Thailand’s military has officially endorsed the Saab Gripen E/F as its choice for the next fighter jet, a decision that the Swedish firm describes as “very positive” but still preliminary.
According to a statement from the Thai Air Force posted on their Facebook page, the Gripen has been identified as the “most suitable” option for modernizing its fleet. While this endorsement is significant, it is not final; the government will make the ultimate decision and has the authority to override the military’s recommendation. Nonetheless, this development marks a public show of support for Saab over its competitor, Lockheed Martin, which offers the F-16 Block 70/72.
“Saab confirms that the Royal Thai Air Force has announced its wish to purchase Saab’s Gripen fighter,” a spokesperson for Saab told Breaking Defense. “This is clearly very positive for Saab and for Sweden, but at this point, there is no contract or any order in place. Saab looks forward to continuing discussions with the Royal Thai Air Force and the authorities regarding future fighter capabilities for Thailand.”
Previous reports indicated that the Air Force was leaning toward the Gripen, but no official announcements had been made until today. A report in the Bangkok Post highlighted that a significant factor in the decision involves industrial offsets — side benefits provided by the contractor that often serve as incentives for the purchasing nation — although specifics of these packages have yet to be disclosed.
According to Reuters, the Thai government has budgeted approximately $560 million for the purchase of four new jets between 2025 and 2029, with plans to acquire an additional eight by 2034.
Given that Thailand currently operates older versions of both the Gripen and F-16, the transition to next-generation fighters should present a comparatively smaller learning curve for the country’s pilots, irrespective of the final aircraft selection.
