Every country maintains an airforce and Thailand's government must procure well in advance of aircraft being obsolete or retired.

 

And of course purchase should be aimed at the most advanced fighters of the day. It's like buying a new computer - always go for the most advanced becasue it will become obsolete soon enough. Thailand probably has no choice, but to go American since their aerial support infrastructure is already geared this way. This makes upgrades more cost effective rather than going with a new supplier.

 

Don't forget Thailand thrashed China last time the two went head to head in dog fighting during airforce exercises. Presumably the Thai use American training methods which proved superior particularly in long range combat, target tracking and situational awareness.

5 hours ago, Bagwain said:

New planes are mostly fly by computer!

Maybe they will stay in the air a bit longer! ????

Not if they can’t remember to try shutting by it off and then back on again.

Here comes corruption. Saw it happen in South Africa. 

5 hours ago, meechai said:

Against what? Nobody wants to invade Thailand.

What would the prize be?

 

You don’t suppose it has anything to do with deterrence created by being well armed with US F-16s do you? Nahhhh, too obvious. Your armchair insight into military strategy is staggering.

Talk to Poland maybe?

5 hours ago, meechai said:

Against what? Nobody wants to invade Thailand.

What would the prize be?

 

Why the upcoming cannabis crop of course!

Everybody wants a big slice of the fat tourism pie soon to come.

The new jets are sorely needed because they will have working brakes and headlights.

Nobody in the Kingdom has a handle on brake or headlight repairs yet.

 

On the other hand think of how many trucks could have been bought with those funds that would have cut the road carnage in half.

Now, if we could just find a way to keep the roads dry another raft of people could be saved.

Recommissioning Chakri Naruebeth air craft carrier from Spain, which has been sitting idle that long that barnacles firmly fixed the boat to the harbour and no serviceable aircraft left. 

Same as the submarines without engines - leave it to the Thai armed forces and you get properly shafted left, right and centre - but then, it is their country. I call it a failed state with all the trimmings and buntings there are ......... how sad! 

4 hours ago, connda said:

The problem from what I can tell is their decision to purchase the US F-35 which is the most expensive fighter jet on the planet. 
There are other choices that are significantly less expense and still can meet the defensive needs of the country. 

for such a (very) rich country as Thailand, the price of the F-35 are just some pocket change 555   

For <deleted>'s sakes!!  Who is the enemy?   Neither Burma nor Cambodia has anything with which to fight.  Vietnam and China would clean up Thailand in a half a day.  So where is the threat that needs defense?

 

Or is this about kickbacks to the Thai Military Bank accounts in the Cayman Islands?  Just asking.

53 minutes ago, Stevemercer said:

Every country maintains an airforce and Thailand's government must procure well in advance of aircraft being obsolete or retired.

 

And of course purchase should be aimed at the most advanced fighters of the day. It's like buying a new computer - always go for the most advanced becasue it will become obsolete soon enough. Thailand probably has no choice, but to go American since their aerial support infrastructure is already geared this way. This makes upgrades more cost effective rather than going with a new supplier.

 

Don't forget Thailand thrashed China last time the two went head to head in dog fighting during airforce exercises. Presumably the Thai use American training methods which proved superior particularly in long range combat, target tracking and situational awareness.

Russia could certainly use the business right about now.  They'd probably offer up a pretty deep discount, and unlike America, they'd have no problems with the kickbacks either.

America would NEVER consider selling the most technology advanced air craft to Thailand. With thailands close ties with China.  Maybe some propeller trainers, but never high tech equipment.  What a joke this article is. 555555555555555555

I hope whoever attacks books a quarantine hotel for days 1 and 5; why should they get-off Scott-free!

"Thai Air Force Affirms New Fighter Jets Are a ’Necessity’"

 

I would be very surprised if they said they weren't, but that were only for show(ing off!)

6 hours ago, webfact said:

According to Air Vice-Marshal Prapas, the air force also intends to purchase fifth-generation fighters with five core features: stealth, supercruise, sensor fusion, and super maneuverability, as well as avionics integration systems.

Childproof locks and stabilizer wheels may be an useful feature...

4 minutes ago, herfiehandbag said:

Childproof locks and stabilizer wheels may be an useful feature...

Dont forget the autopilot for the microsleep sessions...

6 hours ago, meechai said:

Against what? Nobody wants to invade Thailand.

What would the prize be?

 

Coconuts and prize winning durian fruits .... The "friends" in the North makes some shiny F35 copies and there would be some very tidy red envelopes as part of that deal methinks. 

With those planes, the Airforce could arrange a Coup of their own.

BS. Who is a threat to Thailand? Just more toys for rich militaristic PM. What about feeding hungry people? 

The ones over korat yesterday are flying perfect! Or was that Taiwanese fighters 

7 hours ago, Geoffggi said:

The only country who possibly has desires on taking over Thailand is the CCP, they are currently trying the peaceful way of buying it, but if that fails who knows ...................

No need to do any effort: they already eat out of their hands. And as soon as a strong enemy appears, the start bowing. The airforce was actually the only part of the thai army that fought against Japan: they didn't know the others were already on their knees without having done anything

7 hours ago, smedly said:

what the AF chiefs want is a budget 

 

they haven't a hope in hell acquiring F35's, 

Right! With a unit cost at about USD 80 mil. and others like Stealth, Typhoon even more expensive. By the time the RTAF have F 35's they'll be well out of date.

4 hours ago, Dogmatix said:

given its view that the entire South China Sea belongs to it.     

On the same basis I believe Ecuador is claiming Middle Earth.

I hope there's a flight deck on those new subs!

8 hours ago, meechai said:

Against what? Nobody wants to invade Thailand.

What would the prize be?

 

Help with filling in a TM30 new address, maybe?

16 minutes ago, Old Croc said:

On the same basis I believe Ecuador is claiming Middle Earth.

Or Thailands belief it is the center of the universe...

4 minutes ago, unblocktheplanet said:

I hope there's a flight deck on those new subs!

For landing or crashing....

At a risk of going off topic, all countries need to be able to defend themselves against aggression. Monsters like Putin arise and invade for no other reason than to satisfy their ego's and expand their power, there is no reasoning with them. Such monsters have already arisen in Myanmar and once they finished subjugating their population and expanding the military they will turn their attention outwards towards places like Thailand. If they percieve wealkness, as Putin did, they will invade. Argentina invaded the Falklands because it percieved weakness in the UK.

16 minutes ago, RobU said:

At a risk of going off topic, all countries need to be able to defend themselves against aggression. Monsters like Putin arise and invade for no other reason than to satisfy their ego's and expand their power, there is no reasoning with them. Such monsters have already arisen in Myanmar and once they finished subjugating their population and expanding the military they will turn their attention outwards towards places like Thailand. If they percieve wealkness, as Putin did, they will invade. Argentina invaded the Falklands because it percieved weakness in the UK.

You need to do some research especially thinking Putin percieved weakness in Ukraine. That is not the reason!

 

9 hours ago, meechai said:

Against what? Nobody wants to invade Thailand.

What would the prize be?

 

A very unusual race of homo sapiens.