The Royal Thai Air Drive would be the first consumer in Asia and the third globally to subject the Gripen E.
Thailand and Sweden signed on Aug. 25, 2025, a contract for 12 Saab JAS-39E/F Gripen fighters to be delivered in 4 batches, with the present deal protecting the primary batch of 4 airframes. This comes practically two-and-a-half months after Saab confirmed on Jun. 4 that the Gripen E has been chosen by the RTAF (Royal Thai Air Drive).
Signed by the commander of the RTAF, Air Chief Marshal Punpakdee Pattanakul, and the chief of the Swedish Protection Materiel Administration (FMV), Mikael Granholm, within the presence of Thai international minister Maris Sangiampongsa and Stockholm’s protection minister Pål Jonson, this contract covers the primary section of the acquisition with three single-seater Gripen Es and a twin-seater Gripen F.
The event additionally comes after Thai studies talked about that the RTAF turned the primary service to make use of the Gripens in fight late in July, whereas participating Cambodian floor positions. It ought to be talked about nevertheless that the primary to be employed in fight have been the Swedish Gripens through the operations in Libya, with out using weapons.
The RTAF thus turns into the primary Gripen consumer to make use of weapons in fight. The hostilities additionally noticed the RTAF’s F-16 utilizing South Korean KGGB steerage kits utilized to Mk-82 gravity bombs.
RELEASE: Saab receives Gripen E/F order for Thailand
— Saab (@Saab) August 25, 2025
The RTAF already operates 12 older Gripen C/D plane (4 two-seat ‘D’ variants and eight single-seat Cs), fielded between 2011 and 2013. These Gripens are operated by the 701st Fighter Squadron beneath Wing 7 within the Surat Thani province.
The RTAF introduced its desire for the Gripen in August 2024, beating out a Lockheed Martin proposal providing F-16 Block 70/72 Combating Falcons. The most recent contract additionally makes Thailand the primary nation within the Asia Pacific area and the third on the planet to function the newer Gripen E variant, after Sweden and Brazil. Different Gripen customers of the Gripen embody South Africa, Hungary, Czech Republic and, in future, Colombia.
FM @AmbPoohMaris, along with Sweden’s Defence Minister @PlJonson, witnessed the signing of the 1st-phase procurement contract for Gripen E/F fighter aircrafts and the Offset Coverage Settlement, with the Commander of the RTAF representing Thailand as an official signatory. This… pic.twitter.com/cN82kwx5LM
— กระทรวงการต่างประเทศ | MFA of Thailand (@MFAThai) August 25, 2025
Change older F-16s
Thai Enquirer mentioned that the government-to-government deal for the Gripens will change the RTAF’s growing old F-16s. The service at the moment operates a mixture of F-16 A/B Air Protection Fighter (ADF) fashions, Northrop F-5E/F/T, and Saab Gripen C/Ds.
The brand new Gripens are anticipated to exchange the oldest F-16s, which have been ordered again in 1987. The oldest airframes are operated by the RTAF’s 102 Squadron primarily based in Korat RTAFB (Royal Thai Air Drive Base). These Combating Falcons will proceed working for a few decade till the transition.
The bundle additionally consists of floor assist tools, pilot coaching, digital warfare techniques and long-range air-to-air missiles just like the Meteor. Deliveries will begin in 2029, with two plane per yr till the primary squadron of 12 airframes is full.
🇸🇪🇹🇭Right this moment, Sweden and Thailand have signed an settlement on the procurement of 4 JAS Gripen E/F. Thailand needs to purchase 12 new fighter jets and Sweden has supplied 12 Gripen E/F to Thailand. That is the primary contract and extra purchases will be set to comply with. (1/4) pic.twitter.com/Q2DugvTZF3
— Pål Jonson (@PlJonson) August 25, 2025
In January, the RTAF additionally evaluated its Gripens in freeway operations from dispersed areas, assessing the Swedish jet’s acclaimed inherent Agile Fight Employment (ACE)-friendliness.
