Thailand’s Awkward Pursuit of American F-35As

[webfact]

Credit: Depositphotos

 

The Royal Thai Army is bent on acquiring the state-of-the-art U.S. stealth fighter. But is it worth the cost?

 

By Tita Sanglee

The Royal Thai Air Force (RTAF) has taken a further step toward joining the F-35 club. After much bickering and several budget adjustments in response to the grim economic outlook, Thailand’s House Budget Scrutiny Committee recently approved a budget of 369 million baht ($14.7 million) for the 2023 fiscal year to facilitate the RTAF’s procurement of two F-35s (variant A for conventional take-off and landing). These combat jets will cost 7.4 billion baht ($207 million) in total, and payments will be made in installments over a four-year period.

 

Additionally, the Committee has given the Defense Ministry a green light to invest 171.6 million baht ($4.8 million) in building an ammunition plant in Lopburi – a historic province in central Thailand that has recently seen a soaring wild monkey population.

 

From the perspective of ordinary Thais, who are more worried about deepening socioeconomic troubles, these new defense investments make little sense. Considering that Thailand has enjoyed cordial relations with all of its neighbors and major powers, the probability of an aggressive armed clash involving Thailand and another foreign military is very low. Besides, the RTAF is already well-equipped with a squadron of drones, a bunch of F-16 and modified F-5 jets, and 12 Swedish JAS-39 Gripen fighters which are now undergoing MS20 configuration upgrades to enhance ground and air-to-air combat capabilities.

 

Full story: https://thediplomat.com/2022/08/thailands-awkward-pursuit-of-american-f-35as/

 

-- © Copyright The Diplomat 2022-08-11

 

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[Shuya]

The Chinese will be looking forward to get their hands on them. 

[Geoffggi]

Nevertheless, as pointed out by Ian Storey of Singapore’s ISEAS-Yusof Ishak Institute, there is a good chance that the Biden administration will not approve F-35 sales to Thailand due to the Thai military’s close ties to its Chinese counterpart. The fear of F-35 secrets being leaked to China via Thailand may outweigh the need to strengthen the U.S.-Thai alliance.

 

 

I would consider this prudent thinking !!!!

[2baht]

19 minutes ago, webfact said:

The Royal Thai Army is bent..............................

I think most would agree!

[John Drake]

31 minutes ago, webfact said:

Additionally, the Committee has given the Defense Ministry a green light to invest 171.6 million baht ($4.8 million) in building an ammunition plant in Lopburi – a historic province in central Thailand that has recently seen a soaring wild monkey population.

What do monkeys have to do with F 35s? . . . Never mind.

[peterfranks]

38 minutes ago, webfact said:

Thailand’s House Budget Scrutiny Committee recently approved a budget of 369 million baht ($14.7 million) for the 2023 fiscal year to facilitate the RTAF’s procurement of two F-35s (variant A for conventional take-off and landing). These combat jets will cost 7.4 billion baht ($207 million) in total, and payments will be made in installments over a four-year period.

So for 2023 a budget of 369 million was approved, which is only 7 billion short, and they gonna pay it all off in 4 years?

 

Where that money is gonna come from?

[bamnutsak]

Cheaper to just pay the generals, and hangers-on, their slice of the graft directly. Then you're not stuck with something too embarassing like an aircraft carrier.

 

 

 

 

[Ramdas]

They really have their priorities backwards haven’t they ?! ????????‍♂️
Instead of learning and training people on how to drive plus having an effective police force in place who do what they’re supposed to do like stopping unlawful thai drivers and the like plus just to mention replacing ancient over polluting trucks and buses then upgrading their whole railway network they’re thinking of buying such planes ( which they won’t even be able to use ) Just so they can show it off to the Chinese ?!    Brainless to put it simple ????

[Megasin1]

The Chinese must really be putting the pressure on Thailand to get these for them, soon they will be down to just asking for one. 

