Thais opted for JAS-39 Gripen

last SG · 2008-02-16T15:33:10+00:00

Fighter aircraft selection is a lot more than the fighter itself.Must consider the systems certified for the type of aircraft which must also match its avio...

Manager433 SG

Thais opted for Jas Gripen in preference to Russia's Su-30 and MiG-29 aircraft, and America's F-16.

STOCKHOLM (Thomson Financial) - Thailand has confirmed it is to buy 12 Jas Gripen fighter aircraft manufactured jointly by
Saab AB (Stockholm: SAABB.ST - news)
and the UK's BAE Systems PLC (LSE: BA.L - news) , reported SR radio.

http://uk.biz.yahoo.com/17102007/323/thailand-buy-12-jas-gripen-aircraft-saab-bae-7-bln.html

Thailand's Air Force will buy six JAS-39 Gripen fighter jets from Sweden's Saab for 19.5 billion baht ($574 million) to replace ageing F-5E fighters, Air Force chief Chalit Pukphasuk said on Wednesday.
A member of the selection panel had said on Tuesday the Air Force would buy 12 Gripens in two batches, but Chalit told a news conference approval of the second batch would have to wait until a new government took office after a December general election.

The first six would be bought between 2008 and 2012 and the second batch "as soon as possible", Chalit said.

"We still prefer to have Gripen for the rest of the fleet, but it is up to the next government and the economic conditions then," he said.

The Air Force said in a statement 15.4 billion baht was set aside for the second phase of the purchase between 2013 and 2017.

The news pushed SAAB share price up 3.15 percent by 0914 GMT.

The choice of a replacement fighter had been under discussion since Prime Minister Thaksin Shinawatra, ousted in a bloodless coup last year, came to power in 2001.

The selection panel member said the Air Force wanted the F-16 CD, but the United States was not allowed to sell weapons to countries whose governments have been ousted in coups.

But Chalit said on Wednesday Gripens were chosen over other candidates because they had the most modern technology and the firm promised to transfer technology to Thailand while the F-16 would have to be upgraded

duotiga83 SG

Qn nw is Which ver? A/B or C/D ver?

duotiga83 SG

http://www.flightglobal.com/articles/2007/10/17/218705/sweden-to-renew-gripens-as-thailand-selects-swedish.html

DATE:17/10/07
SOURCE:Flightglobal.com
Sweden to renew Gripens as Thailand selects Swedish fighter
By Graham Warwick

Thailand has selected the Saab Gripen multirole fighter as the Swedish air force signs a contract to upgrade its aircraft and fund a demonstrator for the next-generation Gripen.

The Thai cabinet has approved the budget to procure 12 Gripen C/Ds and two Saab Erieye airborne early warning aircraft for the Royal Thai Air Force. The Gripens will replace the RTAF's Northrop F-5B/Es.

Phase 1 of the two-stage procurement covers six Gripens and one Erieye, and is budgeted at 19,000 billion baht ($600 million) between 2008 and 2012. The Gripens are to enter RTAF service in 2010.

Phase 2 covers the remaining six Gripens and one Erieye, and is budgeted at 15,400 billion baht ($500 million) between 2013 and 2017.

Sweden's Defence Materiel Administration (FMV) says it will now begin negotiations with Thailand on the government-to-government deal. It has yet to be determined whether the Gripens will be new-build aircraft or A/Bs taken from the Swedish inventory and remanufactured to C/D standard.

The rebuilding of 31 Gripen A/Bs to C/Ds for the Swedish air force is covered by a SKR3.9 billion ($600 million) contract signed on 17 October. The work will begin in 2008 and the upgraded aircraft will enter service in 2010.

Saab says the upgrade is tied to the decision to reduce the Swedish air force fighter fleet to 100 Gripen C/Ds. The air force currently has 72 C/Ds, and the 31 A/Bs to be upgraded will fill out the force.

Only the engine, radar and some systems from the A/B will be retained during the upgrade, says Saab. The entire airframe will be new-build, and the resulting aircraft will be identical to C/Ds already in service. The upgrade will extend Gripen production to 2012, says Saab.

Included in the overall deal is government funding for the Gripen demonstrator programme. The Gripen Demo will have a new engine, radar, avionics, strengthened airframe, more fuel and expanded weapons capability.

The government has not revealed how much it is contributing to the three-year Demo programme, but Saab says the company is investing SKR1 billion, and suppliers General Electric, Honeywell and Rockwell Collins are also putting in "several hundred million" of their own money.

The Gripen Demo is to fly next year, and will test structural and system upgrades that could be retrofitted into Gripen C/Ds as well as demonstrating capabilities for a future new-build aircraft that Saab is calling the Next Generation Gripen.

The second phase of the Demo programme will include a new active electronically scanned array radar. Saab has evaluated four radars, including AESAs from Raytheon, Selex and Thales, with a decision to be announced by year-end.

Aimed at the export market, the Next Generation Gripen is intended to be "better than the Joint Strike Fighter, apart from those things a superpower needs", says Saab.

justcooler SG

Why not we get this to replace our A4 and F5. They are more suitable for our opt requirements right?

The f15 although advance, and battle proven are much more expansive to operate...

specialOps SG

Anything else can save money...but planes cannot. The pilots won't have a 2nd chance if they get shot down. We can't go into a battle and be on the same level with a 50:50 chance. We need to have a confirmed advantage.

The govt will get the best planes they can afford in the budget, so that we will always have the best fighting machine with the highest advantage and edge over any threats.

