CHRISTCHURCH, New Zealand — The Royal Thai Air Force has selected the Gripen E/F fighter jet to replace its aging F-16A/B fighters after a fierce competition that also included Saab and Lockheed Martin, officials announced Tuesday.
The military committee deliberated for 10 months before recommending Gripen, but government approval is still required before a contract can be awarded. “It is concluded that the JAS 39 Gripen E/F strike fighter is capable of meeting the strategic needs of the Air Force,” the committee said in a statement.
According to a Royal Thai Air Force white paper released on February 29, the fighter jet program is expected to deliver between 12 and 14 aircraft.
The military plans to buy four Gripens for a budget of 19 billion baht ($560 million) between fiscal years 2025 and 2029. The remaining aircraft will be procured by fiscal year 2034 and deployed to the 102nd Squadron in Korat, northeastern Thailand, which is set to retire its 1980s-era F-16s in 2028.
Because the Gripen E beat out Lockheed's F-16 Block 70/72, the Thai decision represents a significant win for manufacturer Saab, which recently delivered its 4,600th F-16.
The Royal Thai Air Force is familiar with Saab's platform since ordering 12 Gripen C/Ds in 2008, which were recently upgraded under a January 2021 contract.
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Saab's Robert Bjorklund, who is in charge of Gripen operations in Thailand, told Defense News earlier this year that the country's existing fleet “is equipped with a very wide range of weapons options, including the reliable, versatile and highly effective RBS15 anti-ship missile.”
A Saab spokesman cautioned that the service committee's decision in favour of the new model meant “details have yet to be worked out”, but noted the final package could also include inclusion of MBDA Meteor missiles.
Final proposals from Saab and Lockheed Martin were submitted on August 20, with both technology transfer and offset commitments – a term broadly used to mean economic rewards – playing key roles in the selection process.
According to the air force, Thailand actively sought offsets under a policy aimed at “creating opportunities for the development of its defense industry.”
Saab's proposal could also include upgrading Thailand's two Eri-I airborne early warning aircraft. The aircraft's dorsal-mounted radar is scheduled to be replaced between fiscal years 2026 and 2029, an air force white paper said, but Thailand does not currently have the funds.
Thailand also plans to acquire 12 to 14 fighter jets to replace the F-5E/Fs from 2031-2035, as well as a third project to replace the F-16A/Bs from 2037-2046.
Gordon Arthur is Defence News' Asia correspondent. He now lives in New Zealand after working in Hong Kong for 20 years. He has participated in military exercises and defence exhibitions in around 20 countries across the Asia-Pacific region.
