upcoming complex test scheduled for the following month
PUBLISHED: 13 Jan 2025 at 05: 07
The Defence Ministry supports the Royal Thai Air Force (RTAF ) decision to choose the Swedish-made Gripen fighter jets over the F-16 aircraft from the United States, says Minister Phumtham Wechayachai.
Mr Phumtham, even Deputy Prime Minister, provided an update on the 19-billion-baht plan to acquire four fresh fighter jets. He claimed that another Air Force fleet was chosen for the Gripen fighter aircraft.
The Gripen and the F-16 are the two current warrior jet forms in use by the RTAF. Both varieties can defend the nation’s independence.
After watching both types fly during Children’s Day at the Air Force base in Bangkok on Saturday, he said,” I let the Air Force choose the design they prefer.”
” The sourcing if been completed by the end of this year,” said Mr Phumtham.
He had spoken with a Gripen fighter pilot who claimed to have flown both concepts and that both had comparable performance.
He expressed confidence in the RTAF’s selection”. If the cost of purchasing Gripen fighter jet does not reach our finances and there is a modern transfer involved, he said,” I will review the RTAF’s purchase.”
Due to budget cuts brought on by the Covid-19 epidemic, the decision to purchase a fresh regiment has been delayed for several years.
Last month, RTAF formed two sections to cover up a review of proposals from Saab AB, creator of the Gripen, and Lockheed Martin, producer of the F-16.
Prior to the determination, the US government suggested a low-interest payment to the state for the order of US-made plane. But, the RTAF opted for the Gripen design.
Additionally, Mr. Phumtham claimed he had spoken with the US Ambassador to let him know that the government does not have a loan plan to pay for equipment and weapons.
However, a cause of RTAF said the airforce plans to examine the Gripen’s features on a bridge in February.
In the event that an aircraft is destroyed and cannot be used, the check is to find out how the fighter aircraft is taking off or property. He claimed that the Gripen fighter jet has a little runway that is less than 800 meters long.
According to the Swedish Air Force’s evaluation of the Gripen’s takeoff and landing on the road, the getting requires a range of just 500 yards, and the flight length was 400 feet. This is one of the plane’s great property, said the source.