They will never save money on planes....its the last thing on their dictionary.

specialOps SG

Technically speaking...the Gripen weren't selected in our fighter programme because of:

- Limitations of its single engine, both in reliability and performance
- Payload limitation (much lesser payload than our A4 for strike role)
- Range limitation (can't match our F-16 with CFT and/or 600-Gallon tanks)
- Agility is at best equivalent to F-16
- Not much room for upgrade and customised avionics (like our F-16D+)

Its really no match, its one-class below what we were looking for, and we needed all these functions for specific operational needs.

norm SG

can consider China J-10

justcooler SG

yap just like the cherry q q Embarassed

specialOps SG

Dun think J-10 can integrate with our 3G network….where everyone can share radar picture with each other…

Manager433 SG

12 Gripen just nice for the RTAF. Not too many or little.

duotiga83 SG

soon not to be an issue with Next Gen Gripens......C'mon don't be so BS....you think only US equipment can upgrade nia is it? Rolling Eyes

MobyDog SG

The Gripen agility surpass that of current F-16 variants, even the f-16A. But then both are, in fact , different class of fighter. The gripen is a light fighter and with the full package (training and spares), it's damn expensive, something like 55 mio. Might as well buy f-16c/d which cost about 65 mio.

BTW, what makes the Gripen so wanting. If you are looking for a point defense fighter... the J-10 is a good choice. The J-10 cost about 25 mio, with full package- probably about 35 mio... with 20 mio spare, you can upgrade it silly. It's a heavier platform, very agile and multi-role.

specialOps SG

well..when i talk about the upgradeability.....its not because the specific platform is not upgradeable by itself...

It is because of close ties with an ally....with ready upgrades, that's why certain things are mirrored, so can co-develop things....

Now...dun name that ally ...we all know who.

FG42 SG

J10?

Chinese quality standards and technologies with an unreliable Russian engine??

MobyDog SG

Dude.. say what you like about Chinese products, but even industry experts says that the J-11 is of better quality built than their russian counterparts.

The chinese is developing their own engine, the WS-10A, and it is already in service with a few J-10 squadrons... and expect it to be certified in 1 or 2 years. As for quality, as anyone knows, the Chinese has shown remarkable quality leaps, it's all about dollars and cents. Just look at your Nokia cell phones and accessories. Not all Chinese procucts are Crap... you just have to pay a little more.

In any case, if Singapore can install a 4 mio F404 engine into the aged A-4. When it comes down to it, they can do the same with the J-10 with the 5 mio F100-PW-229 engine (thru Canada). The chinese do not have the kind of restriction as the US has. Even with all this, and all the advance western avionics thrown in, not only is it cheaper than the JAS39. This J-10 will surpass even the F16 block 60... AESA not withstanding.

The selection panel member said the Air Force wanted the F-16 CD, but the United States was not allowed to sell weapons to countries whose governments have been ousted in coups

BTW.. is this a joke ?

Shotgun SG

The J-10 will surpass F-16 block 60? Kinda open ended and unfair comparison since the Block 60 is gonna be the last F-16 variant we'll see. I'd just like to see if the J-10 will be as successful as the F-16 has been. In terms of global users, length of service, upgrade-ability and combat record.

From what I hear, the current J-10 is at best comparable with a Block 40 F-16. Even an MLU M2 of the F-16 may have better capabilities.

Back to topic. Good call by the Thais. Hope they opt for the C/Ds.

zenden9 SG

In terms of aeodynamic, yes!

In terms of avionics, nobody knows... Wink

MobyDog SG

Dude.. zenden9 understood my post, that's why I brought in the avionics bit.

For your info, current F-16 variants aren't all that agile.. the only agile version to mark was the F-16A... and this do not include drop-tanks and AAM to wing tip.

duotiga83 SG

DATE:15/01/08
SOURCE:Flight International
Thai cabinet approves budget for Saab Gripen fighters
By Siva Govindasamy

Thailand's cabinet has approved a 19 billion baht ($568 million) budget for the first phase of its F-X fighter competition, advancing an order for six Saab Gripen C/D fighters, plus accessories, spare parts and flight training programmes.

The aircraft will be used to replace part of the Royal Thai Air Force's fleet of Northrop F-5Es, which have fallen behind a newer generation of fighters operated by other south-eastern Asian nations, such as Indonesia, Malaysia and Singapore.

Thailands first Gripen is likely to be handed over late this year, with the last to be delivered in 2012, although Swedens Defence Materiel Administration is still waiting for approval from its government to finalise the sale.

Bangkok also has options on a further six Gripens, but a decision on these will have to be made by a new government, with general elections having taken place in December.

A budget of 15.4 billion baht has been set aside for the second phase, with deliveries expected from 2013. Two Saab 340 airborne early warning aircraft have also been included as part of the overall Gripen deal (both types pictured below in Swedish air force markings).

Confirmation of the Gripen order follows several years of lobbying by Saab and the Swedish government, which had faced competition from types including the Boeing F/A-18, Lockheed Martin F-16C/D, RSK MiG-29 and Sukhoi Su-30.

Buoyed by its success in Thailand, the Gripen team is now preparing its proposal for India's approximately $10.2 billion competition for 126 new multirole combat aircraft. The design faces opposition from the F/A-18, F-16 and MiG-35, plus Dassault's Rafale and the Eurofighter Typhoon.

http://www.flightglobal.com/articles/2008/01/15/220749/thai-cabinet-approves-budget-for-saab-gripen-fighters.html

tankee1981 SG

Please don't underestimate the J-10. Current versions are already getting attention from China's neighbours. The Chinese are going to invest heavily in terms of personnel and money into developing their own military aerospace industry. Coupled with their aggressive sourcing of new technology both officially and covertly, i predict future versions will be at least on par with the current Gripen.