Lockheed Martin F-35 Lightning II fighters. Photo: Lockheed Martin, US Army

 

By Thai Newsroom Reporters

 

THE AIR FORCE’S reported plan to purchase a startup batch of two F-35 Lightning II stealth fighters without weapon systems aboard will likely draw a stern disapproval at parliament, according to an opposition lawmaker. 

 

Pheu Thai MP Yutthapong Charatsathian said today (May 29) it will be “ultimately unusual” for the air force to procure the Lockheed Martin F-35 Lightning II multirole fighters without armament available since all combat aircraft are literally designed to constantly arm themselves with weapon systems even in peacetime.

 

Keep up to date with all things Thailand - Join our daily ASEAN NOW Thailand Newsletter - Click to subscribe

 

One cannot help wondering what is the use of unarmed combat aircraft which the air force has planned to buy for 78 million dollars each, Yutthapong said. The purchase money for the F-35 jets will be requested as part of the air force’s 2023 budget.

 

Full story: https://thainewsroom.com/2022/05/29/opposition-bloc-to-hammer-air-forces-plan-to-purchase-unarmed-f-35-fighters/

 

-- © Copyright  THAI NEWSROOM 2022-05-30

 

- Cigna offers a range of visa-compliant plans that meet the minimum requirement of medical treatment, including COVID-19, up to THB 3m. For more information on all expat health insurance plans click here.

11 minutes ago, webfact said:

One cannot help wondering what is the use of unarmed combat aircraft which the air force has planned to buy for 78 million dollars each

Silly Rabbit, It is actually business as usual since the jets actually cost half of that ???? Purchases such as these are just to generate Purchase Orders to line the generals pockets as they continue to feed at the Public Trough

Meanwhile elderly Thai citizens are expected to make ends meet on 600 baht pensions per month

 

This country really needs a hero

Fighter aircraft without armament and submarines without engines - ya gotta wunda!

Forgoing the corruption will go along way in paying for these "options".

Thats most unusual purchase. Just flying those beasts cost 1mln per h. 
As I remember the usa has already refused sell to thailand this very system, partly because of suspicion it would be available for chinese military to access them and copy some technology. Thats why the isa would never sell to countries which are suspected for leaking to china. 
Those planes are only a part of the system, the rest being on ground, which make them effective, The system is as expensive as planes itself. 
Those advanced airplanes do require proper high quality servicing, well above present thai capability. How long before they will be grounded or worse lost in air?

Thailand has just contracted some large big observation drones from the USA, for use on marine coastal. They make more sense in protecting borders and prevent drug smuggling  into country

 

It does appear that there might be better uses for that 5.3 billion baht. However, not as trophy like for the useless vampire generals. 

10 minutes ago, bdenner said:

Fighter aircraft without armament and submarines without engines - ya gotta wunda!

Forgoing the corruption will go along way in paying for these "options".

You forgot "aircraft carrier without aircraft"

Laos seems a potential threat so an understandable purchase.

The pilots can open the cockpits and throw insults at the enemy!

All of this wasted money spent on defence against who?  In my new book 'Noodles at Noon' I carefully explain to the Generals AKA The Government that an invasion at 12 noon would result in the Thai military being completely overrun as the whole country is shut; all administration ceases; roads are impassable; companies closed.  Only noodle sellers work.

I have offered this book to the forum but I am still waiting a response.

47 minutes ago, mania said:

 

This country really needs a hero

It found one so he was slapped with various charges to keep him out of politics.

Just now, mikebell said:

All of this wasted money spent on defence against who?  In my new book 'Noodles at Noon' I carefully explain to the Generals AKA The Government that an invasion at 12 noon would result in the Thai military being completely overrun as the whole country is shut; all administration ceases; roads are impassable; companies closed.  Only noodle sellers work.

I have offered this book to the forum but I am still waiting a response.

Soon to be banned in Thailand I'd wager.

1 minute ago, edwinchester said:

Soon to be banned in Thailand I'd wager.

It's in English so I'm as safe as all the contributors on here.

For the generals, I have 3 top of the line Mercedes Benz, brand spanking new with all the Xtra's.

 

One thing is that they don't have any engines, but they look amazing & at a knock down price as well. Please PM me for further details. ???? 

49 minutes ago, Thailand said:

Laos seems a potential threat so an understandable purchase.

The pilots can open the cockpits and throw insults at the enemy!

since when?

 

Buying the aircraft without weapons does make a lot of sense. Firstly, it gets pilots trained to use up to date aircraft. Secondly, it allays any fears that sensitive weapons systems may fall into the hands of Chinese or Russians and it allays fears of a regional arms race. Finally, it would not be huge stretch to arm these aircraft in the event of a war in which Thailand would likely support the US and its allies. If that weren't the case they would be buying Chinese jets not American jets.

Subs with no engines, now fighters with no missiles, a laughing stock.

No doubt all this is to increase the deposits into off shore accounts as their popularity, or lack of it, hits rock bottom.

This money could spend much better than the for the army... They do nothing/ don't need anything becausethere isno thread and they cost too much money already with all the generals, deputy generals and deputy deputy generals....People are poor start a programme for them.. Use the money for digging electricity wiring in the ground or so 

Quote

 

 

22 minutes ago, ozimoron said:

since when?

