Thailand shows interest in F-35A Lightning II as potential replacement of ageing F-16 fighters

Isa Khan · Oct 15, 2021

The Chief of the Royal Thai Air Force (RTAF) has commented that the Lockheed Martin F-35A Lightning II Joint Strike Fighter (JSF) could be a potential replacement for the service's ageing fleet of F-16 Fighting Falcon fighters.

According to a report by Shephard Media, RTAF Air Chief Marshall Napadej Thupatemi was commented as saying on his interest in looking at the F-35A Lightning II fighter.

He believes that, given an adequate budget, a stealthy fighter like the F-35 can meet the future requirements of the RTAF to maintain the country's status of being of the region's most capable air combat force.

The Lockheed Martin F-16A/B Fighting Falcon, which have been in service with the RTAF since 1988, are expected to be replaced by a new fighter in the next 10 years.

The RTAF currently has a small fleet of Saab JAS-39C/D Gripen fighters from Sweden, although sizeable order has been made to allow for additional squadrons to be armed with the aircraft.

Currently, the RTAF has no existing fighter acquisition program, although it has been actively replacing its fleet of light combat aircraft with the new T-50TH Golden Eagle from South Korea.

In Southeast Asia, only Singapore has a confirmed program to acquire the F-35 Lightning II JSF, with 4 units of the short take-off, vertical landing (STOVL) F-35B variant ordered, with options for more units to be ordered in the near future.