[FILE] An Israeli air force F-35 fighter lands during the “Blue Flag” multinational air defence exercise at the Ovda air force base, north of the Israeli city of Eilat, on October 24, 2021. (Photo by JACK GUEZ / AFP)

 

The Royal Thai Air Force (RTAF) is expecting to get a clearer picture from the United States about its plan to purchase two F-35 stealth fighter jets in the middle of this year, RTAF Commander-in-Chief Air Chief Marshal Alongkorn Vannarot said on Sunday.

 

He said that the procurement of the two hi-tech aircraft is in the process of “coordination” between the two sides, which includes related issues such as inspection, by the US, of the airbase where the planes are to be stationed if the purchase is approved by the US congress.

 

ACM Alongkorn explained that the RTAF has to revise its White Paper on long-term arms procurement every 3-5 years,because of a discrepancy between the budget sought each year by the RTAF and the actual budget received from the government.

 

Full Story: https://www.thaipbsworld.com/thai-air-force-expects-update-from-the-us-mid-year-on-f-35-fighter-jets/

 

-- © Copyright Thai PBS 2023-01-01

 

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Update ........Your not getting them ..

 

regards Worgeordie

This has got to be the clearest example of how the lunatics can not be running the asylum. Thailand, a 3rd world nation, has an aircraft carrier without aircraft perennially moored in Sattahip, imminent plans to buy submarines which is useless in the shallow waters of the Gulf Of Siam and plans to buy the F-35, the most advanced fighter jet in the world when other developing nations sensibly go with MUCH cheaper but still perfectly viable alternatives.

And all this in a time when Thailand has no enemies (regional or otherwise) and all its neighboring countries mostly are able to field barefoot soldiers with 50 y/o Kalashnikovs.

This is ALL about toys for the boys, it's all about Thailand's thousands of flag officers getting penis enhancers and face expanders. 

This is the ultimate proof (if we ever needed it) that Thailand's military is totally without political oversight and desperately in need of it.

Even if the RTAF could afford them, even if the US were stupid enough to supply them, even if RTAF pilots could qualify to fly them, what on earth does the RTAF think it's going to do or achieve with just 2 of them?

 

Well, apart from looking lovely at the end of the runway ...

Will someone just pinch these simpleton and wake them up from this dream they are having.

If the RTAF is anything like the Royal Thai Navy...... God help us if the sale goes thru. 

It's either a Strategic Alliance, or it isn't.

Ask Xi if you can have them first or just have a séance and ask Bob Hope ????

6 hours ago, mfd101 said:

Even if the RTAF could afford them, even if the US were stupid enough to supply them, even if RTAF pilots could qualify to fly them, what on earth does the RTAF think it's going to do or achieve with just 2 of them?

 

Well, apart from looking lovely at the end of the runway ...

transfer the 2 planes to China, or 1 to  china and 1 to russia...

 

They will never get them

If the Thais do get them today they will be engineless and without the weapons system now available.  They may get them in 2035 when the technology is well advanced beyond today.

 

https://www.justice.gov/opa/pr/chinese-national-admits-stealing-sensitive-military-program-documents-united-technologies

 

China does not invent anything, they steal it.

 

https://www.washingtontimes.com/news/2019/sep/3/deceiving-sky-reveals-how-china-steals-tech-secret/

 

All readers should read the article.  The Chinese are well known stealers of western technology.

 

https://www.theguardian.com/world/2020/feb/06/china-technology-theft-fbi-biggest-threat

 

A simple search reveals dozens of articles on the same subject.

 

 

The hordes of Russian tourists here make it clear which side Thailnd is allied with over the Ukraine, so hardly to be trusted with such advanced technology.

The Thai air force has one job. Not buying the F-35. It is absolute insanity that they are even discussing it.

 

39 minutes ago, futsukayoi said:

The hordes of Russian tourists here make it clear which side Thailnd is allied with over the Ukraine, so hardly to be trusted with such advanced technology.

If they (Ukrainians), could arrive here in many thousands with plenty spending money I expect they would be welcomed, anyhow there is no embargo against them. Instead they huddle round a candle in the cold and dark remnants of their homes... destroyed by missiles made by Russians, Russians who might well be enjoying the sun in Phuket!

15 hours ago, Phoenix Rising said:

50 y/o Kalashnikovs.

they should buy the american brand. 

 

https://kalashnikov-usa.com/about/

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15 hours ago, Phoenix Rising said:

And all this in a time when Thailand has no enemies (regional or otherwise) and all its neighboring countries mostly are able to field barefoot soldiers with 50 y/o Kalashnikovs.

The Vietnamese have 35 Su-30s with Vietnamese pilots in it...

15 hours ago, Phoenix Rising said:

This has got to be the clearest example of how the lunatics can not be running the asylum. Thailand, a 3rd world nation, has an aircraft carrier without aircraft perennially moored in Sattahip, imminent plans to buy submarines which is useless in the shallow waters of the Gulf Of Siam and plans to buy the F-35, the most advanced fighter jet in the world when other developing nations sensibly go with MUCH cheaper but still perfectly viable alternatives.

And all this in a time when Thailand has no enemies (regional or otherwise) and all its neighboring countries mostly are able to field barefoot soldiers with 50 y/o Kalashnikovs.

This is ALL about toys for the boys, it's all about Thailand's thousands of flag officers getting penis enhancers and face expanders. 

