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Agence France-Presse

Thailand approved the purchase of four Swedish-made Gripen fighter jets on Tuesday, the air force said, a week after reaching a ceasefire in deadly border clashes with Cambodia.
The US$600 million agreement for the Saab JAS 39 Gripens was first announced in June as part of a long-term plan to modernise the air force’s combat capabilities.
During five days of clashes with Cambodia that left more than 40 people dead, Thailand used its fleet of F-16s to strike military targets across the border.
It was the deadliest border fighting between the two countries in decades.

“The cabinet has approved the purchase of JAS 39 Saab Gripen to strengthen the Royal Thai Air Force and protect Thailand’s sovereignty,” the air force said in a social media post.
A procurement committee began deliberations in August last year, concluding a 10-month review that favoured the Scandinavian-made jets over American F-16s.
The kingdom already operates 11 older Gripens, as well as dozens of F-16s acquired in the 1980s.


The country’s total defence budget stands at 200 billion baht (US$6 billion), which includes allocations for the army, navy and air force.
Separately, acting Prime Minister Phumtham Wechayachai said on Tuesday that the cabinet has approved compensation payments to the families of those who died in last month’s border conflict with Cambodia, with soldiers’ families to receive 10 million baht (US$310,000) each, and civilian families 8 million baht each.


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Thailand

US F-16s lose out as Thai air force seals US$600 million deal for Swedish Gripen jets

Swedish-built Gripen aircraft fly at an air show in Colombia last month. Photo: EPA

The purchase of four Swedish-built Gripen jets is part of a long-term plan to modernise Thailand’s air force. Photo: Reuters

Is Thailand’s conflict-hit economy running out of luck?

A 68-year-old Thai woman collects belongings from her home, destroyed by Cambodian artillery attacks, on Tuesday. Photo: Reuters

Bunkers to protect residents against shelling are seen in in Thailand’s Surin province on Tuesday. Photo: AFP

An empty beach in Koh Phangan. Thailand has endured a tourism slump in recent months. Photo: dpa

Paetongtarn Shinawatra (second from left), suspended as prime minister but still serving as culture minister, arrives for a cabinet meeting at Government House in Bangkok on Tuesday. Photo: EPA

Hun Sen speaks at a press conference at Cambodia’s National Assembly in 2023. Photo: Reuters

Cannabis advocates hold banners and an upside-down photograph of Thai Health Minister Somsak Thepsuthi during a rally in Bangkok on July 7 protesting against the government’s new restrictions. Photo: EPA

Why Thailand chose to buy Swedish fighter jets instead of US F-16s

Thailand’s move to buy Swedish jets was influenced by royal ties, military modernisation needs, and geopolitical considerations, marking a pivot in defence procurement. Photo: AFP

The Royal Thai Air Force’s Gripen aircraft perform at an air show in Bangkok in March 2013. Photo: EPA

Royal Thai Air Force’s Swedish-made JAS-39C/D “Gripen” fighter jets. Photo: Weibo

Cambodia-Thailand ceasefire welcome, but festering grievances must be tackled

Koon Kantho collects items from her house after it was destroyed during Cambodia’s artillery attacks in Sisaket province, Thailand, on July 29. Photo: Reuters

Thailand bans drones over Cambodia tensions as tourists warned of jail, fines

A drone flies over a beach. Thailand has imposed a temporary nationwide ban on drone use amid heightened tensions with neighbouring Cambodia. Photo: Unsplash

Fire and smoke rise during what the Thai army claims was a drone strike on a Cambodian arms depot near Phu Ma Kuea Hill in this screengrab from a video released on July 25. Photo: Thai Army

News

Asia

Southeast Asia

Thailand finalised the deal a week after using its current fleet of F-16s to strike military targets during border clashes with Cambodia


Thailand finalised the deal a week after using its current fleet of F-16s to strike military targets during border clashes with Cambodia.


US F-16s lose out as Thai air force seals US$600 million deal for Swedish Gripen jets

.css-1c6uqr6{color:inherit;font-weight:inherit;font-size:inherit;font-family:inherit;line-height:inherit;overflow-wrap:break-word;}Thailand finalised the deal a week after using its current fleet of F-16s to strike military targets during border clashes with Cambodia

Thailand finalised the deal a week after using its current fleet of F-16s to strike military targets during border clashes with Cambodia