From Bangkok Post.
The cabinet yesterday agreed the air force could buy 12 Gripen multi-role fighters from Sweden at a cost of 34.4 billion baht.
The procurement plan has been kept low-profile, with air force chief ACM Chalit Phukphasuk refusing to comment.
Government spokesman Chiya Yimwilai said details would be announced by ACM Chalit today.
The new Gripen-JAS 39C/D aircraft will replace the air force's ageing American-made F-5E fighters.
It is the second major arms procurement approved by the cabinet recently. On Sept 25 it endorsed the Defence Ministry's 7.7-billion-baht plan to buy 96 armoured personnel carriers (APCs) from Ukraine and 15,000 TAR-21 assault rifles from Israel for the army, C-802 surface-to-surface missiles and launch systems for the navy from China, and new avionics for the six C-130H aircraft operated by the air force.
An air force source said the Swedish purchase will be made in two batches.
The first six jets, including spare parts and training programmes, will be bought with a five-year budget of 19 billion baht starting this fiscal year. The 15.4 billion baht cost of the other six planes will be met from the 2013-2017 budget.
The decision to go for the Swedish fighters was made by a committee led by air force chief-of-staff ACM Ittaporn Subhawong, the source said. Air force officials briefed the cabinet on the capabilities of the Gripen yesterday and compared it with other planes on offer.
ACM Chavalit had met Prime Minister Surayud Chulanont on Sept 29 and convinced him to back the purchase. He cited the need for new combat aircraft to match the Russian-made SU-30 MKM fighters now deployed by Malaysia.
The Gripen jets were in the public spotlight when Thaksin Shinawatra was in power. He talked of bartering, paying some of the cost with chickens instead of cash. The idea went nowhere.
Later he ordered then air force chief ACM Kongsak Wantana to switch to the SU-30s. ACM Chalit rejected the plane as unsuited to Thailand's needs when he became the new air force chief.
The source said the Swedish offer was sweetened with the offer of two radar surveillance planes for free.
Meanwhile, army chief Gen Anupong Paochinda said the army would accept any decision made by Defence Minister Gen Boonrawd Somtas on the controversial plan to buy the APCs from Ukraine.
Gen Boonrawd is the person who will make the final decision on whether to ahead with the 3.89-billion-baht APC purchase.
''I can accept any decision by Gen Boonrawd. If he wants to put a stop to it, the purchase will be stopped,'' Gen Anupong said.
The purchase has been frozen by the Defence Ministry despite getting approval from the cabinet. The ministry set up a committee to re-examine the deal and clear up all doubts.
The Office of the Auditor-General also demanded answers from the ministry about the deal. Key questions were why NGV Enterprise, which represented Ukraine, won the contract even though it failed to tender a bid within the specified deadline.
State auditors also questioned the quality of the products.
Gen Anupong said the army had already answered the state auditor's questions and explained to the minister why the Ukrainian vehicles were needed.
He said arms dealers and critics did not know everything. The vehicles from the Ukraine came with German-made engines and were most suited to the army's needs and budget.
Air force to get Gripen jet fighters
Air force to get Gripen jet fighters
I intend to live forever - so far so good.
?!@*%^%’s idea of bartering frozen chickens for the Russian jets tickled my fancy. The Russians are a major importer of frozen chicken from America. Thailand is a major exporter of frozen chickens. As no F-16’s (the air force’s pick) can be bought because of American sensitivities to little things called coups, a barter deal where only the Americans lost out sounds like a good deal. But I guess any ?!@*%^% idea is now a bad idea.
Anyway, the air force said it didn’t like the Russian jet, as it is too big. However, the Russian aren’t too picky about military governments, coups etc. They are also big into interesting sale terms, and their arms industry and arms export sales are going through a resurgence at the moment much to Washington’s annoyance .
In return for buying 18 Russian Su-30 MKM Sukhoi fighter jets for $900 million dollars odd (about $50m per plane), the Malaysians are getting an astronaut aboard the ISS via a Russian space vehicle as part of a technology transfer deal. So I guess the chance to pick off a major export market for the American poultry industry was not out of the question. Certainty a Thai astronaut would have been in the running. Who knows, a few surveillance planes, tanks, rail cars etc could have been thrown in as well. I guess the Yanks would have gone ballistic had chief Russian arms spruiker Putin picked up another Asian export market. If Washington cannot be the seller then I guess that they would be happy with the neutral Swedes than those commie, Iran loving, Russian Mafioso.
India this month signed a contract with Russia for the licensed assembly of 40 multi-role Su-30MKI for approximately $1.5 billion ($37.5 m per plane). This follows a 2000 deal for 140 of the Russian fighters. A Thai back to back deal with the Indians would have been interesting.
If my calcualtions are correct, the Thai deal for 12 planes costs $1.08 billion or about $90m per plane plus three free radar surveillance planes. A few chooks and an astronaut might not have gone astray!!!!!!
