Thailand air force says U.S. has denied request to buy F-35 jets

US Foods Holding

25/05/2023 10:00

BANGKOK, May 25 (Reuters) - The United States has
declined to sell its F-35 stealth fighter jets to Thailand over
issues with training and technical requirements, the Southeast
Asian country's air force said on Thursday.
    Thailand, which was designated a Major Non-NATO Ally by the
United States in 2003, had last year set aside a 13.8 billion
baht ($407.68 million) budget for new jets to replace its aging,
mostly U.S.-made F-5 and F-16 fighters.
    It identified up to eight Lockheed Martin  LMT.N  F-35A jets
as its target. 
    But sale of the fifth-generation fighters was subject to
conditions that included time constraints, technical
requirements and maintenance compatibility and the United States
was therefore unable to offer the sale, air force spokesperson
Air Chief Marshall Prapas Sornchaidee said in a statement. 
    The F-35 is one of the world's most advanced fighter
aircraft and is considered a sensitive export sold only to the
United States' closest allies, which in the Indo-Pacific
includes Australia, Japan, South Korea and Singapore.
    Thailand currently has 12 JAS-39 Gripen fighter jets made by
Sweden's Saab in addition to its U.S.-made models, many of which
have been in operation for decades. 
    Thailand's military has used U.S. technology going back to
the Vietnam War era, when it hosted U.S. air force and navy
personnel at its bases. Thailand has for many years hosted
annual "Cobra Gold" training exercises with the United States. 
    Those warm ties have, however, been strained by the Thai
military's coups against elected governments in 2006 and 2014,
and concerns about overtures by army-backed governments towards
rival power China. 
    Prapas said the air force would still replace its F-16 jets
and the United States had offered the upgraded F-15 and F-16s
models, which could be transferred faster. 
    
($1 = 33.8500 baht)

 (Reporting by Panarat Thepgumpanat, Writing by Chayut
Setboonsarng; Editing by Martin Petty)
 ((chayut.setboonsarng@tr.com, @ChayutSet; +66854849033;))