The Royal Thai Air Force (RTAF) will tomorrow 27 February 2025 close off a short section of Highway 4287 in Songkhla province in order to test the ability of the Swedish-made Gripen fighter jets to take off and land on highways and similar alternative locations if traditional airbases are compromised.
Security measures for the exercise will involve coordination between police, military, and local officials to ensure safety throughout the operation. The Gripen fighter jets are known for requiring minimal runway length — reportedly as short as 400 meters for takeoff and 500 meters for landing.
Last month, in January 2025, the RTAF’s 701 Squadron of Wing 7 conducted similar short-field takeoff and landing tests with two Gripen jets at the Wing 5 airfield in Prachuap Khiri Khan, successfully completing landings using only 640 meters of runway.
The RTAF has been expanding its Gripen fleet, with the Defence Ministry endorsing a 19-billion-baht plan to acquire four additional jets. This decision was influenced among others by the Gripen’s superior short-runway performance and the comprehensive benefits package offered by the Swedish manufacturer, Saab, including significant technology transfer.
The upcoming highway exercise not only demonstrates the RTAF’s strategic emphasis on operational readiness but also highlights the strong defence collaboration between Thailand and Sweden. This partnership has been further solidified through agreements supporting the RTAF’s Gripen E/F fighter aircraft, enhancing Thailand’s defence capabilities.
