Thailand Mulls Buying Four Additional Gripen Fighters

Thailand may buy four more Saab Gripen JAS 39 multirole combat aircraftto the current fleet of 12 fighters.

Deputy Prime Minister Prajin Juntong was quoted as saying by Xinhua Thursday that Saab JAS 39 Gripen multirole combat aircraft as "technologically advanced" and suggested that his successor buy an additional four Swedish jet fighters.

"One fighter squadron should not just consist of a dozen aircraft and four more should be added to it," Prajin said.

The Thai air force currently deploys the 12 Swedish fighters at Air Wing 7 in the southern province of Surat Thani. The Gripen fighter squadron was procured in 2008 to replace the United States' ageing F-5 Tiger fighters.

One JAS 39 Gripen fighter is currently estimated to cost 69 million US dollars.

Prajin made his comments following a visit of Swedish ambassador Staffan Herrstrom to Government House during which they held talks about the Gripen fighters, Swedish digital technology and bilateral trade, among other topics.