Sweden and Thailand today signed an agreement for the delivery of a further six Gripen fighter aircraft together with one Saab 340 Airborne Early Warning surveillance system and the Swedish RB 15F missile system.
At a ceremony in Stockholm today, the Director General of Sweden’s Defence Materiel Administration, FMV, Gunnar Holmgren and Itthaporn Subhawong, Air Chief Marshal, Commander in Chief of the Royal Thai Air Force, signed an agreement for the delivery of a further six Gripen fighter aircraft together with one Saab 340 Airborne Early Warning surveillance system and the Swedish RB 15F missile system.
This is the second phase of the co-operation between the Kingdom of Sweden and the Kingdom of Thailand, the first phase started with the agreement in February 2008. Today’s agreement consists of six Gripen fighter aircraft of the latest C version together with one Saab 340 Airborne Early Warning surveillance system and the Swedish RB 15F missile system.
In a comment to the agreement the Director General of FMV, Gunnar Holmgren stated:
“I am very pleased that we have been able to conclude the negotiations of phase 2 in a successful way for both parties. The content in phase 2 and phase 1 will give RTAF a very capable air defence together with both surveillance and net work centric operation capability”
The agreement also includes logistic support and training. Delivery of the Gripen aircraft will take place during 2013.
Since 1 August 2010 Sweden has a new authority to promote defense export and benefit Swedish defence and security policies, the Swedish Defense and Security Export Agency (FXM).
In a comment to the agreement the Director General of FXM, Ulf Hammarström stated:
“From FXM I am very pleased to see the co-operation between Sweden and Thailand further strengthened through the new agreement. We look forward to take part in the continuing co-operation between the two countries”
CEO Hakan Buskhe of Saab AB – Swedish aerospace and defense – said the $320 million purchase is further proof of a “strengthening international faith in the Gripen system.”
Saab is competing for lucrative contracts to sell Gripen jets to several other countries, including Brazil and India.
