Thailand delays purchase of new fighter jets to replace older F-16A/B Fighting Falcon aircraft

The Royal Thai Air Force wants to retire its older fourth-generation F-16A/B Fighting Falcon fighters. However, the procurement of new aircraft has been temporarily put on pause.

Here's What We Know

Thailand has 49 old F-16A/B Fighting Falcon fighter jets in service. The military plans to get rid of them by 2028. At the same time, the Royal Thai Air Force in 2020 planned that from 2023 to 2028 and from 2028 to 2033, it would be able to purchase two batches of 12 new aircraft each.

The implementation of the procurement plan has been put on pause. This was officially announced last week by Air Chief Marshal Punpakdee Pattanakul, commander-in-chief of the Royal Thai Air Force.

The situation is not critical as there is still time before the F-16A/B fighters are decommissioned. A new plan will be proposed in 2024-2025. Now the Thai authorities intend to prioritise improving the country's economy, while the Royal Thai Air Force is reviewing the requirements and conditions of the project.

Source: Janes