Sweden Denies Discussing Sale of Fighter Jets to Thai govt

[webfact]

Sweden Denies Discussing Sale of Fighter Jets to Thai Junta
By Teeranai Charuvastra
Staff Reporter


A Saab-built Gripen multirole fighter at the Berlin Air Show in 2010. Photo: Matthias Kabel / Wikimedia

BANGKOK — A top official with the Swedish Embassy today denied knowledge of a proposed deal to sell four fighter jets to Thailand’s military government.

After a meeting earlier Thursday with Swedish ambassador Staffan Herrstrom at Government House, Deputy Prime Minister Prajin Juntong told reporters he raised the issue of buying four Saab-built Gripen JAS fighter jets, one day after the Swedish representative to the United Nations criticized Thailand for human rights violations under the military regime.

Full story: http://www.khaosodenglish.com/detail.php?newsid=1463050111&typecate=06&section=


-- Khaosod English 2016-05-13

[Chao Lao Beach]

Sweeden must have enough frozen chickens.

Remember when the Thai Gov wanted to buy F16's with frozen chickens.

google it !!!!

[JAG]

Prajin Juntong is an Air Chief Marshall.

Just the RTAF bid in response to submarines for the navy and new panzers for the army.

Unless of course the Grippens could be used for rainmaking.......

[jabis]

JAS Gripens are not air superiority jets - kinda pointless to order them at least without the MS19 outfitting, which would make them nearly on par with Hornets (F/A-18C/D).
Denmark, Norway and Finland are now contemplating whether to replace the F/A-18(A to D):s with F-35´s or with Gripens, Dassault Rafaels, Superhornets (F/A-18E/F) [and with Finns also Sukhoi T-50, and MIG 35's].
There´s also currently a joint operations training (CBT aka cross border training) ongoing with Finland, Sweden and Norway - with addendum from Oregon ANG 173rd Fighter Wing - squadron with 6 F-15's - that've rehearsed this week with Fighter Squadron 31 of Finnish Karelia Air Command. This is where Gripen's are showcased - lets see in a couple of weeks how they perform.

Edited May 13, 2016 by jabis

[chainarong]

JAS Gripens are not air superiority jets - kinda pointless to order them at least without the MS19 outfitting, which would make them nearly on par with Hornets (F/A-18C/D).

Denmark, Norway and Finland are now contemplating whether to replace the F/A-18(A to D):s with F-35´s or with Gripens, Dassault Rafaels, Superhornets (F/A-18E/F) [and with Finns also Sukhoi T-50, and MIG 35's].

There´s also currently a joint operations training (CBT aka cross border training) ongoing with Finland, Sweden and Norway - with addendum from Oregon ANG 173rd Fighter Wing - squadron with 6 F-15's - that've rehearsed this week with Fighter Squadron 31 of Finnish Karelia Air Command. This is where Gripen's are showcased - lets see in a couple of weeks how they perform.

Jabis don't tell the world all the state secrets ...........................

[chainarong]

For starters the DPM is a clone of the previous PTP one, talks without thinking or just talks B/S, the Thai military spare parts compliment will start to strain the budget with carrying all these different spare parts from supposed buying programmes , the smartest idea is to have the military fleet fitted out with the one product , the only drawback here is if the country's sovereign risk is compromised by a Junta who is hell bent on straining relations with their friends......................................

[jabis]

JAS Gripens are not air superiority jets - kinda pointless to order them at least without the MS19 outfitting, which would make them nearly on par with Hornets (F/A-18C/D).

Denmark, Norway and Finland are now contemplating whether to replace the F/A-18(A to D):s with F-35´s or with Gripens, Dassault Rafaels, Superhornets (F/A-18E/F) [and with Finns also Sukhoi T-50, and MIG 35's].

There´s also currently a joint operations training (CBT aka cross border training) ongoing with Finland, Sweden and Norway - with addendum from Oregon ANG 173rd Fighter Wing - squadron with 6 F-15's - that've rehearsed this week with Fighter Squadron 31 of Finnish Karelia Air Command. This is where Gripen's are showcased - lets see in a couple of weeks how they perform.

Jabis don't tell the world all the state secrets ...........................

Yeah - stupid me to bring the obvious into play

EDIT: though I'd like to see a couple of jets that could land and takeoff from the admiral's pearl downriver krung thep

Edited May 13, 2016 by jabis

[Dustdevil]

Seems Denmark is buying the F-22 Raptor, despite the expense. Quite an indictment of the Swedish jets, I would say, and the Euro fighter, for that matter.

[Just1Voice]

the issue here is not the jets, but that Thai officials claim another another country said something, but then the other country comes out and says - "ah, sorry, but we said no such thing." Again making Thai officials look stupid.

[geriatrickid]

I am not surprised that the world's third largest exporter of military arms would be in discussions with Thailand.

"Sweden has continued to send military equipment to regimes accused of human rights abuses, including Saudi Arabia, Thailand, Bahrain and Egypt." Democracy Now July 4, 2014 interview with Anna Ek, president of Swedish Peace and Arbitration Society

Based upon Sweden's arms merchants' past bribery and corruption activity and the refusal of the Swedish governement to intervene in such matters, I anticipate that at some point bribery will come into play. As was pointed out in an extensive Politico article corruption plagues the global arms trade, adding an estimated 40 percent to the cost of arms deals. Britain’s Serious Fraud Office discovered that a 1999 deal with South Africa for 28 (later 26) JAS Gripens, part of a major deal with Saab and BAE Systems, involved £115 million in BAE “commissions” to advisors. Neutral Sweden, arms pedlar extraordinaire: How the nimble Swedes outsold stolid France in India. By ELISABETH BRAW 6/19/15, 5:30 AM CE

[jabis]

Seems Denmark is buying the F-22 Raptor, despite the expense. Quite an indictment of the Swedish jets, I would say, and the Euro fighter, for that matter.

