THE AIR FORCE IS LOOKING FOR a sum of 19 billion baht in funding for next fiscal year for the planned procurement of new squadrons of fighters to replace the ageing ones scheduled to be decommissioned in the next four years, air force chief ACM Panpakdee Patanakul confirmed today (Jan.30).

 

The air force would largely prefer to buy either Lockheed Martin F-16 Block 70 Fighting Falcon or Saab JAS 39 Gripen jets to replace General Dynamics F-16s and Northrop F-5TH Super Tigris jets, according to the air force chief.

 

Pivotal to the air force’s ultimate preference for either type of the sought-after fighters will be the proven cost-effectiveness of those combat aircraft to buy and replace the ageing ones, beginning in 2028, according to the air force chief.

 

Meanwhile, Prime Minister Srettha Thavisin has initially given the green light for the air force’s seeking some 19 billion baht in 2025 funding for the new fighters procurement scheme on grounds that the chosen combat aircraft’s qualities will ultimately be deemed by air marshals as “optimum”, ACM Panpakdee said.

 

By Thai Newsroom Reporters

Top: The Royal Bahraini Air Force took delivery of the first of 16 Lockheed Martin F-16 Block 70 fighter jets in March 2023. Photo: Lockheed Martin and published by Breaking Defense

 

Full story: THAI NEWSROOM 2024-01-31

 

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16 minutes ago, webfact said:

Meanwhile, Prime Minister Srettha Thavisin has initially given the green light for the air force’s seeking some 19 billion baht

So where will the money be coming from?

Certainly not from the general public.

Time to increase taxes and make up bogus reasons to tax in incoming tourists and expats.....

After the sunk corvette and Thailand's plan to let China in to see the tech in it.

Will anyone sell them any new high tech plane.

It's hard to see the US transferring Block 70 F16s to Thailand, due to the risk of the planes being inspected by the Chinese.

 

But those old F5s have to go.

This is vitally important, it is a near emergency situation with Thailand surrounded by threats. Malaysia, Cambodia, and Burma are such threats. Thailand must stay protected at all costs even if it bankrupts the nation, it's worth it. This is vitally important to the national security of the nation. 

 

Always trust the Thai Armed Forces, they are nothing but nobility, and have such good intentions. 

2 hours ago, flyingtlger said:

So where will the money be coming from?

Tax on foreign income?

2 hours ago, bokningar said:

After the sunk corvette and Thailand's plan to let China in to see the tech in it.

Will anyone sell them any new high tech plane.

Maybe the USA will offer some F-16 A's which are gathering dust somewhere.

Special offer price

2 hours ago, flyingtlger said:

Time to increase taxes and make up bogus reasons to tax in incoming tourists and expats.....

Tourists won't be taxed unless you expect the 300 baht landing charge to be resurrected. 

I agree that a country should update it's main fighting machines when the time comes, but updating such large types

of armements as planes, subs, tanks and ships is as much political exercise in internal affairs and diplomacy

with the suppliers, who's going to supply, when and why is as much as important as the items themselves,

Also, let's not forget the pocket lining and kickbacks issue that is a sure thing in countries such as Thailand...

4 hours ago, bokningar said:

After the sunk corvette and Thailand's plan to let China in to see the tech in it.

Will anyone sell them any new high tech plane.

Yes, the Yanks will be super cautious on this one.

Great idea when they have nothing to defend. Toys for the boys

Choppers are what they need not bloody fighter jets, choppers can be used for a myriad of purposes. from rescue, to water bombers, and fighting if they should ever need to, which is highly unlikely. 

The Swedes could sell Gripens, which are supposed to be good, just without the engines. 

 

 

https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Prajadhipok_(aircraft)

http://www.aeroflight.co.uk/waf/aa-eastasia/thailand/thai-manu-history2.htm

8 hours ago, flyingtlger said:

So where will the money be coming from?

Certainly not from the general public.

Time to increase taxes and make up bogus reasons to tax in incoming tourists and expats.....

Which taxes are "being increased" and how are "bogus reasons" being used to tax incoming tourists and expats? 

7 hours ago, bokningar said:

After the sunk corvette and Thailand's plan to let China in to see the tech in it.

Will anyone sell them any new high tech plane.

Yes, they will.

6 hours ago, spidermike007 said:

Thailand must stay protected at all costs even if it bankrupts the nation, it's worth it.

But the budget and proposed purchase in 2028 is not "bankrupting Thailand".

Edited January 31, 20242 yr by Liverpool Lou

3 hours ago, WHansen said:

Great idea when they have nothing to defend. Toys for the boys

"Toys for the boys"...gawd.     

