Thai Air Force plans second phase of Gripen fighter jet purchase

BANGKOK – The Royal Thai Air Force plans to proceed with the second phase of its Gripen fighter jet procurement project, with funding included in the fiscal 2027 budget, Air Force chief ACM Seksan Khantha said on Monday.

Speaking on 12 October, Seksan said the procurement was intended to strengthen Thailand’s defence capabilities against potential threats. He stressed that manned fighter aircraft remained necessary because critical decisions in complex situations still required human judgement, particularly when assessing life-and-death risks.

He said Air Force personnel would be trained to work with increasingly sophisticated technologies to improve the effectiveness of decision-making. Manned aircraft would therefore continue to play an essential role in the country’s combat capabilities.

Seksan said the quality and number of aircraft must be sufficient to protect Thailand’s sovereignty. The project would also need to include technology transfers, personnel training and infrastructure development to ensure the country was prepared to defend its airspace against potential threats.

He said the goal was to ensure that key areas could be protected from attack in the event of war.

The Air Force expects to receive the Gripen aircraft under the second phase of the procurement project in 2029.