Anyway, the air force said it didn’t like the Russian jet, as it is too big. However, the Russian aren’t too picky about military governments, coups etc. They are also big into interesting sale terms, and their arms industry and arms export sales are going through a resurgence at the moment much to Washington’s annoyance .
In return for buying 18 Russian Su-30 MKM Sukhoi fighter jets for $900 million dollars odd (about $50m per plane), the Malaysians are getting an astronaut aboard the ISS via a Russian space vehicle as part of a technology transfer deal. So I guess the chance to pick off a major export market for the American poultry industry was not out of the question. Certainty a Thai astronaut would have been in the running. Who knows, a few surveillance planes, tanks, rail cars etc could have been thrown in as well. I guess the Yanks would have gone ballistic had chief Russian arms spruiker Putin picked up another Asian export market. If Washington cannot be the seller then I guess that they would be happy with the neutral Swedes than those commie, Iran loving, Russian Mafioso.
India this month signed a contract with Russia for the licensed assembly of 40 multi-role Su-30MKI for approximately $1.5 billion ($37.5 m per plane). This follows a 2000 deal for 140 of the Russian fighters. A Thai back to back deal with the Indians would have been interesting.
If my calcualtions are correct, the Thai deal for 12 planes costs $1.08 billion or about $90m per plane plus three free radar surveillance planes. A few chooks and an astronaut might not have gone astray!!!!!!
Re the merits of the Russian fighter, the follwing is a interesting news story on the merits of the F-18 super hornet v the Su-30:
October 29, 2007
THE defence department has been forced to reject claims that Australia's new frontline fighter bomber the Super Hornet is inferior to potential rival aircraft.
The RAAF's F-111s, which entered service in the mid-70s, will be retired in 2010.
They and the RAAF's fleet of F/A-18 Hornets will be replaced by up to 100 of the new Lockheed F-35 Joint Strike Fighter from around 2013.
As an interim measure to maintain air superiority between the retirement of the F-111 and arrival of the JSF, Dr Nelson announced in March the RAAF would acquire the 24 Super Hornets as an with the first arriving in 2010.
Aviation analyst Dr Carlo Kopp told the Four Corners program on ABC TV that the Super Hornet would be far outclassed by the new generation of advanced Soviet-built aircraft being acquired by China, Indonesia and Malaysia.
"In most of the engagements scenarios that we could postulate the Super Hornet would get shot down. It's as simple as that," he said on the program.
The defence department rejected the claims as Four Corners went to air.
"Defence rejects any assertion that our air superiority would be compromised,'' defence spokesman Brigadier Andrew Nikolic said.
"The Super Hornet is a true multi-role aircraft that spans the air combat spectrum, including maritime strike that is so vital for Australia.
"The acquisition of 24 Super Hornets will ensure Australia's air combat superiority well into the future and will enable us to maintain our edge in all aspects of air combat, ''
Group Captain Steve Robertson, head of the defence air combat transition office, said that he would bet his life on the superiority of the Super Hornet.
Cpt Robertson, described by defence as an experienced fighter pilot, said: "If a Super Hornet was to meet a Su-30 in the next five to eight years and I had to bet my life on the outcome, I'll sit in the Super Hornet F-18F cockpit every time."
[quote][/quote]
October 29, 2007
THE defence department has been forced to reject claims that Australia's new frontline fighter bomber the Super Hornet is inferior to potential rival aircraft.
The RAAF's F-111s, which entered service in the mid-70s, will be retired in 2010.
They and the RAAF's fleet of F/A-18 Hornets will be replaced by up to 100 of the new Lockheed F-35 Joint Strike Fighter from around 2013.
As an interim measure to maintain air superiority between the retirement of the F-111 and arrival of the JSF, Dr Nelson announced in March the RAAF would acquire the 24 Super Hornets as an with the first arriving in 2010.
Aviation analyst Dr Carlo Kopp told the Four Corners program on ABC TV that the Super Hornet would be far outclassed by the new generation of advanced Soviet-built aircraft being acquired by China, Indonesia and Malaysia.
"In most of the engagements scenarios that we could postulate the Super Hornet would get shot down. It's as simple as that," he said on the program.
The defence department rejected the claims as Four Corners went to air.
"Defence rejects any assertion that our air superiority would be compromised,'' defence spokesman Brigadier Andrew Nikolic said.
"The Super Hornet is a true multi-role aircraft that spans the air combat spectrum, including maritime strike that is so vital for Australia.
"The acquisition of 24 Super Hornets will ensure Australia's air combat superiority well into the future and will enable us to maintain our edge in all aspects of air combat, ''
Group Captain Steve Robertson, head of the defence air combat transition office, said that he would bet his life on the superiority of the Super Hornet.
Cpt Robertson, described by defence as an experienced fighter pilot, said: "If a Super Hornet was to meet a Su-30 in the next five to eight years and I had to bet my life on the outcome, I'll sit in the Super Hornet F-18F cockpit every time."
[quote][/quote]