 

"...they have nothing to defend".

Is Thailand not an entity?

35 minutes ago, brianthainess said:

Choppers are what they need not bloody fighter jets, choppers can be used for a myriad of purposes. from rescue, to water bombers, and fighting if they should ever need to, which is highly unlikely. 

Perhaps their helicopters are not yet due for decommissioning as the planes are.

34 minutes ago, Purdey said:

The Swedes could sell Gripens, which are supposed to be good, just without the engines. 

Obviously, they could as the RTAF has had Gripens, with engines, for years.

Maybe they could have a whip round amongst the generals active and retired. They wouldn't raise the amount required but they would amass a sizeable deposit.

Seriously.....what could the money be spent on that would benefit ordinary Thais more than jet fighters?

So that's 19 billion on the higher up's salaries and expenses.  1 million on the planes.

4 hours ago, mfd101 said:

Yes, the Yanks will be super cautious on this one.

 

The gullibility of the American Foreign Service and military cannot be underestimated. They've allowed Thai officials to spit in their face and give them the cold shoulder while cozying up to China for a decade now. With no repercussions for Thailand. US ambassadors and embassy officials continue to lope around Thailand with their tongues hanging out, begging for every scrap of Thai approval they can get. The US-Thai "alliance" should have been scrapped years ago. And US tech investments should be steered away to places like the Philippines. But I would imagine the US would go through with aircraft sales, even with Chinese co-pilots standing on the tarmac next to the Thai pilots.

1 hour ago, Liverpool Lou said:

Perhaps their helicopters are not yet due for decommissioning as the planes are.

No reason to buy fighter jets instead just have more choppers.

And don't forget that Thailand holds joint air exercises with China called Falcon Strike. Unlike Cobra Gold, where the Chinese have a presence, the US and other Western nations are locked out of Falcon Strike. The US, Australia, Korea, Japan, Singapore, and Indonesia hold separate air exercises. But Thailand opted to go with the Chinese. The US would be nuts to sell Thailand anything more advanced than a fax machine. But, as I say, they're probably gullible enough to do so.

 

 

Quote

Given the sensitivity of the timing, it would certainly have been ideal for Thailand to postpone or cancel the exercise. Thailand has adopted what The Diplomat’s editor-in-chief Shannon Tiezzi has called a “true neutral” position – not swinging in favor of either the U.S. or China and calling on all sides to exercise restraint – in response to the Taiwan crisis. Yet, by engaging in a military drill with the PLAAF so soon after taking a stance of neutrality, Thailand could be seen as sending indirect support to China – a classic case of “actions speak louder than words”

 https://thediplomat.com/2022/08/thailand-china-and-the-revival-of-falcon-strike/

11 minutes ago, brianthainess said:

1 hour ago, Liverpool Lou said:

Perhaps their helicopters are not yet due for decommissioning as the planes are.

No reason to buy fighter jets instead just have more choppers.

What would be your reasoning for suggesting that they spend the money on helicopters instead of planes when they, obviously, cannot do the same jobs?

7 minutes ago, Liverpool Lou said:

What would be your reasoning for suggesting that they spend the money on helicopters instead of planes when they, obviously, cannot do the same jobs?

Um, need? usefulness across a range of tasks? probability of a range of tasks actually coming in to play?

7 hours ago, hotchilli said:

Maybe the USA will offer some F-16 A's which are gathering dust somewhere.

Special offer price

My idea is that the French Rafale, second hand, would be perfect for Thailand. While Nato should force France to buy at least 100 F35s. EU countries with Britain should operate at least 500 those.

Edited January 31, 20242 yr by Ben Zioner

41 minutes ago, John Drake said:

 

The gullibility of the American Foreign Service and military cannot be underestimated. They've allowed Thai officials to spit in their face and give them the cold shoulder while cozying up to China for a decade now. With no repercussions for Thailand. US ambassadors and embassy officials continue to lope around Thailand with their tongues hanging out, begging for every scrap of Thai approval they can get. The US-Thai "alliance" should have been scrapped years ago. And US tech investments should be steered away to places like the Philippines. But I would imagine the US would go through with aircraft sales, even with Chinese co-pilots standing on the tarmac next to the Thai pilots.

So the Yanks really are stupid. Gosh, I hadn't realized.

 

Or perhaps it's just that they try quietly NOT to get in to a competition with the Chinese in every tinpot country but when the chips are down - as with the ridiculous request for 2 F35s - they know how to say NO (ever so politely).