AFTER months of waiting, Washington has finally confirmed it will not accept Thailand’s offer to buy one of the most powerful fighter jets in the world.
The Royal Thai Air Force (RTAF) affirmed its intention to acquire F-35 fighter jets from the United States in November of last year.
On Tuesday, an RTAF official said Washington formally rejected Thailand’s request to buy the advanced aircraft for a reason that the country’s air force does not have the facilities or required security measures to accommodate the fighter jets.
Washington has informed of its decision through a meeting between US Ambassador Robert Godec and other Royal Thai Air Force senior officials last week.
Pentagon had instead offered to sell f-16 block 70 and f-15 eagle fighters to Thailand.
Thailand’s military was planning to purchase two f-35 aircraft worth 7.38 billion baht to replace its fleet of aging f-16 fighter jets.
The US is expected to give an official reply by July and by then the Royal Thai Air Force would have to return 369.1 million baht to the country’s coffers.
The said amount was the 5% advance payment it has given to the United States to purchase the aircraft.
The US envoy reportedly told the RATF chief that Washington did not reject outright Thailand’s request to buy the F-35s and would reconsider it when the air force was ready, probably in the next five to ten years.
The Royal Thai Air Force currently owns a squadron of twelve Gripen aircraft, which is said to be one of the world’s best non-stealth fighter jets, and plans to buy another fleet from Sweden.
