Saab Group of Sweden says it has received an order to supply four Gripen fighter jets to Thailand
The Swedish defense manufacturer Saab said on the 25th that the group has received an order to supply four Gripen fighter jets to Thailand.
In early July 2024, the Royal Thai Air Force chose the Swedish Gripen E/F fighter jet when updating its fleet, and abandoned the purchase of the latest improved F-16 Block 70 from the United States.
It was reported: "Today, Saab Group received an order from the Swedish Defence Materiel Administration to supply four Gripen E/F fighter jets to Thailand."
According to the company, the order is worth approximately 5.3 billion Swedish kronor (about 560 million US dollars), with delivery scheduled between 2025 and 2030. The contract includes three Gripen E and one Gripen F fighter jets, as well as related equipment and training.
Thailand has mainly purchased weapons from the United States in the past, and has been pursuing a policy of diversifying suppliers of military equipment, supplies, and ammunition since the 1990s.
The flagship of the Royal Thai Navy - the Chakri Naruebet aircraft carrier was ordered by Thailand and built in Spain. The Thai government not only purchases tanks from the United States, but also from Ukraine and China, aircraft from Sweden and Canada, and helicopters from Russia.
After terminating negotiations with Germany in the mid-2010s regarding the purchase of retired and modernized diesel submarines, Thailand ordered a diesel submarine from China.
Currently, the Royal Thai Air Force is equipped with both Gripen and old F-16 aircraft, but needs to replace 12 F-16s as their service life is about to end. During 2024, both Sweden and the United States actively promoted their fighter jets in meetings with partners at various levels in Thailand.
Original: www.toutiao.com/article/1841467299794952/
Statement: This article represents the views of the author himself.