Thailand modernizes its fighters despite cutting defense spending

The spending of the Thai Armed Forces on the purchase and modernization of weapons has been significantly reduced due to the economic crisis caused by the introduction of quarantine measures against the spread of the pandemic. But not all programs have been phased out, so Thailand is modernizing its Gripen fighters, despite a general cut in defense spending.

This is reported by the Thai ArmedForce portal.

Although defense spending was one of the first to be cut, the upgrade program for 11 JAS-39 Gripen fighters, manufactured by the Swedish company Saab, was not scaled down to the MS20 standard. A similar package of updates was previously received by aircraft of this model, which are in service with the Air Forces of Sweden and the Czech Republic. Thailand's budget has allocated about $ 21 million for the modernization of fighters.

After the work carried out, the aircraft will be able to use the Meteor medium-range missiles and GBU-39 bombs. The radar station will be modernized, as well as the nuclear, chemical and biological protection system.

As part of the update project, the software of the combat vehicle will be improved. An important point is that, among other things, the upgraded aircraft will receive an automatic ground collision avoidance system.

The Thai Air Force attaches great importance to this option, as in 2017, during the Children's Day air show, one of the fighters crashed and the pilot was killed. The plane crashed onto the runway while demonstrating a surprise attack maneuver. This is the only one in stories the plane crash of the JAS-39 Gripen fighter, which ended in the death of the pilot.

The Saab JAS 39 Gripen is a lightweight single-engine multi-role fighter manufactured by the Swedish aerospace company Saab AB.

Comments

[Nikolaevich I]

Well, well ... whatever you say, but "Gripen" (a light single-engine aircraft, but with advanced avionics and weapons ...) can be considered almost an ideal combat "aeroplane" for countries like Thailand and others like it. .. (Cambodia, Myanmar, Malaysia ...)!

[OgnennyiKotik]

It is a pity that Mig did not make such a car. With her, we would have fought for the most massive fighter of the 4th generation, on an equal footing with the F-16.

[bayard]

There were no orders for such an aircraft (we had), but there were plenty of Soviet-built fighters.
But the Sukhoi Design Bureau offered a similar single-engine LFMI ... but the times were not right.
Now they seem to be working on a similar fighter.

[ironic]

For any country where the aircraft is designed for a limited theater of operations and numerous clashes along the line of contact. The more I read about him, the more I like him. Good car.

[Ros 56]

Their technique, they do what they want, who cares.

[yehat2]

biological defense system upgraded?
What is it like? Those. At first, only the Chinese could not board the plane, but now they are protected from the North Koreans, Vietnamese and Kongongs?