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Nimda wrote:https://www.bangkokpost.com/thailand/general/2240091/air-force-eyes-f-35-stealth-jets
There's a previous report from Bangkok Post last month that RTAF showed a strong desire for F-35 and didn't even mention any other type. They even claimed they can get the deal cheaper than Gripen
kitplane01 wrote:Relating this to the thread about French air force readiness rates ... Try and imagine the readiness rate Thailand will achieve with exactly f-o-u-r fighters.
Why are they buying f-o-u-r fighters? They already have 14 Gripens and 51 F-16As. Buy something you already operate!
kitplane01 wrote:Relating this to the thread about French air force readiness rates ... Try and imagine the readiness rate Thailand will achieve with exactly f-o-u-r fighters.
Why are they buying f-o-u-r fighters? They already have 14 Gripens and 51 F-16As. Buy something you already operate!
SeamanBeaumont wrote:Nimda wrote:https://www.bangkokpost.com/thailand/general/2240091/air-force-eyes-f-35-stealth-jets
There's a previous report from Bangkok Post last month that RTAF showed a strong desire for F-35 and didn't even mention any other type. They even claimed they can get the deal cheaper than Gripen
Their budget is four fighters this year and then continuing each year, if they can afford it...
Probably those 14 unfinished gripens c may be cheap but no one seems to be buying...kitplane01 wrote:Relating this to the thread about French air force readiness rates ... Try and imagine the readiness rate Thailand will achieve with exactly f-o-u-r fighters.
Why are they buying f-o-u-r fighters? They already have 14 Gripens and 51 F-16As. Buy something you already operate!
Four now more later. I doubt they will get F-35s, the Thai's have been too cozy with the Chinese lately. Yes more F-16s or Gripen would make sense...
kitplane01 wrote:Relating this to the thread about French air force readiness rates ... Try and imagine the readiness rate Thailand will achieve with exactly f-o-u-r fighters.
Why are they buying f-o-u-r fighters? They already have 14 Gripens and 51 F-16As. Buy something you already operate!
mxaxai wrote:SQ's initial F-35 order is for only 4 F-35B. Perhaps Thailand wants some too.
FlapOperator wrote:mxaxai wrote:SQ's initial F-35 order is for only 4 F-35B. Perhaps Thailand wants some too.
Not surprising as the B could likely be integrated onboard the HTMS Chakri Naruebet if some work was done to the carrier, and the B is the only game in town for VSTOL strike aircraft.
SAS A340 wrote:Gripen C or even E should be the most logical choice here. You don't order 4! of a new type!, especially the F-35. Different if they ordered 20-30 to replace the F-16.
mxaxai wrote:SQ's initial F-35 order is for only 4 F-35B. Perhaps Thailand wants some too.
SeamanBeaumont wrote:FlapOperator wrote:mxaxai wrote:SQ's initial F-35 order is for only 4 F-35B. Perhaps Thailand wants some too.
Not surprising as the B could likely be integrated onboard the HTMS Chakri Naruebet if some work was done to the carrier, and the B is the only game in town for VSTOL strike aircraft.
That boat hardly sails and the Thais retired the Av-8s in 2006. If they want F-35B it isn't to operate from the Chakri...SAS A340 wrote:Gripen C or even E should be the most logical choice here. You don't order 4! of a new type!, especially the F-35. Different if they ordered 20-30 to replace the F-16.
They don't seem happy with Gripen so I can't see them ordering anymore. Logical to get more but logic isn't an RTAF strong point.
kitplane01 wrote:SeamanBeaumont wrote:FlapOperator wrote:
Not surprising as the B could likely be integrated onboard the HTMS Chakri Naruebet if some work was done to the carrier, and the B is the only game in town for VSTOL strike aircraft.
That boat hardly sails and the Thais retired the Av-8s in 2006. If they want F-35B it isn't to operate from the Chakri...SAS A340 wrote:Gripen C or even E should be the most logical choice here. You don't order 4! of a new type!, especially the F-35. Different if they ordered 20-30 to replace the F-16.
They don't seem happy with Gripen so I can't see them ordering anymore. Logical to get more but logic isn't an RTAF strong point.
I'm curious why you think that and wha their complaint is.
FlapOperator wrote:mxaxai wrote:SQ's initial F-35 order is for only 4 F-35B. Perhaps Thailand wants some too.
Not surprising as the B could likely be integrated onboard the HTMS Chakri Naruebet if some work was done to the carrier, and the B is the only game in town for VSTOL strike aircraft.
Thailand air force says U.S. has denied request to buy F-35 jets
The Royal Thai Air Force (RTAF) will present the Thai government with a proposal to purchase 12 fighter jets to replace the ageing F16 jets. The Royal Thai Air Force will present a white paper next month outlining its strategies for the next ten years and explaining why it needs to procure 12 new fighter jets, the RTAF Commander-in-Chief ACM Phanpakdee Pattanakul said Tuesday.
Pattanakul stated that the white paper will lay out the RTAF’s strategies for development and modernisation over the next decade and it would be made public on February 29.
The procurement of a new fighter jet fleet will begin in fiscal 2025, and will consist of either F-16 aircraft from the Lockheed Martin or Gripen jets from Saab AB.
jouy31 wrote:Dassault is currently producing two aircraft a month. It will take a year for Dassault and its supply chain to reach three Rafale a month.
jouy31 wrote:Dassault is currently producing two aircraft a month. It will take a year for Dassault and its supply chain to reach three Rafale a month.
JuggernautAlpha wrote:Thailand seems a little bit of a political outlier, they were considered a major non nato ally by the Bush administration but they do seem to be cozying up to China as of late.
Their Falcon strike exercises have allowed China to examine the Gripen C/D personally, this has many repercussions as Sweden is nearing it's ascension into NATO, the Gripen will soon be one of NATO's front line fighters. China will surely have no problem sharing this information with Russia. Just imagine if Thailand gets the Rafale or worse the F-35
BawliBooch wrote:Word on the street is that they are exploring the option of 2nd hand Rafales - perhaps to test out the waters cheaply.
Who would be selling off 2nd hand Rafales right now?
LaunchDetected wrote:Dassault has some great examples with Croatia and Greece for quick in-service introduction of used Rafale. Only 1-2 years needed between order and delivery.
But I found nothing in the press about thai interest for the Rafale, not even on some enthusiastics french websites...