Western nations. Their allegiance to China and Russia is overwhelming. Thailand  suppresses freedom of speech and has laws like 112 that prevent open discussion. Finally, Thailand supports dictatorship like the junta in Myanmar, by providing them with hard currency to suppress their population. 

6 hours ago, Okis said:

That was my first thought to. The americans certainly are aware of that issue so i'm kinda curious on why they would take such a big risk for such a small unimportant country. 

 

I'm not a military type... But, in thinking a bit, I do think I seem to remember something in the past about the U.S. having one version of such aircraft that they use for their own U.S. forces and then a somewhat lower-tech version that's sold for export.  So either some or all "allies" might not get exactly the same plane as the U.S. forces are using...

 

Any U.S. military/Air Force types here have any sense of that?

 

6 hours ago, BayArea said:

equal in military ranking doesn't win battles and wars in real life scenarios. 

Exactly right.

Up until 2 weeks ago Russia's military was thought to be extremely effective and was feared. Now that everyone has seen them in action against a foe that actually fights back they look pretty sad.

excellent news   .....      but China may not feel the same way about the purchase.

The bigger question is, would they find the human quality in local pilots to fly these complicated machines? and as one poster said, these are not just a plane, they're a platform of highly advanced technology and weapons Thailand have never seen before...

Wonderful !!!   Let's quit worrying about frivolities like road infrastructure, health care, education, etc. , etc.  We need crowd control, and F-35's will provide quick and efficient means of handling demonstrators.

 

Of course, a few might run into the ocean.  That's what the submarines are for.

Don't see what all the fuss is about. They are only about $40 on ebay, and paint and glue is relatively cheap.

13 hours ago, snoop1130 said:

The jets under review included the US-made F35, China’s J-20 and Russia’s SU-57.

That's a tough one for Thailand.. not about what to buy but who not to pee-off.

Thailand only operates 11 Gripen fighters, one crashed at an air display a few years ago.

No doubt the numpties will buy from their corrupt cronies in peking, as the envelopes will be most generous.

Also, I feel the US won't trust the Thais with their 5th generation technology.

In any case it's all a utter waste of money which could be better used to help Thai business out of the current and continuing economic situation.

Wondering if the "german tourist" had a say in this purchase.  I'm sure he would love to take one up for a ride.

14 hours ago, PJPom said:

Why any country would spend so much on defence is a mystery, the much feared Russian Bear is getting a very painful greeting from a much smaller opponent .

Better ways to spend the money , I.e. education , health , social services etc.

it is a mystery because you are viewing it through the lens of what would be best for the population.

 

however, the social programs that you advocate do not have nearly the potential for kickbacks, brown envelopes et al. that military hardware acquisitions do, which is the lens through which the government leaders view it.

 

the baht must flow...

 

What "strategic demands" are we talking about? Have the protestors out at the Din Daeng intersection got their hands on old Mig15s?

1 hour ago, Andycoops said:

Thailand only operates 11 Gripen fighters, one crashed at an air display a few years ago.

No doubt the numpties will buy from their corrupt cronies in peking, as the envelopes will be most generous.

Also, I feel the US won't trust the Thais with their 5th generation technology.

In any case it's all a utter waste of money which could be better used to help Thai business out of the current and continuing economic situation.

If Thailand only operates 11 Gripen fighters, how is it that an F-16 operated by a Thai pilot just crashed a few days ago?  Did he hotwire it out of Uncle Sam's garage?

Well...they have to spend big to earn big!!