The House Budget Scrutiny Committee agreed by 45:22 votes today (Wednesday) to restore 369 million of the 738 million baht requested by the Royal Thai Air Force (RTAF) for fiscal year 2023 to commence the process of purchasing two F-35A combat jets from the United States, after the total procurement budget of 7.4 billion baht, spanning several fiscal years, was cut by the sub-committee.

 

The subcommittee, which is dominated by opposition MPs, voted against the procurement plan, claiming that the budget should be better used for other more productive projects, at a time when the country is facing an economic downturn and people are suffering economic difficulties and the COVID-19 pandemic.

 

Other members of the subcommittee claimed that the RTAF had not provided them with any details about the project, such as when the planes would be delivered to Thailand or whether the US congress has approved the sale of the planes to Thailand.

 

Full Story: https://www.thaipbsworld.com/house-budget-committee-agrees-to-restore-฿369m-budget-to-rtaf-for-combat-jet-purchase/

 

-- © Copyright Thai PBS 2022-08-03

 

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They already have various F16 models.  Much better to buy new versions/upgrade present ones and save on all the infrastructure/training/support costs to support the F35.

Edited August 3, 20223 yr by DezLez

Wait are they going to take the 369 million Thb over to Cambodia and bet it all on the roulette wheel or by playing craps in order to obtain the billions needed for the F-35 purchase, which the US has not even agreed to yet....

5 minutes ago, ThailandRyan said:

Wait are they going to take the 369 million Thb over to Cambodia and bet it all on the roulette wheel or by playing craps in order to obtain the billions needed for the F-35 purchase, which the US has not even agreed to yet....

And, really, there is a better chance that I will be the next Pope than the US Congress approving this. Plus half the F-16s are unflyable thanks to poor maintenance and these require vastly more. 

 

The whole point of this was to keep the cash tap turned on. If and when the US says no the money will have already been allocated and signed off. Gone. 

369 million? Guessing they could buy one jet.... without the engines.  Seems to work for the sub they bought from the Chinese ????

2 hours ago, ThailandRyan said:

Wait are they going to take the 369 million Thb over to Cambodia and bet it all on the roulette wheel or by playing craps in order to obtain the billions needed for the F-35 purchase, which the US has not even agreed to yet....

Well, there must be a reason why there is talk of casinos in Thailand now...

17 hours ago, DezLez said:

They already have various F16 models.  Much better to buy new versions/upgrade present ones and save on all the infrastructure/training/support costs to support the F35.

If they want something new, with a good range and long flying hours they'd be better off buying MQ-9 Reapers.

Much more cost effective.

 

15 minutes ago, hotchilli said:

If they want something new, with a good range and long flying hours they'd be better off buying MQ-9 Reapers.

Much more cost effective.

 

For recce and ground attack I agree but for local air superiority you still need a "proper" fighter.  The F35 is more of an advanced attack/area denial platform than an air superiority fighter and is horrendously expensive to maintain & fly!

2 minutes ago, DezLez said:

For recce and ground attack I agree but for local air superiority you still need a "proper" fighter.  The F35 is more of an advanced attack/area denial platform than an air superiority fighter and is horrendously expensive to maintain & fly!

Thailand has no imminent threat from anyone... and would not stand and fight if they did.

F-35's will be a show piece only.. and a very expensive one sitting on the tarmac.