Thailand approves $414 million budget for fighter jets upgrade

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Wed, January 12, 2022, 5:04 PM
BANGKOK (Reuters) - Thailand's cabinet has backed a plan to buy four fighter jets starting in the next fiscal year, an air force spokesman said on Wednesday, with a budget of 13.8 billion baht ($413.67 million) set aside for the procurement.The approval follows a recent expression of interest by the air force chief, Air Chief Marshal Napadej Dhupatemiya, in procuring eight F-35 fighter jets from Lockheed Martin Corp of the United States.The cabinet has agreed the budget for a four-year period starting in the 2023 fiscal year, to replace some of the country's aging F-16 jets, air force spokesman Air Vice Marshal Prapas Sornchaidee told reporters.Thailand's currently has 12 JAS-39 Gripen fighter jets made by Sweden's Saab and dozens of American F-16 and F-5 jets, some of which have been in operation since the late 1980s.Napadej last month expressed a preference for the stealthy, fifth-generation F-35 because its price had fallen since it first hit the market.The first F-35A cost $221 million in 2007 but as production quantities and know-how increased, the price fell https://reut.rs/33oKoR2 to about $79 million as of July last year as it gained appeal and buyers in more than a dozen countries.Spokesman Prapas said the type of aircraft to buy would be decided by two committees tasked with assessing the suitability of different aircraft.($1 = 33.3600 baht)
https://www.yahoo.com/news/thailand-approves-414-million-budget-100407284.html
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Go QHL !! ........ houston .. we are all systems go and ready for lift off !! ............ copy that QHL !