The defense minister and prime minister have ultimate state, according to Marshall’s report.
PUBLISHED: 10 Jul 2024 at 16: 35
According to a source within the air force, the Royal Thai Air Force (RTAF ) has chosen to purchase Gripen fighter jets from Sweden rather than US-made F-16s.
In order to compare the Gripen E/F and F-16 Block 70 planes to Defence Minister Sutin Klungsang and Prime Minister Srettha Thavisin, ACM Phanphakdee Phattanakul, the air pressure captain, has forwarded information. The captain has recommended they choose the Swedish plane, the cause said on Wednesday.
ACM Phanphakdee and military top brass traveled to parliament on Wednesday to reveal their spending proposals to the House committee hearing the budget proposal for the 2025 fiscal season that begins on October 1.
The air army chief said he had discussed it with Mr. Sutin on Tuesday when asked about improvement on the jet fighter sourcing strategy.
He claimed that he had a detailed explanation of the selection process and the differences between the Gripen and the F-16 during the conversation, as well as the extra help the air force would get from Saab AB and Lockheed Martin, their respective companies.
The minister had forward the knowledge to the prime minister on Wednesday, said ACM Phanphakdee.
The air force captain said the prime minister will have the final say in whether he or Sutin may make an announcement to the community.
He claimed that the air pressure is still deciding which aircraft fighter model to use.
Over the next few years, the air pressure needs to replace the 12 aging F-16s in its fleet, and Swedish and American officers have made lobbying efforts to do so.
According to reports, Mr. Sutin is apparently preparing to travel to the US at Lloyd Austin’s request.
The US embassy briefed the defense minister last week about a mortgage plan to buy more F-16s, but he claimed the high interest rate preyed on him.