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Thai Air Force faces a choice between F-16 and Gripen to replace aging fleet


webfact

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7 hours ago, webfact said:

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The Royal Thai Air Force plans to acquire 12 new fighter jets — either the US F-16 or the Swedish Gripen — to replace an aging fleet in the coming years after failing last year to procure its No. 1 choice: the most advanced US F-35.

 

The acquisition plan would be released when the Air Force issues a White Paper on its long-term air defense strategy at the end of February, according to Air Chief Marshal Punpakdee Pattanakul, the commander-in-chief of the Air Force.

 

The Air Force would consider aircraft efficiency and capacity, the appropriateness and budget-worthiness of the warplane for hardware procurement, he said, adding that the public would be given a proper explanation.

 

The budget outlay for the acquisition plan has not been disclosed yet, but it was expected that the Air Force would initially request at least 19 billion baht from the government for the first batch of fighter jets.

 

Due to budget constraints and the economic downturn, the Air Force is dividing its procurement plan into three phases over 12 years, acquiring four jets in each phase. The order for the first batch would be placed in fiscal year 2025 and the jets could be delivered by 2028. The order for another four planes in the second phase would be placed in fiscal 2029. The final batch of four fighter jets to complete its fleet are expected by 2037, according to a senior Air Force official, who spoke anonymously.

 

File photo : Gripen//skiesmag.com

 

Full story: Thai PBS 2024-02-21

 

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Buy Toys for the big Boys:coffee1:

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6 hours ago, Enoon said:

RTAF currently operates 36 F-16s.

https://www.flightglobal.com/reports/2024-world-air-forces-directory/156008.article

 

"The Royal Thai Air Force plans to acquire 12 new fighter jets — either the US F-16 or the Swedish Gripen — to replace an aging fleet"

 

??

 

 

 

The grand total of F-16s in the RTAF is 36 single seaters and 14 dual seat trainers (trainers can be operated as combat aircraft).  Gripens... 7 fighters and 4 trainers (also fightable), 30 single seat F-5s and 3 trainer F-5s

 

And they are to be replaced.......REPLACED.....that's what it says in the article, by 12 aircraft?

 

What's going on?

 

Edited by Enoon
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Thailand needs choppers not fighter jets, they can be adapted, for water bombing, air ambulances, and fighting, why do they need fighter jets, unless they are planning to invade a country, as with the sub. useless waste of money. Who would want to invade Thailand?

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22 minutes ago, Enoon said:

 

The grand total of F-16s in the RTAF is 36 single seaters and 14 dual seat trainers (trainers can be operated as combat aircraft).  Gripens... 7 fighters and 4 trainers (also fightable), 30 single seat F-5s and 3 trainer F-5s

 

And they are to be replaced.......REPLACED.....that's what it says in the article, by 12 aircraft?

 

What's going on?

 

The F5s are ancient, over 35 years old. The F16s are also, in some cases, elderly, although some were acquired in the early 2000s. I suspect that the new aircraft if they materialise will be used to replace the older F16s.

 

Your list gives a total of 94 aircraft, of course we don't know how many are currently flyable, or could be made flyable!

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1 hour ago, pelagicpete said:

For the planes themselves, I would apply the same questions as a car.

which has the least after sales market of spare parts?

What does that mean?  Why would any country want to buy anything that has the least availability of spare parts?

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The F-35 program currently has 857 deficiencies, but only seven are considered "critical." (Capt. Kip Sumner/U.S. Air Force) WASHINGTON — As the F-35 program inches its way through operational...

 

Looks like a submarine without engine.

If my car has one deficiency, I cant drive it in "my country". 

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14 minutes ago, Dan747 said:

Question-Why Buy-What is the THREAT??

 

That's like asking why Thai's buy BMW's, Mercs, Lamborghini's, Bentley's, Ferrari's, Porsche's, Submarine's......bragging rights, it's all about the bling here in Thailand. Even General (term used loosely) Prawit ran around with multi-million baht watches on his arm.

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