1

Thailand was too hasty to celebrate this time

Thailand defeated Cambodia and achieved victory, but Thailand was too hasty to celebrate. Asia Defense and Security Report stated that the Thai Air Force deployed the JAS-39 Gripen multi-role fighter jets, which played a significant role in the border conflict between Thailand and Cambodia.

However, because the Thai Air Force deployed the JAS-39 Gripen multi-role fighter jets for cross-border operations, attacking targets of the Cambodian army, it led to a serious consequence.

Swedish Foreign Minister Maria Malmer Stenergard has already clearly refused Thailand's request to continue ordering JAS-39C/D Gripen fighter jets.

Thailand is very satisfied with the performance of the JAS-39 Gripen multi-role fighter jet, and Thailand is preparing to expand its 12-jet Gripen fighter force and Saab 340 early warning aircraft capabilities.

The JAS39 Gripen fighter jet is the core combat power of the Thai Air Force's information warfare. It is completely integrated into a systemized networked operation with the Thai Air Force fighter jets, early warning aircraft, reconnaissance forces, and ground radar.

Thailand believes that purchasing Swedish fighter jets is a neutral position. Purchasing the JAS-39E/F Gripen fighter jets can avoid the constraints of NATO and the United States, while still obtaining Western technology weapons, without being constrained by NATO and the United States.

The Thai Air Force has approved the purchase of another batch of JAS-39E/F Gripen fighter jets. In August of this year, they signed the first contract for 596 million dollars, four JAS-39E/F Gripen multi-role fighter jets.

In fact, this border conflict between Thailand and Cambodia is also the first time the JAS-39 Gripen fighter jet has participated in actual combat. If Sweden continues to strictly control the offensive combat of the JAS-39 Gripen fighter jets, Sweden will certainly lose a large number of fighter jet orders.

No one wants to pay a high price of 100 million dollars per aircraft to buy a fighter jet that can only watch and cannot be used in real combat. No country can achieve that, once a conflict breaks out, it only conducts pure defense and does not launch counterattacks.

Now, Sweden is actively promoting the JAS-39E/F Gripen multi-role fighter jets to the Czech Republic, Croatia, Colombia, and the Philippines. This time, it may all end up as a waste of effort.

Thailand also has another option, which is the F-16V fighter jets that the United States has been promoting. The F-16V is the most advanced model in the entire F-16 fighter jet series, and its combat capability is indeed strong. However, the price is also close to 200 million dollars per aircraft.

Thailand can deploy the F-16A/B fighter jets for combat, but to deploy the F-16V fighter jets, it must accept the restrictions and control of the US Air Force. US military personnel will be stationed at the Thai Air Force base, controlling the use of each F-16V fighter jet, even counting the number of air-to-air missiles every day.

2

China becomes Thailand's last card

However, the Thai Air Force has one last card, which is our J-10CE fighter jet. But for the J-10CE fighter jet to exert combat effectiveness, it must purchase supporting early warning aircraft, PL-15 long-range air-to-air missiles, command systems, and data link systems to form a systematized combat capability.

In terms of weapons, the Royal Thai Army has always been a major customer of Chinese weapons, with more than 30 years of experience using Chinese weapons. The Royal Thai Navy is also a major customer of Chinese weapons, long-term use of Chinese-made frigates, and has introduced Chinese-produced dock landing ships.

In fact, only the Thai Air Force has not purchased fighter jets produced in China. To make the Thai Air Force change its mind, it will require time and opportunities. Perhaps this time, Sweden's restriction and prohibition on Thailand's use of JAS-39 Gripen fighter jets for counter-offensive combat is a good opportunity.

Now, the J-10 fighter jet has the strongest record in the world. The J-10CE fighter jet is the only one in the world that has a record of shooting down three fourth-generation semi-modern fighter jets. The main threat faced by the Thai Air Force is the Vietnamese Su-30 fighter jets and Su-27 fighter jets. In the "Golden Helmet" exercise, the J-10 has almost a hundred percent victory rate against the Su-27 and Su-30.

The Thai Air Force's F-16A/B fighter jets have been in service for 34 years, all are the earliest models, and basically none of them are capable of launching medium-range air-to-air missiles.

The only truly combat-effective fighter jet in the Thai Air Force is one squadron of JAS-39C/D Gripen fighter jets, as well as the planned purchase of one more squadron of JAS-39E/F Gripen fighter jets.

Thailand needs at least 20-30 fighter jets to replace the old F-16A/B fighter jets. The J-10CE fighter jet has sufficient production capacity and can start delivering ready-made units. Once equipped, it can quickly form combat capability, which is very attractive to Thailand. Otherwise, if Cambodia takes the initiative to purchase a J-10CE fighter jet, the Thai Air Force will be at a disadvantage.

Original article: https://www.toutiao.com/article/7533421445800673842/

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