BANGKOK – Thailand’s air force has decided to buy a new squadron of fighter jets from Sweden rejecting a rival bid from the U.S. in spite of pressure from the Trump administration for the country to import more American goods.
The U.S. ambassador to Bangkok lobbied the Thai government to buy the latest variants of the F-16, which were successfully sold to Vietnam, according to Thai media.
But the Royal Thai Air Force, which mainly operates U.S.-made weaponry systems has chosen Saab’s JAS-39 Gripen E/Fs over Lockheed Martin’s F-16 Block 70/72s. saying they had “the capability to fulfill the air force’s doctrine, tactical and strategic needs.”
Thailand currently operates five squadrons of aging F-5 E/Fs, supplied by America’s Northrop Grumman, and older F-16 variants along with 11 Gripen jets.
Sources close to air force chief Punpakdee Pattanakul said an official announcement will be made in early June if parliament agrees a procurement plan included in the FY2026 budget for consideration.
The first four Gripens are expected to cost 19 billion baht (US$582 million) and the air force said it planned to buy eight more.
Sources said the package will also include an undisclosed number of Meteor medium range air to air missiles as well as an upgrade to the air force’s Saab-340 airborne early warning planes.
But a pilot-turned-politician said the plan is too expensive.
“With a huge budget in the economic downturn and considering foreign relationships, there are more options,” Anudith Nakornthap, told reporters.
The former F-16 pilot said the airforce should invest instead in upgrading its existing F-16s, regardless of their age.
Edited by Mike Firn and Taejun Kang.