Royal Thai Air Force opts for Saab''s Gripen fighters and Erieye AEW system
19 Oct 2007
Negotiations between the Thai and Swedish governments will now begin to conclude a formal agreement.
According to the announcement, the procurement process will be divided into two phases. Phase 1 will cover the purchase of 6 Gripen fighters, including spare parts and training, and 1 Saab Erieye AEW system aircraft, for a payment of $ 600 million, in the five-year budgetary cycle of 2008-2012.
In Phase 2 the RTAF will purchase another 6 Gripen fighters together with associated equipment, spare parts and training, and a second Saab Erieye AEW aircraft for a payment of $ 500 million in the five-year budgetary cycle from 2013-2017.
Sweden has also offered the Gripen fighters with two years maintenance and spare parts support package.
Welcoming the Thai decision, Swedish minister for foreign affairs, Carl Bildt, said in a statement, "I welcome the decision from the Royal Thai government to start negotiations with the Swedish government, to purchase Gripen fighter aircraft and the Saab Erieye Airborne Early Warning (AEW) system. This decision once again confirms that Gripen is a world class and cost effective system. The selection of Gripen was made in fierce competition with advanced US and Russian systems."
"We
must now wait for the result of the formal negotiations that will now commence
between the Swedish and Thai authorities. When a formal agreement is in place,
this will be managed in accordance with the appropriate export legislation, rules
and regulations," he stated.
Since
2003, the RTAF has been evaluating a suitable replacement for its ageing fleet
of F-5 B/E fighters.
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