According to information published by the “Bangkok Post” on December 31, 2021, the Air Force of Thailand plans to procure eight American F-35 fighter aircraft produced by Lockheed Martin in the fiscal year 2023.
Royal Thai Air Force Senior Commanding Officers, Air Chief Marshal Napadej Dhupatemiya said the budget planning for an F-35 acquisition project will be initiated in the 2023 fiscal year, which started in October, and the air force is prepared to answer all questions if it chooses to press ahead with the purchase.
According to the military balance 2020, the Thai Royal Air Force has a total of 78 fighter aircraft including 1 F-5B Freedom Fighter, 20 F-5E Tiger II, 2 F-5F Tiger II (F-5E/F being upgraded), 1 F-5TH(E) Tiger II, 1 F-5TH(F) Tiger II, 38 F-16A Fighting Falcon, and 15 F-16B Fighting Falcon. The Thai Air force also have 7 Gripen C and 4 Gripen D.
The plans buy new fighter jets to replace older Lockheed Martin F-16s, which have not been upgraded. Twelve F-16A/B air defense fighters followed by a similar number of F-16A/B Block 15s will be replaced in four phases of six new fighters each, which is expected to take place in 2023-2026, 2025-2028, 2028-2031, and 2030-2033.