Thailand will proceed with the purchase of 4 Saab GRIPEN E/F fighter jets for which Cabinet approval was accorded on 5 August.

The Royal Thai Air Force (RTAF) confirmed the purchase approval, stating, “The Cabinet has approved the purchase of Saab JAS 39 GRIPEN replacement fighter aircraft for the Royal Thai Air Force to strengthen its ability to maintain sovereignty over the airspace.”

A formal contract is expected to be inked between Thailand and Sweden for a Government to Government sale, later this month. The deal for 4 aircraft and associated systems, weapons, spares and training is expected to be worth approximately US$ 600 million.

The RTAF had confirmed the selection of Saab’s GRIPEN E/F as its new future multi-role fighter this June. Following the clashes between Thai and Cambodian forces, which took place in late July over a disputed border, there were some concerns that the fighter deal would be derailed. However, on 1 Aug, the Embassy of Sweden in Thailand confirmed on X, that the deal would proceed, “There are many rumours spreading at the moment regarding the purchase of GRIPEN fighter jets by the Royal Thai Air Force. There has been no decision taken to suspend further GRIPEN sales to Thailand.”

The acquisition of 4 GRIPEN E/F fighter jets for the RTAF is part of Phase 1 of the procurement, with the acquisition of MBDA’s Meteor long-range Beyond Visual Range Air-to-Air Missile (BVRAAM) also planned for. The RTAF plans to acquire an additional 8 GRIPEN E/F fighter jets over a 10-year period.

Thailand had earlier contracted for 12 GRIPEN C/D aircraft as part of the ‘Peace Suvarnabhumi’ contract, which came into effect in 2008. The aircraft were delivered in two tranches: 6 GRIPENs in 2011 followed by a further 6 in 2013. One aircraft was lost in a fatal accident in January 2017.

Thailand remains the only GRIPEN operator in SE Asia/APAC. The RTAF operates 11 GRIPEN C/Ds, all of which are over a decade old with 701 Sqn, part of Wing 7 based at Surat Thani. The 4 new aircraft will be inducted into Wing 1 at Nakon Ratchasima, whose F-16s are now over 37 years old and will be gradually phased out between 2027-2035.

An important upgrade to the RTAF’s GRIPEN C/Ds took place with the implementation of Saab’s MS20 capability upgrade, which was delivered in 2022.

The MS20 upgrade resulted in the addition of new radar and Electronic Warfare (EW) modes, enhanced navigation and safety features, along with several hardware and software changes to improve performance and avoid obsolescence. The MS20 upgrade also afforded the RTAF with the ability to integrate new weapons options for air-to-air and air-to-ground missions.

The RTAF will also upgrade its SAAB 340 Airborne Early Warning (AEW) aircraft to the Airborne Early Warning & Control (AEW&C) version.  The RTAF’s first Erieye AEW&C arrived in December 2010.

The Royal Thai Air Force (RTAF) is unique amongst air forces in SE Asia, being one of the first to fully operationalise a complete integrated air defence system featuring its GRIPEN fighters, Saab 340 ERIEYE’s and other sensors, SAM systems, which are all integrated with a secure national datalink system that connects assets in the air, on land and at sea. The Royal Thai Navy’s (RTN) Frigate HTMS NARESUAN and the RTN’s other warships are also linked to RTAF GRIPEN fighters. The RTAF’s GRIPEN, ERIEYE AEW system and tactical data links afford Thailand with a network centric air defence capability.

Follow us on Telegram, Facebook and X