I personally think they should just buy more F-16s, give them the MLU upgrade and like Chile get Israeli weapons integrated with them like Derby, Python 5 and of course the latest Gabriel AshM(though not as good as Yakhont-M, still very good and Thailand has already done this when they bought the L-39ZAs with Israeli weapons and avionics). If anything, I’d rather buy some S-300PMU2s or invest in S-400(these SAMs should be very cheap solutions and easy to integrate in Western oriented militaries), if F-16MLUs are not good to counter those hordes of Flankers in South Asia.
The Flanker is a good plane, but it will be costly integrating another aircraft type in the Thai AF, which traditionally uses Western types, at least SAMs will not be hard to integrate with it’s AD or Army.
I think F-16MLU with Derby and Python 5 + S-300PMU2/S-400 will be enough to counter those Flankers and will be very cost effective.
Also, maybe in order to support those F-16MLUs, some sort of AWACS could be bought, maybe the Phalcon, or the Hawkeye or hell even the cheap Erieye are options.
Srbin,
Force logic aside, there has to be a good reason why they would consider Su-30MKs now. Think endurance, think long range maritime strike, think long range interdition. The warmed over F-16A/B/C/D is not in the same class.
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