Although the commander acknowledges that the government has other priorities, he believes that old F-16s need to be replaced quickly.
Published on October 4, 2023, at 18:24
Due to the president’s shift in priorities to driving monetary stimulus programs, the air pressure will postpone its planned acquisition of fighter jets.
The air pressure chief, ACM Punpakdee Pattanakul, stated that the administration’s plan has been to level back non-urgent purchasing projects while diverting funds to support initiatives that boost the economy.
The purchase of fighter jets was immediately scheduled for this year. The latest fleet of F-16 jets is outdated and needs to be replaced starting in 2028, according to ACM Punpakdee, so the plan cannot be put off for too long.
According to ACM Punpakdee, the new strategy might have to start in the following year to make sure the jet can be acquired in time for the F-16 ships to be decommissioned.
For instance, it typically takes 10 years to deliver an whole squadron of Swedish-made Gripen jet. The air pressure team needs to be trained to operate and maintain the jets because they cannot be produced and delivered simultaneously, he said.
The air pressure will have to consider repairing the outdated fighter jets this season in order to keep them airworthy. The chief acknowledged the significance of adhering to the new administration’s policy.
The plan, according to ACM Punpakdee, cannot be canceled because the law mandates that the air force and other military forces be responsible for carrying out the nation’s national security and defense plans.
It will take about five years to actually decommission the old F-16 planes.
According to ACM Punpakdee, the new fighter jet will be purchased using the president’s barter-trade strategy.
According to this plan, the air pressure will first need to look to purchase a fighter from an nation that is willing to share by purchasing agricultural products from Thailand that are equal in value or at an agreed-upon price, he said.
The air pressure may participate in emergency and crisis response operations in addition to delaying the warrior purchasing plan.
In order to combat wildfires and deal with cloud pollution, for instance, the BT – 67 power aircraft may be overhauled and modified to hold water, according to the commander.