Thailand mulls Saab 340 AEW aircraft upgrade

An RTAF Saab Gripen D flies alongside an RTAF Saab 340 airborne early warning aircraft. (Peter Liander/Saab)

The Royal Thai Air Force (RTAF) is considering the specifics of a planned upgrade of its Saab 340 Erieye airborne early warning (AEW) aircraft.

The RTAF operates two Saab 340 Erieye aircraft, which were inducted from 2010. The service has sought to upgrade the aircraft since 2020. On 5 June 2025, RTAF Commander-in-Chief Air Marshal Punpakdee Pattanakul revealed that the aircraft will be upgraded to the airborne early warning and control (AEW&C) configuration. The RTAF and Swedish Defence Materiel Administration (FMV) said that the upgrade is part of offset agreements in connection with the air force's planned acquisition of 12 new Gripen E/F multirole combat aircraft.

AM Punpakdee said that the upgrade will enhance the airborne command-and-control (C2) capabilities of the aircraft. Janes understands that broadly the aircraft will be subject to an upgrade and obsolescence management project as they are ageing.

Speaking at a press conference on 5 June, Lars Tossman, head of Saab's Business Area, Aeronautics, said that the company will transfer technologies “for a multilevel upgrade” of the Saab 340. He added that Thai engineers will “also play a role in [conducting] the modification”.

However, it is unclear what aspects of the platform will be modernised. Janes understands that the upgrade is not yet defined as this component of the Gripen contract and offset programme will not be starting immediately.

An RTAF spokesperson told Janes on 24 June that “details are currently under negotiation”, and the RTAF is “in the process of finalising the procurement contract”.

“The signing is expected to take place by the end of August 2025,” the spokesperson said.