F-16 for Thailand

Thailand considering one-billion-dollar F-16 deal with US
http://www.chinaview.cn 2005-06-11 14:43:02
BANGKOK, June 10 (Xinhuanet) — Thailand is considering buying F-16 C/D fighters from the United States with a total budget of 45 billion baht (around 1.13 billion US dollars), said the Commander of Royal Thai Airforce.

The Thai airforce has contacted with F-16 producer Lockheed Martin Corp. and the two sides are studying detail conditions of the deal, the Thai airforce commander Air Chief Marshal Kongsak Wantana told Xinhua Saturday.

The F-16 C and F-16 D aircraft, which are the single- and two-place counterparts to the F-16 A/B, incorporate the latest cockpitcontrol and display technology.

Purchase of the latest type of F-16 fighters is expected to upgrade the Thai airforce’s equipment to an international standard,said Kongsak.

This will improve the Thai airforce’s capability in multi-lateral military exercises and actions, he said.

The deal with a total value of 45 billion baht (1.13 billion dollars) will be conducted in the form of barter trade, with the Thai side paying in agriculture products.

The total budget will also cover the purchase of suitable missiles and maintenance fee, an anonymous airforce source told Xinhua.

Thailand has not yet decided the number of fighters to buy and the form of agriculture products to pay, said Kongsak.

Thai airforce is looking for high-capacity fighters, which are not too expensive to replace its decommissioned OV-10 fighters andthe F-5 A/B jets to be decommissioned this year.

The US-produced F-16 C/D, Sweden’s JAS 39 Gripen and the SU-30 jet by Russia have been all reportedly on the choice list of Thailand.

However, the US Defense Secretary Donald Rumsfeld offered F-16 jets with a special condition during talk with his Thai counterpart Thamarak Isarangkura na Ayudhaya in Bangkok on Monday,reported Bangkok Post. Enditem

http://news.xinhuanet.com/english/2005-06/11/content_3071291.htm