By Thai Newsroom Reporters
PRIME MINISTER SRETTHA Thavisin today (June 25) remained tightlipped over alleged lobbying on the part of a Swedish banker/industrialist to prompt the Thai air force to purchase a squadron of Swedish-built Gripen fighter jets.
The prime minister told reporters at Government House that Marcus Wallenberg visited him yesterday but declined to either confirm or deny criticism that the Swedish banker/industrialist was quietly lobbying him over the air force’s plan to buy a squadron of new combat aircraft.
The air force would likely choose between Saab JAS 39E Gripen or Lockheed Martin F-16 Block 70/72 Fighting Falcon jets. A squadron of the Swedish-built fighters are currently deployed at Wing 7 in Surat Thani whilst the US-built fighters are currently deployed at Wing 1 in Korat and Wing 4 in Takhli.
The air force has planned to replace the ageing General Dynamics F-16A/B and F-16 ADF Fighting Falcon jets currently deployed at Wing 1 and Northrop F-5TH Super Tigris currently deployed at Wing 21 in Ubon Ratchathani with new fighter jets either from the US or Sweden.
An average flyaway cost for a JAS 39E is currently reported at about US$85 million, compared to some US$63 million for an F-16 Block 70/72.
The Pheu Thai-attached Srettha declined to say which one of the rival jets he may personally prefer but insisted that the air force only purchase on condition that the chosen manufacturer open repair and maintenance facilities as well as spare parts manufacturing plant for the chosen aircraft in Thailand.
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Top and Front Page: Saab JAS 39E Gripen fighter jets. Photos: Thai Rath
Also read: Air force to choose to buy either F-16 Block 70/72 or JAS 39E fighter jets in June
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