Thailand to buy four Swedish Gripen fighter jets

The Royal Thai Air Force (RTAF) will sign a government-to-government agreement in Stockholm on Tuesday to purchase four Gripen E/F fighter jets from Sweden for 19.5 billion baht. Thai Air Force Commander-in-Chief Air Chief Marshal Phanpakdee Pattanakul will represent Thailand at the signing, with Foreign Minister Maris Sangiampongsa serving as witness.

The deal marks the first phase of Thailand’s air fleet modernization, with the new Gripen aircraft set to replace aging F-16s at Wing 1 in Nakhon Ratchasima. According to the RTAF, while the overall number of aircraft may decrease, the Gripen’s advanced avionics, electronic warfare systems, and network-centric capabilities will enhance operational efficiency. The acquisition was approved earlier by a cabinet resolution and represents a key step in strengthening Thailand’s air defense.