Nope - they took the F-35's

"Prime Minister Lars Løkke Rasmussen announced on Thursday that Denmark has settled on the F-35A Lighting II in the culmination of a years-long process to replace the nation’s fleet of fighter jets."

[hansnl]

Ahhhhhh

The F35

Good choice, if you want to pay a lot of money for a plane not suitable for ground support, not good for dogfights, not really good in precision bombing.

But very suitable for showing off.

[mesterm]

Sweeden must have enough frozen chickens.

Remember when the Thai Gov wanted to buy F16's with frozen chickens.

google it !!!!

Thank you... thank you for this.. http://www.thewire.com/business/2011/03/lockheed-martin-frozen-chicken/35628/

[GeorgesAbitbol]

Well Sweden said they were very concerned by this military dict government and told Thailand to spend money for the people instead of buying weapons...

Guess that sounds to Prayut ears : we love you Generalissimo!

[jabis]

Ahhhhhh

The F35

Good choice, if you want to pay a lot of money for a plane not suitable for ground support, not good for dogfights, not really good in precision bombing.

But very suitable for showing off.

Actually if you read some statements regarding the deal with danes - they're actually now funding the development of F35

Can't wait for Nor & Fin to join the bandwagon, and Palle & Kalle from Sweden ordering couple for toys

[Khon Kaen Dave]

I bet our newest monk to the brotherhood has now lost all love for his Benz.I reckon that if he's seen these pics of these toy's,he's thinking "man! i gotta get me one of those"

[Tallviking]

Thailand already have 12 Griphen fighter airplanes operation in Thailand and they just want 4 more

[gandalf12]

For starters the DPM is a clone of the previous PTP one, talks without thinking or just talks B/S, the Thai military spare parts compliment will start to strain the budget with carrying all these different spare parts from supposed buying programmes , the smartest idea is to have the military fleet fitted out with the one product , the only drawback here is if the country's sovereign risk is compromised by a Junta who is hell bent on straining relations with their friends......................................

If Sweden did sell these jets to Thailand they would be of lower fit out then the ones Sweden have. I don't believe any country would sell the same configuration of a Military Aircraft as the home country has, it just wont happen.

[elgordo38]

Ahhhhhh

The F35

Good choice, if you want to pay a lot of money for a plane not suitable for ground support, not good for dogfights, not really good in precision bombing.

But very suitable for showing off.

A pilot friend of mine agrees. For show purposes only. I laugh when the pilots come on Fox news and describe what a wonderful plane it is. America is playing Charles Ponzi around the planet looking for suckers to buy in.

[elgordo38]

the issue here is not the jets, but that Thai officials claim another another country said something, but then the other country comes out and says - "ah, sorry, but we said no such thing." Again making Thai officials look stupid.

When it comes to toys for the big boys it follows the same old tired routine. Deny deny deny then buy.

[sanukjim]

JAS Gripens are not air superiority jets - kinda pointless to order them at least without the MS19 outfitting, which would make them nearly on par with Hornets (F/A-18C/D).

Denmark, Norway and Finland are now contemplating whether to replace the F/A-18(A to D):s with F-35´s or with Gripens, Dassault Rafaels, Superhornets (F/A-18E/F) [and with Finns also Sukhoi T-50, and MIG 35's].

There´s also currently a joint operations training (CBT aka cross border training) ongoing with Finland, Sweden and Norway - with addendum from Oregon ANG 173rd Fighter Wing - squadron with 6 F-15's - that've rehearsed this week with Fighter Squadron 31 of Finnish Karelia Air Command. This is where Gripen's are showcased - lets see in a couple of weeks how they perform.

Replacement with F-22 Raptors would make much better since then the F-35..The F-35 is a very expensive piece of crap with great political backing.Several Air force and Air wing Generals are pushing it because of their future employment with the Lockheed Martin Company and their representatives.

[jabis]

JAS Gripens are not air superiority jets - kinda pointless to order them at least without the MS19 outfitting, which would make them nearly on par with Hornets (F/A-18C/D).

Denmark, Norway and Finland are now contemplating whether to replace the F/A-18(A to D):s with F-35´s or with Gripens, Dassault Rafaels, Superhornets (F/A-18E/F) [and with Finns also Sukhoi T-50, and MIG 35's].

There´s also currently a joint operations training (CBT aka cross border training) ongoing with Finland, Sweden and Norway - with addendum from Oregon ANG 173rd Fighter Wing - squadron with 6 F-15's - that've rehearsed this week with Fighter Squadron 31 of Finnish Karelia Air Command. This is where Gripen's are showcased - lets see in a couple of weeks how they perform.

Replacement with F-22 Raptors would make much better since then the F-35..The F-35 is a very expensive piece of crap with great political backing.Several Air force and Air wing Generals are pushing it because of their future employment with the Lockheed Martin Company and their representatives.

Yes - I wholeheartedly agree with you - but since it's political game going on, I see no reason to bring reason into the conversation

Finn's have had some heated arguments over the initial announcement for acquisition of F-35's but now the noise has died down, and they've not withdrawn the `possibility` to replace the Hornet's with these show-machines I'd like to see some F-35 dogfighting vs MiG 35s or the Sukhoi T-50s, or actually any plane currently available, that are not on the list, just to show the deciding powers how poor of a replacement it would be I bet even MiG 29'ers could pose a threat to F-35