Thailand Chooses Swedish Gripen Fighters Jets Over US F-16s.

The Royal Thai Air Force (RTAF) has decided to acquire Gripen fighter jets from Sweden instead of F-16s made in the United States, a source within the Thai Air Force revealed to the Bangkok Post on July 10, 2024.
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The Saab JAS 39 Gripen is a multirole fighter jet manufactured by Saab, designed to perform various aerial missions. (Picture source: US DoD)

Air Chief Marshal (ACM) Phanphakdee Phattanakul, commander of the Air Force, submitted a detailed report comparing the Gripen E/F jets and the F-16 Block 70 to Defense Minister Sutin Klungsang and Prime Minister Srettha Thavisin for final approval. The report recommends selecting the Swedish aircraft, the source disclosed.

ACM Phanphakdee, accompanied by senior military officials, attended a parliamentary session to discuss their spending plans with the House committee reviewing the budget bill for the 2025 fiscal year, which begins on October 1. When asked about the progress of the jet fighter acquisition plan, the Air Force commander mentioned that he had discussed it with Defense Minister Sutin the previous day.

During their discussion, ACM Phanphakdee explained the selection process and highlighted the pros and cons of the Gripen and the F-16. He also discussed the additional support that would be provided by the manufacturers, Saab AB and Lockheed Martin, respectively.

The Defense Minister is expected to transmit this information to the Prime Minister on Wednesday. The Prime Minister will make the final decision, who will determine whether he or Defense Minister Sutin will present the decision to the public. "The Air Force has not yet finalized its choice of jet fighters," ACM Phanphakdee clarified.

The Air Force needs to replace 12 aging F-16s in its fleet over the next few years and has been lobbied by both Swedish and American officials to choose their respective aircraft.

The Saab JAS 39 Gripen is a multirole fighter jet manufactured by Saab, designed to perform various aerial missions. Since its first flight on December 9, 1988, it has been in production and in service since 1996, with over 180 units delivered out of the 306 ordered. It exists in different versions, with single-seat (C and E) and twin-seat (D and F) configurations.

The Gripen is powered by a turbofan engine with afterburner. The more recent E and F versions are equipped with the General Electric F414 engine, which develops a thrust of 63.5 kN, reaching up to 98 kN with afterburner. This engine enables the Gripen E/F to achieve a cruising speed of Mach 1.2 and a maximum speed of Mach 2, approximately 2,125 km/h. The aircraft has an operational ceiling of 15,800 meters and a range of 1,300 km.

In terms of dimensions, the Gripen E/F has a wingspan of 8.6 meters, a length of 15.9 meters for the F version, and a height of 4.5 meters. Its wing area is 31.1 square meters. The empty weight of the aircraft is around 6,990 kg and it can carry up to 11,000 kg with armament, with a maximum takeoff weight of 16,500 kg.

The Gripen's armament is substantial, including an internal 27 mm cannon and impressive external load capabilities. It can carry up to 5,300 kg of munitions on 8 underwing pylons and 2 wingtip missile rails for the NG version. This wide range of external armaments allows it to adapt to various mission types, from air superiority to ground attack.

However, not all is lost for the F-16s, as it has been reported that Defense Minister Sutin is preparing to visit the United States at the invitation of US Defense Secretary Lloyd Austin. The minister was briefed last week by the US ambassador on a loan proposal to facilitate the acquisition of more F-16s, although he expressed concerns about the high interest rates associated with the proposal.

The F-16 multi-role fighter was designed and produced in the United States. (Picture source: US DoD)