BANGKOK: Thailand desires to resume its fleet of fight plane with Gripen fighter jets, the air drive mentioned, favouring the Swedish-made planes over American F-16s.
A procurement committee weighed the selection for 10 months earlier than deciding the JAS 39 Gripen E/F was essentially the most appropriate, the Royal Thai Air Drive mentioned in a press release issued on Tuesday (Aug 27).
“We now have thought-about this buy very rigorously in order that we are able to take advantage of out of it to defend our nation for no less than one other 30 years,” it mentioned.
The Gripen “can reply to the Thai air drive’s strategic rules and collaborate with different safety forces”, the assertion added.
Lockheed Martin’s newest F-16s are nonetheless into account, with the ultimate choice resting with the Thai authorities.
The Gripens would substitute F-16 A/B jets purchased within the late Nineteen Eighties.
No particulars got on what number of Gripens Thailand would possibly purchase, however experiences in specialist defence media retailers earlier this 12 months instructed the dominion was eyeing round a dozen.
Thailand presently operates 11 older Gripens in addition to dozens of F-16s.
Gripen producer Saab welcomed the assertion.
“We will affirm the truth that the Thai Air Drive has publicly confirmed that they wish to buy the Gripen. It is a very constructive information for Saab and Sweden,” Mattias Radstrom, press supervisor for Saab, informed AFP.
“At this stage, there isn’t a contract or order. We’re trying ahead to persevering with the dialogue with the Thai Air Drive and the Thai authorities.”
