Sweden’s defense procurement agency has finalized a 5.3-billion kronor ($500 million) agreement with Saab to deliver four Gripen fighter aircraft to Thailand. The package includes three Gripen E and one Gripen F variant, alongside equipment, pilot training, and maintenance support.
The aircraft are set for delivery between 2025 and 2030. Thailand’s decision followed a 10-month evaluation process that concluded in August 2024, during which the Gripen outperformed the F-16 in terms of long-term capability and cost-effectiveness.
The procurement was formally approved earlier this month in the wake of border clashes with Cambodia, which left more than 40 people dead. These tensions highlighted Thailand’s urgent need to reinforce its air defense and combat readiness.
The deal also aligns with the Royal Thai Air Force’s modernization strategy, which seeks to replace older fleets. The service currently fields 11 Gripen C/D fighters and several F-16 jets acquired in the 1980s, marking this procurement as a continuation of its Gripen-based force structure.
