Thailand’s Cabinet has greenlit the Air Force’s request to expand its fleet with the purchase of additional Saab JAS 39 Gripen E/F fighter jets, according to an announcement from the Royal Thai Air Force (RTAF) made Tuesday on social media.
The acquisition aims to boost the country’s air defense capabilities by replacing aging aircraft and reinforcing the nation’s control over its airspace.
The move comes as Air Chief Marshal Punpakdee Pattanakul prepares for a trip to Sweden later this month, where he is expected to finalize the multi-million dollar procurement agreement with Swedish defense manufacturer Saab.
The new deal dispels recent claims from Cambodia that Sweden had blocked further sales of Gripen jets to Thailand after allegations surfaced regarding their use in cross-border tensions. Both the Swedish government and its embassy in Bangkok have rejected these assertions as unfounded.
