Thailand Advances Gripen E/F Acquisition Talks with Sweden

Negotiations between Thailand and Sweden for the Royal Thai Air Force’s (RTAF) purchase of Saab Gripen E/F fighters are progressing as planned. In early 2025, the Thai defense ministry formally endorsed the RTAF’s decision to procure these aircraft, allowing discussions to move forward. A Saab representative confirmed that the Gripen E/F is the preferred choice for Thailand’s next-generation fighter, and talks between both governments remain on track. 

Thailand is looking to acquire 12 Gripen E/F aircraft to replace its aging fleet of F-16A/Bs. The decision follows an extensive evaluation process in which the Gripen E/F was selected over the Lockheed Martin F-16 Block 70/72, with offset packages playing a key role in the selection.

The RTAF already operates 11 Gripen C/D fighters at Surat Thani Air Base. In February 2025, these aircraft demonstrated their ability to take off from highway strips in Songkhla province, highlighting the Gripen’s adaptability to different operational scenarios.

With the Gripen E/F deal moving forward, Thailand is reinforcing its air combat capabilities while strengthening defense ties with Sweden 

Thailand receives first Two T-6C turboprop trainers

Thailand has taken delivery of its first Textron Aviation T-6C Texan II turboprop trainers, with the Southeast Asian nation planning to use them for training and as light-armed aircraft.

Two T-6Cs arrived at the Royal Thai Air Force or RTAF base Kamphaeng Saen northeast of the Thai capital Bangkok, with a welcoming ceremony. Thailand ordered 12 T-6Cs under a $162 million contract in 2020. They’ll replace Pilatus PC-9 turboprop trainers that equip one of three squadrons with the RTAF’s flying training school at Kamphaeng Saen.

Mike Yeo- defensenews

 

Royal Thailand Air Force expands fleet with Four additional H225M order

Airbus Helicopters has secured an additional order of four H225M (previously known as EC725) multirole utility helicopters from the Royal Thai Air Force (RTAF), as part of the fleet strengthening programme. This follow-on order will bring the RTAF’s H225M fleet to 12 units by 2021.
The H225Ms have served the Royal Thai Air Force well since the delivery of its first batch in 2015
airbus

Royal Thailand Air Force Received First Two KAI T-50TH

South Korea’s aircraft manufacturer Korea Aerospace Industries Ltd. (KAI) has began delivery of its T-50TH trainer jets to Thailand’s Air Force as a part of a deal won from the Thai government in 2015.
The jets arrived at Takhli Royal Thai Air Force Base via a 12-hour 6,658 kilometer ferry flight after leaving Sacheon, South Gyeongsang Province, at 9 a.m., and flying through Taiwan, the Philippines, and Malaysia, on Monday.
An unnamed official from KAI said that it signed a $110 million contract with the Thai government in 2015 to export four T-50TH trainer jets. Two of four aircrafts were delivered on Monday and the remaining two will arrive in the Southeast Asian country in March, the official said.
KAI also signed a $260 million worth contract to export 8 more T-50TH to Thailand in July, last year.
KAI delivered 15 T-50i aircrafts to Indonesia in 2014 and 12 FA-50PH jets to the Philippines in 2015.
T-50 aircrafts were first exported to Indonesia in 2011. A total of 64 T-50 aircrafts worth $2.9 billion have been exported so far to the Middle East and Southeast Asia. KAI is currently pushing to export T-50 advanced aircrafts to the United States, Botswana, and Argentina.
Moon Ji-woong and Lee Eun-joo-pulsenews

Royal Thailand Air Force Selects T-50

Korea Aerospace Industries (KAI) said Thursday that it has signed a $110 million deal to export four T-50TH supersonic trainer jets to Thailand.
Under the deal, the Korean company will deliver the trainer jets within 30 months.
Thailand has selected the KAI T-50TH over the Chinese-made L15 to replace aging trainer aircraft for its Air Force.
Thailand has been operating L39 trainer jets made by the Czech Republic, and is replacing them as it has been more than 30 years since their production.
At the end of last year, the Thai government approved a budget to purchase four new trainers.
Competitors in a bidding battle included the United States, Russia and Italy as well as Korea and China.
Sixteen T-50 were exported to Indonesia in 2011.
Korea had also signed a deal with Iraq to export 24 T-50IQs in 2013, and with the Philippines to export 12 FA-50PHs, a light combat version of the T-50, in 2014.
South Korea government is also seeking to sell 24 FA-50s to Peru by participating in the country's fighter purchase project.
koreatimes

Thailand Interested in US-2 Amphibious Aircraft

Thai Prime Minister and Defense Minister of Thailand in exclusive interview with Kyodo News in Bangkok said, "Thai Air Force has expressed interest in Japan aircraft."
The aircraft is meant seaplane of the Japan Maritime Self-Defense Force US2, which aims to export overseas.
He stressed that "it is necessary to comprehensively determine such as price and convenience." If the conditions are agreeable, it suggested the possibility to start a specific study toward the purchase. India and Indonesia also have shown an interest in buying on US-2 aircraft.
defense-studies

