The Royal Thai Air Force has officially confirmed the selection of the Swedish Saab Gripen E/F fighter jet as its next multirole combat aircraft, according to a statement released by Saab on Tuesday (3).
The decision represents a new step in the modernization of the country’s air defense and deepens the already established partnership with the Swedish defense industry. The acquisition process will be conducted in conjunction with the Swedish Defence Materiel Administration (FMV), although no formal contract or binding documents have been signed yet. The coming months are expected to be dedicated to formalizing the agreement.
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Strategic offsets
According to Saab’s statement, the anticipated contract will include not only the aircraft, but also related equipment and a long-term offset package aimed at strengthening Thailand’s national security and strategic independence. The agreement is also expected to boost job creation and attract investment to various sectors of the Thai economy.
“We welcome the Royal Thai Air Force’s selection of the Gripen E/F as its future fighter and look forward to the next stages of this acquisition process. The Gripen E/F is the best solution to equip Thailand with an independent air force for the future,” said Mikael Johansson, President and CEO of Saab.
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Competition with the F-16
Although Thailand had already expressed its intention to acquire the Gripen E/F in the third quarter of 2024, Lockheed Martin, with support from the U.S. government, submitted a new proposal to sell F-16 fighter jets in an attempt to reverse the decision with attractive commercial terms.
Despite this, industry sources indicate that the future agreement with Saab is expected to involve 14 Gripen aircraft, in both single-seat and twin-seat versions.
Long-standing partnership
The announcement marks the continuation of an already established collaboration: Thailand has been operating the Gripen C/D since 2011, with successful results in air defense and patrol missions. The Gripen E/F version represents a technological leap, equipped with next-generation AESA radars, advanced electronic warfare systems, and a wide range of smart weapons.
With this move, Thailand joins other nations that have already chosen the Gripen E/F as part of their armed forces modernization strategy.
Source: Saab / FMV. This content was created with the help of AI and reviewed by the editorial team.
