By Thai Newsroom Reporters
THE THAI AIR FORCE today (Aug.1) categorically dismissed news reports that Sweden has suspended the sale of a dozen Saab JAS 39 Gripen jets to Thailand in the wake of an unprecedented use of the multirole combat aircraft during the Thai air force’s recent missions against Cambodian forces along the disputed border.
The Thai air force posted on its Facebook page today’s statement to ultimately deny the news reports cited by the Phnom Penh Post news agency that Sweden has suspended the sale of the Gripen fighter jets to the Thai air force which had successfully launched air strikes against Cambodian army installations in Thai-Cambodian border areas at the height of five-day clashes.
The Cambodian news report unquestionably constituted “a distortion of the facts” pertaining to the sales of the Swedish-made jets to the Thai air force for which the procurement process is currently underway, according to the Thai air force’s online statement.
The Thai air force reconfirmed that its recent air strikes in border areas had been entirely counterforce missions in which laser-guided bombs fired from F-16 Fighting Falcon and Gripen jets had only destroyed or damaged Cambodian forces such as BM-21 rockets aboard multiple rocket launchers and artillery units whilst Cambodian civilians had been intact and safe.
The Thai army and air force reassured that they had not only followed the internationally-recognised rules of engagement in combat scenarios but humanitarian principles whilst Cambodian rockets evidently hit civilian targets in Thai territory such as a hospital, a convenience store and villagers’ homes.
Nevertheless, Swedish Foreign Affairs Minister Maria Malmer Stenergard reportedly commented that Stockholm was “closely monitoring developments in the border conflict” between Thailand and Cambodia.
However, she stopped short either confirming or denying as to whether the dozen Saab JAS 39 Gripen jets will be procured by the Thai air force as planned.
Though a final decision on the jet sale issue depends on the Swedish government, the Inspectorate of Strategic Products, a government agency of the Scandinavian country, is primarily obliged to assess matters pertaining to the sales of military hardware and equipment to any purchasing state.
Thailand has planned to buy a dozen Gripen jets to add air combat capabilities to the country’s existing squadron of 11 Gripen jets currently deployed at Wing 7 in Surat Thani. A mini-squadron of Wing 7’s multirole combat aircraft took part in the air strike missions in coordination with the F-16s from Wing 1 in Korat and Wing 4 in Takhli against Cambodian forces along the disputed border.
The sought-after Gripens worth about 60 billion baht of the taxpayer’s money will be provided in three batches, each of which will account for four aircraft.
Thai air marshals had earlier weighed purchase options between the Gripen E/F and the US-made F-16 Block 70/72 and finally picked the Swedish-made jet.
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