Last summer, the Royal Thai Air Force (RTAF) moved closer to becoming the latest Asian nation to acquire Lockheed Martin’s F-35 Lightning II multi-role stealth fighter.
In August 2022, Thailand’s House Budget Scrutiny Committee approved a budget of 369 million baht ($14.7 million) for the 2023 fiscal year to acquire a pair of F-35A aircraft – the conventional takeoff and landing variant of the Joint Strike Fighter. The total price of the jets was to be 7.4 billion baht, with payments made over a four-year period.
It was the smallest order on record for the fifth-generation aircraft, and the RTAF waited for approval from the U.S. Congress, which evaluated the sale. Bangkok had expressed an interest in having at least a dozen F-35A aircraft in service by 2034, but that is unlikely to occur.
Thailand Not Ready for the F-35
The U.S. Department of Defense reportedly has indicated it will turn down Thailand’s bid to buy the stealth fighter jets and instead will offer F-16 Block 70 and F-15 Eagle fighters.
According to the Bangkok Post, U.S. Ambassador to Thailand Robert F. Gordec conveyed the message two weeks ago to RTAF Air Chief Marshal Alongkorn Wannarot. The U.S. Department of State concluded that the RTAF lacks the infrastructure facilities needed for the advanced aircraft. Those requirements refer to airbase security, airfields, maintenance, pilots, and support personnel.
However, this was not an outright rejection of Thailand’s request to acquire the F-35. The U.S. could review and reconsider when the RTAF shows that it is ready, possibly within the next five to 10 years.
In July, an official reply to the RTAF’s F-35 acquisition bid will be provided.
Sweden’s Win?
The RTAF might be able to incorporate F-16 and F-15 fighters, but Bangkok has other options to consider, including the Gripen fighters produced by Sweden’s Saab AB.
The RTAF already flies a squadron of twelve Gripens, including eight JAS 39Cs and four JAS 39Ds. The JAS 39E is the latest update of the fourth-generation Gripen and is considered a four-plus generation design. These fighters could now be an option for the RTAF.
Eleven of the Gripens are currently operated by the RTAF’s 701 Fighter Squadron, Wing 7, which is based at the Surat Thani International Airport in Southern Thailand’s Surat Thani Province.
One other Gripen was lost in a crash in January 2017 at an air show – the first and only fatal crash of the Swedish fighter.
Sweden has marketed the Gripen as a cost-effective alternative to the F-35, and their selection by Thailand could serve as redemption after Canada chose the F-35 over the Gripen last year.
Author Experience and Expertise
A Senior Editor for 19FortyFive, 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.