The contract
Each the Thai Ministry of International Affairs and Saab talked about the contract additionally covers an Offset Coverage Settlement, which on a long-term foundation provides “vital switch of protection expertise and industrial cooperation with Thailand along with new investments throughout many sectors of the nationwide economic system.
In keeping with a press launch from the Swedish authorities, “extra agreements could comply with, with the Riksdag authorising the Authorities to enter into agreements with Thailand on the sale of as much as 12 Gripen E/F collection.” The offset settlement, in line with Thai Enquirer, covers 14 initiatives together with “expertise transfers such because the Hyperlink T tactical knowledge hyperlink system for joint operations, in addition to investments within the aviation and cyber sectors.”
The Swedish authorities press launch additionally upheld the significance of native manufacturing for the worldwide Gripen fleet. This on the whole simplifies logistics when it comes to spares, elements and retains prices low.
“Having extra companions creates circumstances to additional develop the Gripen programme,” the press launch added. “This improves manufacturing capability and offers new experiences that may be shared amongst Gripen customers.”
Native or regional manufacturing additionally contributes to the home economic system by jobs, and Saab has been identified to market its home industry-friendliness. This was additionally the hallmark of the Gripen cope with Brazil, the place the plane is produced beneath a ToT with Embraer. Saab had been pushing to leverage the prevailing capability in South America for the brand new Gripen buyer, Colombia.
“This procurement just isn’t solely a rise in army safety functionality, but additionally an essential mechanism for financial, social, academic and technological improvement of the nation,” the RTAF mentioned in a Fb submit.
Like the opposite Gripen E/Fs, Thailand’s new Gripens will probably be powered by GE Aerospace’s F414-GE-39E turbofan engines, of which the corporate says greater than 1,600 have been delivered, clocking over 5 million flight hours. The RTAF’s current Gripen C/Ds fly on GE’s RM12 engines.
Sweden’s protection minister Pål Jonson mentioned the Gripen E/F “combines cutting-edge expertise, low working price, and excessive availability.” He additional added “this settlement creates long-term functionality, a stronger partnership and deeper protection cooperation between Thailand and Sweden.”
In Saab’s press launch, its president and CEO Micael Johansson mentioned the corporate welcomed Thailand as the newest Gripen E/F buyer. “Thailand is already a well-established Gripen consumer and acquainted with the strengths that Gripen brings to the Royal Thai Armed Forces. Thailand has chosen essentially the most fashionable fighter available on the market with which to construct its subsequent era of strategic, impartial capabilities,” Johansson mentioned.
With 47 F-16A/Bs, 33 F-5E/Fs, 12 Gripens, and 18 Alpha Jets in lively service, the Royal Thai Air Drive is without doubt one of the most succesful air arms in Southeast Asia. It’s now dealing with Cambodia – whose air power is just about nonexistent. Let’s see how this seems! pic.twitter.com/LTyQddCX1p
— Air Energy (@RealAirPower1) July 24, 2025
Thai Gripens first to make use of weapons in fight
Maris made a reference to the current Thai-Cambodia border battle, saying the Thai army “demonstrated adherence to worldwide regulation and operational self-discipline.” As reported by Thai Enquirer, Maris mentioned “Gripen plane have been deployed with out crossing into Cambodian airspace, utilizing precision strikes towards army targets.”
WATCH⚡️Studies point out that Thailand has utilized Swedish-made JAS 39 Gripen fighter jets for the primary time to execute air strikes on Cambodian artillery websites, in an effort to defend two key areas.
This marks the primary occasion of Gripen plane collaborating in an lively… pic.twitter.com/KXhdb1qF0c
— WORLD AT WAR (@World_At_War_6) July 26, 2025
The Bangkok Submit mentioned the primary time the Swedish-made Gripen C/Ds have been utilized in fight was on Jul. 26, when two of the jets, flying alongside the RTAF’s older F-16s, have been used towards Cambodian artillery firing on Thai positions alongside their disputed border.