This is the ultimate proof (if we ever needed it) that Thailand's military is totally without political oversight and desperately in need of it.

Submarines are not intended to operate in the Gulf. You might have considered the Andaman sea. Most western allied countries military purchases are intended to interoperate with each other and the US. The 35 is no different. They will not buy many and would be used more for training and exercises than intended for combat.

31 minutes ago, ozimoron said:

Submarines are not intended to operate in the Gulf. You might have considered the Andaman sea. Most western allied countries military purchases are intended to interoperate with each other and the US. The 35 is no different. They will not buy many and would be used more for training and exercises than intended for combat.

So there is no need for Thailand to purchase 2 aircraft if they will only used for training and exercises with other allies.

 

Very expensive way of running a small air force

5 minutes ago, ozfarang said:

So there is no need for Thailand to purchase 2 aircraft if they will only used for training and exercises with other allies.

 

Very expensive way of running a small air force

We'll have to agree to disagree. The F35 is the most advanced aircraft in the world currently. Buying anything else would be buying obsolescence.

No need to wait for update ... I can tell you.

.... they're krap & won't be ready on time ????

26 minutes ago, ozimoron said:

We'll have to agree to disagree. The F35 is the most advanced aircraft in the world currently. Buying anything else would be buying obsolescence.

Yes, but will the US sell the sophisticated control software that will be used in US F-35's or much degraded system for Thailand

16 minutes ago, ozfarang said:

Yes, but will the US sell the sophisticated control software that will be used in US F-35's or much degraded system for Thailand

I don't know but I suspect that only the weapons systems and targeting software might be affected. The software is going to be modular anyway so no big deal. Upgrading the weapons at any time would not be difficult and the training time greatly shortened. It's also conceivable that Thai pilots could be trained in the US for these. The interoperability is likely the main objective in this decision. Plus mil to mil relations. Australia purchased F35's early, knowing that the entire platform would be upgraded in the future.

 

There's no point in flying obsolete aircraft which would be vulnerable to modern AA missiles anyway. The F35's main claim to fame is it's ability to defend itself.

With these eight countries as program partners for the F-35, the US, the United Kingdom, Italy, the Netherlands, Australia, Norway, Denmark and Canada. 

Countries who operate or have ordered the F35

Australia,Belgium,Canada, Czech Republic, Denmark, Finland,Germany, Greece, Israel, Italy, Japan, Netherlands, Norway, Poland, Republic of Korea, Switzerland, United Kingdom and the United States.

 

Thailands chance being on the list in the future is questionable, if not highly unlikely.

18 hours ago, snoop1130 said:

related issues such as inspection, by the US, of the airbase where the planes are to be stationed

Ah, to make sure there are enough crash trucks to handle collapsing nose gear.

3 hours ago, Boomer6969 said:

The Vietnamese have 35 Su-30s with Vietnamese pilots in it...

- The SU-30 first flew in 1989.

- Vietnam is not a neighboring country.

- Vietnam is not an enemy of Thailand.

2 hours ago, ozimoron said:

Submarines are not intended to operate in the Gulf. You might have considered the Andaman sea. Most western allied countries military purchases are intended to interoperate with each other and the US. The 35 is no different. They will not buy many and would be used more for training and exercises than intended for combat.

Sure, subs can of course operate in the Andaman sea but almost all of Thai naval bases and power is concentrated in the gulf.

Wrt the acquisition of F-35s I highly doubt the reason is anything but toys for the boys. To the extent that Thailand needs to invest in the Air Force they'd save tons of money upgrading their F-16s. And if the wanted new aircraft the Gripen would give them so much more bang for the buck.

3 minutes ago, Phoenix Rising said:

Sure, subs can of course operate in the Andaman sea but almost all of Thai naval bases and power is concentrated in the gulf.

Wrt the acquisition of F-35s I highly doubt the reason is anything but toys for the boys. To the extent that Thailand needs to invest in the Air Force they'd save tons of money upgrading their F-16s. And if the wanted new aircraft the Gripen would give them so much more bang for the buck.

They're obviously aware of all those issues so I think it's safe to count them out of the equation. I think "toys for the boys" reveals your actual agenda here, rather than wanting to understand the rationale.

45 minutes ago, ozimoron said:

They're obviously aware of all those issues so I think it's safe to count them out of the equation. I think "toys for the boys" reveals your actual agenda here, rather than wanting to understand the rationale.

I think you give them too much credit. What would e.g. have been the rationale for acquiring an aircraft carrier if they'd been aware of all the issues (actually having to buy aircraft, maintenance, training, etc.)? And that's not even taking into consideration the total lack of a strategic reason for the purchase.

And I do not try to hide my "agenda" here, which is to highlight that Thailand's armed forces do not answer to democratically elected politicians, hence the '5 y/o with daddy's credit card in the toy store' procurements.

3 hours ago, ozimoron said:

We'll have to agree to disagree. The F35 is the most advanced aircraft in the world currently. Buying anything else would be buying obsolescence.

And which country would Thailand be fighting with only two F35 and no updated weapons or avionics? No advanced missile systems or weapons of any kind.

Another possible factor in this purchase decision seems to have escaped many people's short attention. If the Thais have trained pilots on the latest aircraft and the stuffing hits the fan as it looks like it very well might then the US could easily provide more aircraft under a Lend Lease type program.