The above proposal was made by Mr. Kang Goo-young, CEO of KAI, while Thai Defense Minister Sutin Klungsang was on a visit to Korea.
Mr. Sutin and Letter Permanent Secretary of the Thai Ministry of Defense – General Sanitchanok Sangkhachan was invited by the Korean Ministry of Defense to observe two advanced T-50 training aircraft produced by Korea. These are also the last two T-50s that will be handed over to RTAF next August.
Previously in 2015 the Royal Thai Air Force purchased 8 advanced T-50 training aircraft. 50 and 6 FA50 light fighters from KAI. These aircraft have been delivered and put into use in Nakhon Sawan since 2018.
In an interview, Mr. Kang Goo-young said that the FA50 is a multi-role fighter aircraft with Air combat capabilities comparable to US-made F-16 fighters but with nearly half the price and much lower maintenance costs.
“We are ready to propose The Royal Thai Air Force considers our fighter jets to be cheaper and well worth the cost,” said Mr. Kang Goo-young.
The Royal Thai Air Force is plans to decommission the old F16s and replace them with 12 new fighter jets.
Last week Air Chief Marshal Punpakdee Pattanakul said the planned fighter jet procurement plan will be presented to the Cabinet on April 2.
The Thai Air Force is said to be considering between the Swedish Gripen E/F fighter and the American F-16 Block 70. A selection committee was formed to decide which model offers better value for its cost. The official decision will be made by the committee in May or June.
To Uyen
According to Bangkok Post
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