Thailand, Romania Select Sniper Advanced Targeting Pod for F-16 Fleets

The Romanian Air Force and Royal Thai Air Force recently selected Lockheed Martin’s Sniper Advanced Targeting Pod for their F-16 fleets.
Lockheed Martin will integrate and field Sniper ATPs on existing RoAF and RTAF aircraft and provide initial sustainment support. Pod deliveries began in early 2015 to meet operational need requirements.
Sniper ATP will provide the RoAF and the RTAF with precision targeting capability to locate targets using high-resolution imagery. It detects, identifies, automatically tracks and laser-designates small tactical targets at long ranges.
Sniper ATP’s interoperability also enables coalition air forces to use the pod across multiple platforms, including U.S. Air Force and multinational F-15, F-16, F-18, A-10, B-1 and B-52 aircraft.
lockheedmartin

Lockheed close to sign deal with Singapore for F-16 fleet modernisation

Lockheed Martin is reportedly close to signing a contract with Singapore for upgrade of its F-16 Fighting Falcon aircraft fleet.
The F-16V upgrade package features an active electronically scanned array radar, upgraded mission computer, as well as enhancements to the mission computer, vehicle systems, aircraft structure, cockpit, and electronic warfare system.
Lockheed is already competing to modernise South Korea's F-16s, after the country cancelled an upgrade agreement with BAE Systems in late 2014.
The Republic of Singapore Air Force operates 60 F-16C/D block 52 aircraft, which were upgraded with Israeli-built electronic warfare systems.
According to the publication, the presence of Israeli systems raised a doubt whether the company would be able to upgrade the RSAF F-16s as that would require modifications to the systems.
Apart from Singapore and South Korea, the company is also believed to be working to modernise the F-16 fleets of Thailand and Indonesia.
airforce-technology

Royal Thailand Air force delays plan for new jet fighters

Prime Minister Prayut Chan-o-cha is pushing the military to more quickly draft its spending plans for the 2016 fiscal year and submit them within the month.
Air Force commander ACM Treetod Sonjance said the Defence Ministry, the Royal Thai Armed Forces Headquarters, the Royal Thai Army, the Royal Thai Navy and the Royal Thai Air Force are expected to prepare their budgets by mid-January.
He said Gen Prayut, who is also head of the National Council for Peace and Order (NCPO), wants to see how the armed forces and other military units prioritise their spending.
The Royal Thai Air Force has no plan to procure new fighter jets in the next budget year. It will focus on upgrades and maintenance instead.
Preliminary plans call for upgrades to the air force's fleet of F-5 jets. The aircraft have been in service for over 30 years.
A Defence Ministry source said the proposed defence spending is likely to be a little higher than the amount approved in 2015.
The source said the army is likely to propose the procurement of helicopters for general use. About 30 UH-1H (Huey) helicopters will be decommissioned. The US-made UH-72 (Lakota) aircraft is said to be on the army's wish list.
The army also has a plan to purchase a transporter aircraft under a budget of 1.25 billion baht. Ukraine's Antonov-30 and Spain's CN-295 are said to be at the top of the list.
An air force committee is working on choosing a new fleet of training aircraft to replace the L-39 model.
The air force has allocated 3.7 billion baht in the 2015 budget to procure a new fleet of training aircraft to replace the L-39 aircraft manufactured by the Czech Republic.
There are three contenders that meet the initial specifications: T-50 aircraft from South Korea, M-346 from Italy; and the Textron Airland Scorpion from the US. The South Korean aircraft is expected to come at the top of the list.
bangkokpost

Alenia Offers M-346 Master to Thailand

Alenia Aermacchi is offering its M-346 Master advanced jet trainer aircraft to Thailand as a replacement for its ageing Aero Vodochody L-39 Albatros platforms.
No further details of the offer were disclosed. The RTAF currently fields 30 L-39 aircraft.
The tandem twin-seat, twin-engined, M-346 can operate both as a trainer and a light attack platform, making it well suited to the RTAF's requirements. It is provisioned for nine hardpoints, and can carry a range of 'dumb' and 'smart' munitions, AIM-9 Sidewinder air-to-air missiles, AGM-65 Maverick air-to-surface missiles, and Brimstone anti-armour/low collateral missiles.
defense-studies

Aero Vodochody in Talks with Thailand over L-39 Replacement

Czech aircraft maker Aero Vodochody is in negotiations with the Royal Thai Air Force (RTAF) to supply replacements for at least four Aero Vodochody L-39 Albatros jet trainers.
Aero is offering its L-159 ALCA or L-39NG as replacement aircraft.
The RTAF currently operates a total of 36 L-39ZA/ART, most of which were westernised with Israeli avionics and are capable of firing Raytheon AIM-9 Sidewinder missiles.
The bulk of these aircraft were procured during the early to mid-1990s. However, a smaller number of unwesternised L-39s were acquired during the 1980s and are approaching the end of their service lives.
defense-studies

Thailand signs contracts with Russia to buy three Sukhoi Superjet 100 for VIP Transport

