Air Force to get 12 jets
The Cabinet yesterday approved a Defence Ministry proposal to purchase a squadron of Swedish-made jet fighters worth Bt34 billion to replace the F-5E aircraft of the Air Force.
Published on October 17, 2007
The first lot of six aircraft will be acquired together with equipment, parts and training from 2008 to 2012 at a cost of Bt19 billion. The second lot of six jets will be acquired for Bt15.4 billion from 2013 to 2017.
The Air Force said its jet fighters had been in service for 30 years and it needed a modern model to raise its capability to the level of neighbouring countries.
Some Cabinet members questioned why the Air Force wanted to buy this particular model. The Air Force chief of staff said it would organise a press conference today about the purchase.
According to a news report on AviaMagazine.com, Thailand in July abandoned a plan made during the Thaksin Shinawatra administration to buy Russian SU-30 fighters and opted for the Swedish jets.
The ousted premier had planned to conduct a barter trade with Russia for the fighters but the deal never materialised as he was ousted in the military coup.
Piyanart Srivalo, The Nation
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