Non-Subscriber Extract
Royal Thai Air Force pushes for second Gripen batch
By Jon Grevatt
15 February 2008
The prime minister of Thailand, Samak Sundaravej, who is also defence minister, has been urged by the Royal Thai Air Force (RTAF) to approve the purchase of a second batch of Gripen JAS 39 multirole combat aircraft.
Finances for the first batch of six fighters were approved at the end of last year by the former Thai government, which also gave a go-ahead - in principle only - for the acquisition of the second batch of six to take place.
Air Marshal Kanit Suwannate told Jane's on 14 February that the RTAF hoped the new government would approve the funds for second purchase within 18 months.