Thailand signed contracts with Russia to buy three Sukhoi Superjet 100 medium-haul airliners.
The amount of the deal has been kept secret. The contract was signed last year to supply two airliners. In August 2014 the contract was concluded to supply another airliner.
itar-tass

Thailand Buys 5 EC645 for Navy and 2 EC725 for Air Force

Thailand’s navy and air force will acquire two Airbus Helicopters rotorcraft types: the light-utility EC645 T2 and the 11-ton-class EC725.
The Royal Thai Navy signed for five EC645 T2s to be deployed on transport duties and other missions, with deliveries scheduled to begin in 2016. Its purchase represents the first export order of this militarized version of the EC145 T2
The Royal Thai Air Force’s reorder of Airbus Helicopters’ EC725, the military service is obtaining two EC725 tactical transport rotorcraft for SAR/CSAR missions, operating from Wing 2 at Lop Buri Air Base. These aircraft will be provided in 2017, joining the four previously-ordered EC725s booked in 2012 for deliveries from 2015.
EC725 is currently operated by the military forces of France, Brazil, Mexico, Malaysia, Thailand and Indonesia.
airbus

Thai Air Force selects Piaggio Avanti II for recon role

The Royal Thai Air Force has signed a contract to buy a Piaggio P.180 Avanti II aircraft to fulfill a requirement for a photo reconnaissance aircraft.
The P.180 Avanti II will be customised for territorial multifunctional surveillance, featuring customised photography systems.
janes

Saab looks for additional Thai Gripen sale

Saab is in discussions with Thailand for six additional Gripen C/D fighters. Talks are ongoing between parts.
Thailand already operates 12 Gripens, two Saab 340 airborne early warning and control (AEW&C) aircraft, and two Saab 340 transports.
flightglobal

Alenia Aermacchi Sets Its Sights on Thai Trainer Contest

Thailand is the next regional target for the M-346 jet trainer maker Alenia Aermacchi.
A request for proposals (RfPs) for eight to 10 jet trainers is expected to be released for Thailan next month.
The South Korean T-50 provides the main opposition in the region, having already scored a deal in Indonesia and been selected in the Philippines.
Indonesia is also looking at reviving the BAE Systems Hawk jet trainer fleet it has had in the inventory for years.
The British had a team in the country earlier this year to look at what is required to restore the Hawk to former levels of availability, according to BAE executives. BAE said there is no prospect of an upgrade to the 32 Hawks remaining in the Indonesian fleet at this time.
Gearing up for the Thai competition comes as Alenia Aermacchi heads for completion next month of deliveries to Singapore of 12 M-346s. Ten aircraft have so far been delivered. The final two aircraft will arrive by March.
Singapore deliveries end at nearly the same time as the first M-346 is delivered to Israel, which has ordered 30.
The M-346 was the de facto the winner of a Polish competition recently when the aircraft was the only platform to meet the first phase of the procurement process.
The Poles are buying eight aircraft initially but have a requirement for a further four machines.
The downside, predictably, remains the UAE deal, or lack of a deal. The M-346’s selection in 2009 has not been followed up by an order and the deal remains frozen.
defensenews

Thailand to Launch Lead-In Fighter Programme

The Royal Thai Air Force (RTAF) expects to launch a USD400 million programme to acquire lead-in fighter trainer (LIFT) aircraft following the formation of a new Thai government.
The aircraft acquired through the LIFT programme will replace a handful of ageing Northrop F-5 trainers in service with the RTAF and eventually its fleet of Aero L-39 Albatros trainer/light attack aircraft procured in the early 1990s. The procurement programme has become pressing since the RTAF started operating a fleet of 12 JAS 39 Gripen fighters, which were delivered from 2011-2013.
janes

Thailand takes an interest in KAI T-50

South Korea is looking to sell more weapons systems, including warships and aircraft, to Thailand.
The Royal Thai Air Force has shown interest in purchasing an attack variant of the T-50 supersonic trainer aircraft built by Korea Aerospace Industries (KAI) and Lockheed Thailand is interested in buying 16 T-50 variants, including the TA-50 armed trainer and FA-50 light attacker.
defensenews

Thailand Air force has placed an order for Aerostar tactical UAV.

Aeronautics Defense Systems has won an order from Thailand Air Force for the company's Aerostar tactical unmanned aerial vehicle (UAV). This is the company's second order from this customer.
The order is for the next-generation Aerostar, including real-time intelligence gathering systems, digital communications, and ground control stations.
globes.co.il

Royal Thailand Air Force eyes six more Gripen jets

The Royal Thai Air Force is considering buying six additional Gripen fighter jets from Sweden, althought the air force would have to wait for the government to approve any future purchase of the jets.
The Gripen Integrated Air Defence System, comprising 12 Gripen fighter jets along with two Saab 340 AEW early warning aircraft and a Saab 340 transport plane, will be included in the armed forces’ national defence programme on April 1, 2014.
The delivery of the last three jets was delayed by a day after one of them was hit by lightning over India en route to Thailand.
bangkokpost