PUBLISHED: 17 Jul 2024 at 07: 37
Srettha Thavisin, the prime minister, argued that the government is still deciding whether to choose the F-16 or the Swedish-made Gripen for the Royal Thai Air Force’s (RTAF ) new fighter jet procurement project.
He stated on Tuesday that the state is still waiting for information about the Gripen E/F and F-16 Block 70/72 companies, both of which are the individual companies, to release details of the required offset plan.
According to Mr. Srettha, the offset policy is a crucial component of the warrior procurement program, along with other bilateral benefits that these companies offer Thailand.
What other mutual benefits a potential dealer might offer as an important factor in their new defense tools procurement project has the government mandated the armed forces comply with the offset plan.
Because no conclusions have been reached at this time,” I believe no conclusions have been reached.” Nevertheless, I will make every effort to complete this as soon as possible while urging these two businesses to give it their all,” said Mr. Srettha.
” It is n’t a small amount of money. Thus, we have to achieve the greatest benefit for the common interest”.
He claimed he was unsure about the necessity of the project’s conclusion regarding the fighter plane purchasing.
” If we are not ready or there is a lack of information needed to make a decision, we wo n’t ]rush ] it”, he said.
Mr. Srettha confirmed that the final selection may be acceptable to both the RTAF and the government despite insisting that the state does not interfere with the RTAF’s decision-making process.
But, Mr. Srettha said the Gripen is the best option in the eyes of the RTAF committee tasked with job study.
He also disclosed that he called Robert Godec, the US embassy to Thailand, on Monday to request that the US give us more information about the offset plan for the procurement of fighter jets.
According to Mr. Srettha, the Gripen E/F and the F-16 Block 70/72 need to be compared favorably.
Lockheed Martin stated on Monday that it would continue to provide financial value to Thailand through a strong commercial participation or “offset” plan based on the Thai government’s assessment of the F-16s.