 

Buying the aircraft without weapons does make a lot of sense. Firstly, it gets pilots trained to use up to date aircraft. Secondly, it allays any fears that sensitive weapons systems may fall into the hands of Chinese or Russians and it allays fears of a regional arms race. Finally, it would not be huge stretch to arm these aircraft in the event of a war in which Thailand would likely support the US and its allies. If that weren't the case they would be buying Chinese jets not American jets.

Trained to fly an aircraft the Americans don't want to give them directly because of your second sentence? Bit contradictory innit?

2 minutes ago, starky said:

Trained to fly an aircraft the Americans don't want to give them directly because of your second sentence? Bit contradictory innit?

Not so. Clearly the objection is not giving Thailand the aircraft but the weapons. What does innit mean? This isn't twitter,

These are simply toys for the Generals and a mechanism to take some brown envelopes as part of the deal. Hence, weapons are not required.

 

I see them flying over our farm near Korat. Probably got one of their gigs along for the ride. Unfortunately and somewhat predictably, they cannot fly them properly so I am always a bit nervous when they are over the top of our property in case it comes down and explodes into a ball of flames, like this one did in March.

 

 

 

34 minutes ago, ozimoron said:

since when?

 

Buying the aircraft without weapons does make a lot of sense. Firstly, it gets pilots trained to use up to date aircraft. Secondly, it allays any fears that sensitive weapons systems may fall into the hands of Chinese or Russians and it allays fears of a regional arms race. Finally, it would not be huge stretch to arm these aircraft in the event of a war in which Thailand would likely support the US and its allies. If that weren't the case they would be buying Chinese jets not American jets.

It was sarcasm.

And the purchase is yet another complete waste of money, simply more boys toys and no doubt a few bulging pockets.

1 minute ago, Thailand said:

It was sarcasm.

And the purchase is yet another complete waste of money, simply more boys toys and no doubt a few bulging pockets.

The waste of money is your opinion. On one leveI I agree that any arms purchases are a waste of money in the bigger picture. In a smaller picture, Thailand does need to upgrade its airforce and the F-35 is really the only viable option to do so. Australia had the same experience. Another reason not to arm them is that there is a modernisation programme in place for the F-35. which was built under a different model (evolutionary development) to previous aircraft.

The planes are multirole and can be used for a very fast exit when it all comes on top ???? 

10 minutes ago, ozimoron said:

Not so. Clearly the objection is not giving Thailand the aircraft but the weapons. What does innit mean? This isn't twitter,

My dear old mum was a regular user of "innit" many many years before any form of social media.

 

My wife picked it up from mum and regularly uses "innit" in conversation much to many peoples amusement.

So, from my perspective the usage is acceptable- "innit"?

 

3 minutes ago, ozimoron said:

The waste of money is your opinion. On one leveI I agree that any arms purchases are a waste of money in the bigger picture. In a smaller picture, Thailand does need to upgrade its airforce and the F-35 is really the only viable option to do so. Australia had the same experience. Another reason not to arm them is that there is a modernisation programme in place for the F-35. which was built under a different model (evolutionary development) to previous aircraft.

My opinion and that of many others including those in the subject of the thread.

5 minutes ago, Thailand said:

My dear old mum was a regular user of "innit" many many years before any form of social media.

 

My wife picked it up from mum and regularly uses "innit" in conversation much to many peoples amusement.

So, from my perspective the usage is acceptable- "innit"?

 

I think it's used only in some parts of the UK, not sure where.

2 minutes ago, ozimoron said:

I think it's used only in some parts of the UK, not sure where.

The midlands , Hong Kong and Chiang Mai! ????

1 hour ago, mokwit said:

You forgot "aircraft carrier without aircraft"

Or an 'observation' blimp that could be shot down with a .22 rifle.

 

Or my favourite, bomb detectors that were actually novelty golf ball finders. 

20 minutes ago, ozimoron said:

The waste of money is your opinion. On one leveI I agree that any arms purchases are a waste of money in the bigger picture. In a smaller picture, Thailand does need to upgrade its airforce and the F-35 is really the only viable option to do so. Australia had the same experience. Another reason not to arm them is that there is a modernisation programme in place for the F-35. which was built under a different model (evolutionary development) to previous aircraft.

The US will not sell F-35's to Thailand.

 

We've been through this before. They would not even share critical data with the Brits who are level 1 partners. 

 

It's a nice dream for the bank accounts of the Generals but it will never, ever happen.

2 hours ago, bdenner said:

Fighter aircraft without armament and submarines without engines - ya gotta wunda!

Forgoing the corruption will go along way in paying for these "options".

Missed off the rusty old Japanese trains

8 minutes ago, RichardColeman said:

Missed off the rusty old Japanese trains

the new once, some 30 years old, come only the last year.

As old and noisy they are, still good to ride.

I think they were donated, just cost of sea transport 

33 minutes ago, RichardColeman said:

Missed off the rusty old Japanese trains

Austrian fire trucks.

Chinese buses imported through Malaysia to be used in Bangkok (are they still in a field somewhere?).

Containers of wheelchairs imported from the UK to be given to charity that were impounded by Customs.

Stolen luxury, sports and supercars stolen from the UK sitting in Customs in Laem Chabang.

Etc.

 

We could probably keep on going for a while on this subject if we tried, such is the corruption and waste of taxpayers' money here.