Thailand’s air force plans to seek funding for eight additional Swedish-made Gripen E/F fighter jets, completing a new squadron of 12 aircraft to replace its ageing F-16 fleet.
The Royal Thai Air Force expects to submit the proposal in the 2028 fiscal year under the Burapha Santi programme. Air Chief Marshal Sakesan Kantha said the remaining aircraft will be proposed as a single purchase to speed up the establishment of a fully operational squadron.
The plan follows Thailand’s recent order for four Gripen E/F fighters from Swedish defence company Saab. The contract includes three single-seat Gripen E aircraft, one two-seat Gripen F, training, support and related equipment. Deliveries are scheduled through 2030.
Saab has also said the agreement includes technology transfer, industrial cooperation and investment in Thailand as part of a long-term offset package.
The expansion plans were announced during celebrations marking 15 years of Gripen C/D fighters and Saab 340 airborne early warning aircraft in Thai service. The ceremony took place at Wing 7 in Surat Thani.
Sakesan said the Gripen and Saab 340 system had performed strongly during operations linked to the Thai-Cambodian border situation in 2025. He described the missions as having an almost 100 percent success rate, although he did not explain how that figure was calculated.
Thailand first bought 12 Gripen C/D fighters from Sweden in two phases. The aircraft entered service between 2011 and 2013 and have since supported air defence and security missions across the country.
