Latest news with #PunpakdeePattanakul
The Sun
6 days ago
- Business
- The Sun
Thailand chooses Swedish Gripen jets over F-16s for its air force
BANGKOK: Thailand on Wednesday announced plans to buy four Gripen fighter jets in a $500 million deal, choosing the Swedish-made planes over American F-16s as it renews its air combat fleet. The Gripen E/F models, made by Nordic industrial giant Saab, will replace the Royal Thai Air Force's older F-16 A/B jets bought in the 1980s. The announcement is the first phase of a 10-year plan to buy 12 fighter aircraft as Thailand updates its air power. 'This is an important project to strengthen our force to protect our sovereignty,' Air Force Chief Punpakdee Pattanakul told reporters. The procurement order will go to the Thai cabinet for approval around mid-July, and is expected to be finalised by the end of August. A procurement committee recommended buying the Gripen rather than the F-16 last August after a 10-month process of deliberation. The kingdom already operates 11 older Gripens, as well as dozens of F-16s. The decision to favour the Swedish fighter over the American one is unlikely to help Thailand's efforts to reach a tariff deal with US President Donald Trump's administration. Thailand is hoping to negotiate some kind of reduction or relief from Trump's threatened 36 percent levy, announced as part of the president's sweeping global 'reciprocal' tariffs.
Malay Mail
6 days ago
- Business
- Malay Mail
Thailand goes Nordic for new fighter jets, drops Uncle Sam's F-16s amid tariff trouble
BANGKOK, June 4 — Thailand on Wednesday announced plans to buy four Gripen fighter jets in a US$500 million deal, choosing the Swedish-made planes over American F-16s as it renews its air combat fleet. The Gripen E/F models, made by Nordic industrial giant Saab, will replace the Royal Thai Air Force's older F-16 A/B jets bought in the 1980s. The announcement is the first phase of a 10-year plan to buy 12 fighter aircraft as Thailand updates its air power. 'This is an important project to strengthen our force to protect our sovereignty,' Air Force Chief Punpakdee Pattanakul told reporters. The procurement order will go to the Thai cabinet for approval around mid-July, and is expected to be finalised by the end of August. A procurement committee recommended buying the Gripen rather than the F-16 last August after a 10-month process of deliberation. The kingdom already operates 11 older Gripens, as well as dozens of F-16s. The decision to favour the Swedish fighter over the American one is unlikely to help Thailand's efforts to reach a tariff deal with US President Donald Trump's administration. Thailand is hoping to negotiate some kind of reduction or relief from Trump's threatened 36 percent levy, announced as part of the president's sweeping global 'reciprocal' tariffs. — AFP
The Star
6 days ago
- Business
- The Star
Thailand chooses Swedish Gripen jets over F-16s for its air force
The Saab JAS 39 Gripen is a multirole fighter jet manufactured by Saab, designed to perform various aerial missions. - Photo source: US DoD BANGKOK: Thailand on Wednesday (June 4) announced plans to buy four Gripen fighter jets in a US$500 million deal, choosing the Swedish-made planes over American F-16s as it renews its air combat fleet. The Gripen E/F models, made by Nordic industrial giant Saab, will replace the Royal Thai Air Force's older F-16 A/B jets bought in the 1980s. The announcement is the first phase of a 10-year plan to buy 12 fighter aircraft as Thailand updates its air power. "This is an important project to strengthen our force to protect our sovereignty," Air Force Chief Punpakdee Pattanakul told reporters. The procurement order will go to the Thai cabinet for approval around mid-July, and is expected to be finalised by the end of August. A procurement committee recommended buying the Gripen rather than the F-16 last August after a 10-month process of deliberation. The kingdom already operates 11 older Gripens, as well as dozens of F-16s. The decision to favour the Swedish fighter over the American one is unlikely to help Thailand's efforts to reach a tariff deal with US President Donald Trump's administration. Thailand is hoping to negotiate some kind of reduction or relief from Trump's threatened 36 percent levy, announced as part of the president's sweeping global "reciprocal" tariffs. - AFP
Free Malaysia Today
6 days ago
- Business
- Free Malaysia Today
Thailand to buy 12 Swedish Gripen fighter jets
Thailand has dozens of American F-16 and F-5 aircraft, some of which have been in operation since the late 1980s. (EPA images pic) BANGKOK : Thailand plans to acquire a dozen Gripen JAS 39 fighter jets built by Sweden's SAAB over 10 years to replace its ageing fleet of mainly US aircraft, the air force chief said today, two years after Washington denied its request to buy F-35s. Thailand has one of Southeast Asia's best-equipped air forces, with 11 JAS 39 Gripen jets and dozens of American F-16 and F-5 aircraft, some of which have been in operation since the late 1980s. The budget for the first procurement phase from 2025 to 2029 is US$596 million for four Gripen jets, air chief marshal Punpakdee Pattanakul said. The air force, which had said last year that it wanted to buy more Swedish jets, said it would send the plan to cabinet for approval next month. If approved, the contract was expected to be signed in August. 'We welcome the Royal Thai Air Force's selection of Gripen E/F as its future fighter and look forward to the next steps in this procurement process,' SAAB CEO Micael Johansson said in a statement. 'Gripen E/F is the best solution to provide Thailand with independent airpower for the future which will contribute significantly to the nation's safety and security,' he said. The Swedish company said it had not signed a contract nor received a firm order yet. Thailand, which has a long history of military cooperation with the US and was designated a major non-Nato ally by Washington in 2023, had initially sought as many as eight Lockheed Martin F-35 stealth jets, among the world's most advanced fighter aircraft. But the US in 2023 declined to sell them over what Bangkok said were issues with training and technical requirements including maintenance compatibility. The F-35 is considered a sensitive export sold only to the US' closest allies, which in the Indo-Pacific include Australia, Japan, South Korea and Singapore.
Business Times
6 days ago
- Business
- Business Times
Thailand to buy 12 Swedish Gripen fighter jets, air force says
[BANGKOK] Thailand plans to acquire a dozen Gripen JAS 39 fighter jets built by Sweden's SAAB over 10 years to replace its ageing fleet of mainly US aircraft, the air force chief said on Wednesday (Jun 4), two years after Washington denied its request to buy F-35s. Thailand has one of South-east Asia's best-equipped air forces, with 11 JAS 39 Gripen jets and dozens of American F-16 and F-5 aircraft, some of which have been in operation since the late 1980s. The budget for the first procurement phase from 2025 to 2029 is 19.5 billion baht (S$768.5 million) for four Gripen jets, Air Chief Marshal Punpakdee Pattanakul said. The air force, which had said last year that it wanted to buy more Swedish jets, said it would send the plan to cabinet for approval next month. If approved, the contract was expected to be signed in August. 'We welcome the Royal Thai Air Force's selection of Gripen E/F as its future fighter and look forward to the next steps in this procurement process,' SAAB CEO Micael Johansson said in a statement. 'Gripen E/F is the best solution to provide Thailand with independent airpower for the future which will contribute significantly to the nation's safety and security,' he said. The Swedish company said it had not signed a contract nor received a firm order yet. Thailand, which has a long history of military cooperation with the United States and was designated a Major Non-Nato Ally by Washington in 2023, had initially sought as many as eight Lockheed Martin F-35 stealth jets, among the world's most advanced fighter aircraft. But the United States in 2023 declined to sell them over what Bangkok said were issues with training and technical requirements, including maintenance compatibility. The F-35 is considered a sensitive export sold only to the United States' closest allies, which in the Indo-Pacific include Australia, Japan, South Korea and Singapore. REUTERS
