The United States Department of Defense has informally declined Thailand’s request to buy F-35 fighter jets, based on a Royal Thai Air Force (RTAF) supply. Instead, the US has offered F-16 Block 70 and F-15 E Strike Eagle fighter jets as options.
The Pentagon’s determination was announced by Robert F Gordec, the US ambassador to Thailand, during a meeting with ACM Alongkorn Wannarot, the air drive commander-in-chief, at the RTAF headquarters in Don Mueang two weeks in the past. The ambassador cited the US Department of State’s opinion that the RTAF could not but have the mandatory infrastructure services for the F-35s, including airbase safety, airfields, maintenance, pilots, and other personnel.
Gordec defined that it would require a major amount of time and finances for the RTAF to be fully ready for the F-35s. However, the US didn’t completely reject Thailand’s request and would rethink it when the RTAF is ready, likely within the subsequent five to 10 years, reported Bangkok Post.
In the meantime, the US has provided to promote F-16 Block 70 and F-15 E Strike Eagle fighters to Thailand. Protected to the RTAF’s F-35 acquisition bid is predicted in July. If the request is formally denied, the RTAF should return 369.1 million baht (US$11.6 million) or an advance fee of 5% permitted by the House of Representatives to the state.
The source also revealed that the RTAF is contemplating buying another fleet of Gripen fighter jets from Sweden’s Saab AB. The air drive had previously purchased a fleet of 12 Gripen fighters, which were based mostly at Wing 7 in Surat Thani, but lost one in a crash..