USAF Team to Visit Thailand to Assess F-35 Procurement Potential

[snoop1130]

 

BANGKOK (NNT) - A U.S. Air Force inspection team will reportedly be sent to Thailand to assess the readiness of the Royal Thai Air Force to operate and maintain fifth-generation fighter jets.

 

As part of the inspection, the U.S. team will look closely at the RTAF’s resources and capabilities to see if they can support the purchase of advanced stealth fighters.

 

According to reports, a committee tasked with overseeing the planned military procurement has been looking closely at fifth-generation aircraft with advanced stealth capabilities, including Lockheed Martin F-35 jets, to replace Thailand’s aging F-16s.

 

Although the Cabinet approved a budget of 13.8 billion baht in January for the purchase of four jets, the jets would most likely need to be purchased using funds from next year’s budget.

 

-- © Copyright NNT 2022-04-26

 

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[DaddyWarbucks]

Just what Thailand needs, more useless military hardware.

Those hi-tech planes can join the aircraft carrier docked in Sattahip as trophies to stupidity and corruption.

   How's that submarine deal going, I wonder?

[Boomer6969]

7 minutes ago, DaddyWarbucks said:

Just what Thailand needs, more useless military hardware.

My guess is that it is a Chinese order. US Stupid.

[CharlieH]

Reported troll post removed.

[CANSIAM]

9 hours ago, Boomer6969 said:

My guess is that it is a Chinese order. US Stupid.

Good point, China has persuaded Thailand to look into a few F-35 purchases. Thailand allows top Chinese Aircraft engineers / designers to ‘come on down’ for a look see gathering top secret F-35 instrumentation information, nothing wrong with their F-16’s, better keep them F-35’s at home …….

 

[Marknreston]

9 hours ago, Boomer6969 said:

My guess is that it is a Chinese order. US Stupid.

I would bet that Lockheed is behind this and the foreign sales folks in the Pentagon won’t sign off.  

[sammieuk1]

Its ok engines are an optional extra they will make a nice display next to the subs and bomb detectors just behind the biometrics stand ????

[animalmagic]

Is this the Vertical take off and landing aircraft?  Thai pilots are already halfway qualified as they have mastered vertical landings in all the other aircraft!

[hotchilli]

13 hours ago, snoop1130 said:

As part of the inspection, the U.S. team will look closely at the RTAF’s resources and capabilities to see if they can support the purchase of advanced stealth fighters.

While they may be capable of tweaking F16's this new stealth fighter is a bit more advanced.

[vandeventer]

1 hour ago, CANSIAM said:

Good point, China has persuaded Thailand to look into a few F-35 purchases. Thailand allows top Chinese Aircraft engineers / designers to ‘come on down’ for a look see gathering top secret F-35 instrumentation information, nothing wrong with their F-16’s, better keep them F-35’s at home …….

 

I agree, the F-16's are good and cheaper than the F-35's besides you don't want a million [ Chinese tourist] coming here taking pictures of fleet of three F-35's that you have just bought.

[Sydebolle]

Just make sure that these "new toys for the uniformed boys" are being fitted WITH engines; the submarine deal seems to have forgotten this tiny little inclusion in the paperwork. 

I was not aware of the fact, that Thailand had such amounts of left money to be spent, I mean, 13.8 billion Baht is not to be sneezed at ....... But I am happy, that this surplus is there after having put free education for all up to university level and free healthcare for all into place. Well done! 

[tjo o tjim]

19 minutes ago, Sydebolle said:

Just make sure that these "new toys for the uniformed boys" are being fitted WITH engines; the submarine deal seems to have forgotten this tiny little inclusion in the paperwork. 

They already thought of that.  Thailand wants the German engine manufacturer to put the sub engine on the F35.

[Moonlover]

29 minutes ago, animalmagic said:

Is this the Vertical take off and landing aircraft?  Thai pilots are already halfway qualified as they have mastered vertical landings in all the other aircraft!

No the F-35 is not a VTOL. It's a short take off and vertical landing. And as for your second sentence. Childish!

[LittleBear57]

Will it be tanks next I wonder.  Submarines and fighter aircraft are not defensive weapons is Thailand planning an invasion.

[ozimoron]

2 hours ago, CANSIAM said:

Good point, China has persuaded Thailand to look into a few F-35 purchases. Thailand allows top Chinese Aircraft engineers / designers to ‘come on down’ for a look see gathering top secret F-35 instrumentation information, nothing wrong with their F-16’s, better keep them F-35’s at home …….

 

really? stop trolling.

[ozimoron]

18 minutes ago, LittleBear57 said:

Will it be tanks next I wonder.  Submarines and fighter aircraft are not defensive weapons is Thailand planning an invasion.

Both are very much defensive. Only nuclear submarines are really offensive. Diesel submarines hunt ships and others subs.

 

F-35s typically kill over 20 adversary aircraft for every friendly loss in exercises aimed at honing pilot skills.