[CANSIAM]

Won't happen, the USA does not want China having a look at the state-of-the-art stealthy F-35 cockpit data... Work on a payment instalment plan to help the people during this  "grim economic outlook"

[Kwaibill]

1 hour ago, John Drake said:

What do monkeys have to do with F 35s? . . . Never mind.

They'll be put to work at the munitions plant?

[stoner]

22 minutes ago, Ramdas said:

They really have their priorities backwards haven’t they ?!

or they simply don't care ?

[ChrisKC]

1 hour ago, peterfranks said:

So for 2023 a budget of 369 million was approved, which is only 7 billion short, and they gonna pay it all off in 4 years?

 

Where that money is gonna come from?

TAT will tell you: All the tourists they have been predicting

[vandeventer]

3 hours ago, Shuya said:

The Chinese will be looking forward to get their hands on them. 

Them? Will there be more than one?

[2baht]

2 hours ago, bamnutsak said:

Cheaper to just pay the generals, and hangers-on, their slice of the graft directly. Then you're not stuck with something too embarassing like an aircraft carrier.

 

 

 

 

They have no shame!

[tomacht8]

Thai army purchases make zero sense. Aircraft carriers without aircrafts, submarines without engines and now 2 attack fighterjets without weapon systems but with enormously high maintenance costs. It's unbelievable how taxpayers' money is wasted here.

[2baht]

1 minute ago, tomacht8 said:

Thai army purchases make zero sense.

 Depends on who you ask, some would agree it's a great purchase, kaching, kaching! ????????

[weelegs]

The key to this story is the Lopburi monkeys.

Obviously.

[MaiDong]

If every normal adult person in the country was asked if they want or need these jets, the answer would be 'No'. 

[10baht]

4 hours ago, webfact said:

The Royal Thai Army is bent on acquiring the state-of-the-art U.S. stealth fighter. But is it worth the cost?

 

No, it is not worth the money to give anything to Thailand that may end up in China's hands to copy.

[userabcd]

10 minutes ago, MaiDong said:

If every normal adult person in the country was asked if they want or need these jets, the answer would be 'No'. 

That's the beauty of democracy. Government representatives and lawmakers make and implement their rules and decisions and there is not a thing any citizen can do about it.

[10baht]

6 minutes ago, MaiDong said:

If every normal adult person in the country was asked if they want or need these jets, the answer would be 'No'. 

What about our submarines? Was that a yes or no or maybe so?

[MaiDong]

5 minutes ago, 10baht said:

What about our submarines? Was that a yes or no or maybe so?

Who knows?

 

Poll is here: https://aseannow.com/topic/1268579-should-the-thai-govt-buy-f-35-jets-from-the-us/

[Srikcir]

... buy two F-35's ...

So one on active duty and one as backup.

Essentially, a single F-35 to serve combat missions.

Why not add  crop duster? At least it will have  meaningful purpose.

[Exilerunner]

Another decision that is a slap in the face of most Thai Citizens

[thailand49]

4 hours ago, Geoffggi said:

Nevertheless, as pointed out by Ian Storey of Singapore’s ISEAS-Yusof Ishak Institute, there is a good chance that the Biden administration will not approve F-35 sales to Thailand due to the Thai military’s close ties to its Chinese counterpart. The fear of F-35 secrets being leaked to China via Thailand may outweigh the need to strengthen the U.S.-Thai alliance.

 

 

I would consider this prudent thinking !!!!

Clear what fear this is 100% that it will not just leak but they will hand it over with a hefty return 

[Burma Bill]

3 hours ago, Kwaibill said:

They'll be put to work at the munitions plant?

using monkey wrenches???????

[verticalift]

After spending over 45 years in the cockpit of both fixed-wing and helicopters mostly in the Persian Gulf, I’m now listening to a few Generals wanting F-35’s here in T’land.
Hell, I’d kinda like to have an F-35 as well….. But, let’s be realistic. I think a flock of F-16’s will suffice.

[kidneyw]

Is it possible to park these F-35s on the deck of the aircraft carrier?

[SbuxPlease]

The cost to buy is just the start. Then you need to maintain.

 

Which, sorry Thailand, you cannot afford.