PUBLISHED: 27 Aug 2024 at 05: 02
According to RTAF chief ACM Panpakdee Pattanakul on Monday, the Royal Thai Air Force does publicly declare which fighter jet concept it will obtain to update its aging ships by the end of the week.
For its warrior jet sourcing plan, the air pressure is presently considering the US-made F-16 Block 70 planes and the Swedish-made Gripen E-model.
Saab AB, which makes the Gripen, and Lockheed Martin, which manufactures the F-16, have submitted their last ideas, which include an offset plan as required by the Thai authorities, ACM Panpakdee said.
Two sections have been set up to examine the ideas one last time to ensure the air pressure chooses the right plane for its needs, he said.
By the end of the week, he said, the weather agency’s ultimate decision will be weigh up the findings of both sections.
However, a cause close to the investigation claimed that the main sourcing committee of the air force will probably choose the Gripen.
Prior to now, the Gripen had been chosen over the F-16 by the selection committee. The air pressure made the announcement in July that it was considering purchasing the Swedish planes, citing the findings of a study by the atmosphere agency’s purchasing council that concluded that the Gripen jets are best suited for the air agency’s requirements.
The Swedish flight maker is giving the air pressure entry to its military data link, which the air pressure wants to use in the future, according to the source. The air force now has a plan to create a link T, which it calls its own.
Sweden is also making an offer to improve the 340 AEW atmosphere security surveillance radar system for the air force for free, according to the source, noting that it would typically charge about five billion baht.
The fresh cabinet’s decision, according to the air power, is likely to be approved.