 

https://www.forbes.com/sites/lorenthompson/2019/05/13/how-a-super-agile-electronic-warfare-system-makes-f-35-the-most-invincible-combat-aircraft-ever/?sh=48c80d114382

[herfiehandbag]

55 minutes ago, hotchilli said:

While they may be capable of tweaking F16's this new stealth fighter is a bit more advanced.

A verdict of " not yet ready, perhaps in a few years" will be a lot less embarrassing than " no, because you will hand them to the Chinese".

[ozimoron]

2 minutes ago, herfiehandbag said:

A verdict of " not yet ready, perhaps in a few years" will be a lot less embarrassing than " no, because you will hand them to the Chinese".

There's good political reasons to sell advance weaponry to a country being heavily courted by the Chinese which should be obvious. The chances that the Thais will hand over US military secrets to the Chinese is zero and assertions that they may do so are less than constructive.

[herfiehandbag]

13 minutes ago, ozimoron said:

There's good political reasons to sell advance weaponry to a country being heavily courted by the Chinese which should be obvious. The chances that the Thais will hand over US military secrets to the Chinese is zero and assertions that they may do so are less than constructive.

Really, not constructive? Or not agreeing with your views?

 

There is a significant difference between being "heavily courted by China" and being effectively beholden to China. 

 

Of course the USA will be aware that delivering F35s to Thailand would effectively be handing them to the Chinese. They will not take the risk. That should be obvious.

Edited April 27, 2022 by herfiehandbag

[jossthaifarang]

13.8 billion Baht would go a long way to feeding the poor and housing the homeless...

[ozimoron]

3 minutes ago, herfiehandbag said:

Really, not constructive? Or not agreeing with your views?

 

There is a significant difference between being "heavily courted by China" and being effectively beholden to China. 

 

Of course the USA will be aware that delivering F35s to Thailand would effectively be handing them to the Chinese. They will not take the risk. That should be obvious.

On the other hand, nobody would be even contemplating the deal if that was "obvious". Why do you think the US is visiting Thailand to discuss the deal? Just to say "no"? China is far from beholden to China. Show some evidence to support that claim or admit it's baseless.

[animalmagic]

53 minutes ago, Moonlover said:

No the F-35 is not a VTOL. It's a short take off and vertical landing. And as for your second sentence. Childish!

Childish?  Thank you, it looks like I am maturing then.

[herfiehandbag]

22 minutes ago, ozimoron said:

On the other hand, nobody would be even contemplating the deal if that was "obvious". Why do you think the US is visiting Thailand to discuss the deal? Just to say "no"? China is far from beholden to China. Show some evidence to support that claim or admit it's baseless.

"Evidence"! It is a discussion, not a court of law!

 

Your opinion is that there are good reasons for the USA supplying F35s to Thailand, which should be obvious. They are not obvious to me, (and I rather suspect many others) and you supply no "evidence" of what those reasons may be; nor do you supply "evidence" that the chance of passing these "secrets" to China is zero.

 

In my opinion the US is sending a team to Thailand, as I suggested, as something of a face saving exercise. No "evidence", it is an opinion.

Edited April 27, 2022 by herfiehandbag

[stephenterry]

Another step closer to when humans destroy the planet. Rather than spend fortunes on weapons, spend it on exterminating Putin. Clearly he hasn't followed Tolstoy - 'How Much Land Does a Man Need?'

 

 

 

[Will B Good]

Why would the Americans be concerned about Thailand's ability to to operate and maintain fifth-generation fighter jets?

 

That's Thailand's problem?

[phutoie2]

4 minutes ago, Will B Good said:

Why would the Americans be concerned about Thailand's ability to to operate and maintain fifth-generation fighter jets?

 

That's Thailand's problem?

No problem, if the US decides not to sell. I imagine the F35 can fly at night, well that's Thai AF .....

 

[heybruce]

Thailand's military is primarily focused on, um, matters internal to the country.  It doesn't need F-35's for that.

[HappyExpat57]

The US Air Force has repeatedly reported the F-35 is worthless, undependable, and very expensive. And those are its GOOD points!

[transam]

Just sounds like Thai/US Air Force chums having a get together...????

 

LOS are spending zillions on updating very old F5's, so I cannot see the F35 thing taking off.

What with all those mothballed F15/16's, surely they would make a nice little earner for the USA.... 

[ozimoron]

57 minutes ago, herfiehandbag said:

"Evidence"! It is a discussion, not a court of law!

 

Your opinion is that there are good reasons for the USA supplying F35s to Thailand, which should be obvious. They are not obvious to me, (and I rather suspect many others) and you supply no "evidence" of what those reasons may be; nor do you supply "evidence" that the chance of passing these "secrets" to China is zero.

 

In my opinion the US is sending a team to Thailand, as I suggested, as something of a face saving exercise. No "evidence", it is an opinion.

You claimed that Thailand would effectively be handing secrets to China. You did not qualify that as an opinion. You can't hide behind every claim as being an opinion. You're just pushing baseless FUD.

Edited April 27, 2022 by ozimoron