Thailand confirms selection of Saab Gripen E/F fighter
The Royal Thai Air Force confirmed on Wednesday the selection of the Gripen E/F as the country’s new multirole fighter, Saab said.
Although not mentioned, the deal is expected to include 14 fighter jets in single- and two-seat variants.
The preference for the Swedish jet had already been communicated in the third quarter of last year, but Lockheed Martin, with support from the US government, has once again offered the F-16 on advantageous terms.
According to Saab, the Swedish Defence Material Administration (FMV) and the Kingdom of Thailand will now follow the next steps in the procurement process in order to sign a contract in the near future.
The agreement also includes associated equipment and a long-term offset package that includes air defence systems, AEW, maintenance and component production, among others.
“We welcome the Royal Thai Air Force’s selection of Gripen E/F as its future fighter and look forward to the next steps in this procurement process,” says Micael Johansson, President and CEO of Saab.
Thailand will be the third customer for the Gripen E/F, following Sweden and Brazil. The country’s air force has operated a fleet of 11 Gripen C/D fighters since 2011.
In addition to the three countries, Colombia has also expressed its intention to order the Gripen. Saab expects to sign a contract with the South American country by 2025.
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