Summary and Key Points: The Royal Thai Air Force (RTAF) has selected the Swedish Saab JAS 39 Gripen E/F to replace its aging fleet of F-16A/B Fighting Falcons after a 10-month evaluation process.
-The Gripen was chosen for its superior capabilities, compatibility with existing systems, and potential for industrial collaboration.
-The RTAF plans to operate the Gripen for at least 30 years, with the initial purchase of four jets slated for fiscal year 2025, as part of a long-term plan to acquire a dozen by 2034.
-Thailand’s choice reflects a broader trend, as the Gripen has also been adopted by other nations like Brazil.
This week, the Royal Thai Air Force (RTAF) announced that the Swedish Saab JAS 39 Gripen E/F will replace its aging fleet of F-16A/B Fighting Falcons. The RTAF picked the Gripen over the Lockheed Martin-built F-16 Block 70/72 fighters following ten months of debate, where all the options were weighed.
International military analyst firm Janes reported that the RTAF's decision came down to "acquiring a fighter aircraft with capabilities above combat aircraft currently in service" while an RTAF spokesperson said it was also about "commonality and continuity." Saab has also sought to have greater "industrial collaboration" with Thailand.
"Based on the above considerations, the Design Selection Committee set detailed consideration procedures and criteria, which took more than 10 months to complete," the RTAF announced. "It was concluded that the Gripen E/F fighter aircraft has the capability to meet the tactical needs as laid out by the doctrine and strategy of the air force."
The RTAF expects to operate the Gripen for at least 30 years.
"I can confirm that the Thai Air Force have communicated their wish to purchase the Gripen fighter jets in the future," a SAAB spokesperson told Reuters on Tuesday.
Though the upgraded JAS 39 Gripen won out in the recently concluded selection progress, Bangkok has yet to place any orders. It remains unclear how many aircraft the RTAF could receive – but it has been reported that the Southeast Asian nation operates 11 JAS 39 Gripens, while it maintains "dozens" of the F-16 and F-5 fighters. However, many of those American-made fighter aircraft haven't been in operation for decades, which was the impetus for Bangkok's push to select a new multirole combat aircraft.
Thailand has operated the JAS 39 Gripen C/D models since 2008, but those aircraft were upgraded per a January 2021 contract.
Thailand's air force previously requested 19 billion baht ($560 million) for fiscal year 2025 (FY25) to purchase four fighter jets, which will be acquired between FY25 and the end of 2029. It would be the first step in a long-term plan for the RTAF to acquire a dozen combat aircraft by fiscal year 2034 (FY34).
The selection of the JAS 39 Gripen over the Fighting Falcon shouldn't have come as a surprise, as last month, a Saab spokesperson told Janes it was all but a done deal. Saab didn't confirm the deal at the time, as the cost of the aircraft has been an issue.
Due to budgetary constraints, the RTAF is now expected to receive the 12 to 14 Gripen Es in batches of four aircraft over the next several years.
Though designed to operate in the rugged and often cold weather conditions in Sweden, the Gripen has proved ideal for the hot humid climates of Thailand, while Brazil also is acquiring 36 of the Saab-built fighters – having received eight to date, while the South American nation has signaled it could increase its order even further.
Peter Suciu is a Michigan-based writer. He has contributed to more than four dozen magazines, newspapers, and websites with over 3,200 published pieces over a twenty-year career in journalism. He regularly writes about military hardware, firearms history, cybersecurity, politics, and international affairs. Peter is also a Contributing Writer for Forbes and Clearance Jobs. You can follow him on Twitter: @PeterSuciu. You can email the author: Editor@nationalinterest.org.
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