Thailand Gripen Lastest Update

How the RTAF’s Gripen will be look like?

We have the initial answer here.

This photo is from the press conference in Bangkok after the contact signing ceremony in Sweden.

Photo by Fs.1 Rach Ratanawijarn of RTAF.

Also, on the press conference. ACM Chalit, Commander-In-Cheif of RTAF, said that the minister of defense of Swedish government already handed in the Security of Supply book that confirm the support and logistic for the entire time of service. Sweden also invites RTAF to join ‘Gripen User Group’ with the current Gripen customer.

:confused: What is the point of keeping a well-known missile classified?

I also wonder too. :confused: Everyone know RTAF got Python-4. It’s just the photo.

BTW, wouldn’t it be cheaper for Thailand to join the Brazilian F-5BR program? The Brazilians plan to upgrade their F-5Es to fire South African A-Darter and possibly a new BVR missile South Africa may propose for joint development.

Cheers,
Sunho

It’s maybe cheaper but it’s not worthwhile. The life of airframe of F-5B/E is gonna end in several years. (The first F-5B of the world just decommission last year. 44 years in service 😮 ) And if you put them into upgrade program you may extend the service life to about 10 or 15 years. But if we buy the new one we can use them for another 30 years or more.

And in the new one you got new technology also. 🙂

PS. They upgraded a sqn. of F-5E/F to F-5T Tigres and RTAF will decommission them around 2018 – 2020. But those F-5s has less service hours than the about-to-decommission one. Some sources said that initially RTAF want to install new radar and Darby missile but the Asian economic crisis in 1997 leave them only DASH and Python-4 on F-5T Tigres. :diablo:

I wrote some info here. Sorry to reference my own page.

http://thaimilitary.wordpress.com/2008/02/12/rtaf-f-5ef-upgrade-story/

I agree. Thai Gripen fan´s camo looks much more interesting, but what happened to the national insignia?

🙂 Oh. That photo is just the Thai fan concept that apply the current camo on F-5 to Gripen. Maybe he forget to include insignia. 😮 It is base on this. (F-5E in 701 Sqn., the sqn. that Gripen will go to. You can see the insignia not far from the engine :diablo: )

Thank to all of you!!!

PS. Sorry the photo is too large.

I’d love to believe that they will be getting something else than the dull grey camo but somehow I don’t think so. Congratulations!

Thank. 🙂

The original camo of F-5s in Wing7 are painted in lightblue and green camo.

Maybe you want something like this. (Design by Thai Gripen fan 😀 )

RTAF F8F Bearcat

This year, RTAF Children’s Day Air Show, which will be held on the second saterday of January every year, was held near the cargo area of the old Don Mueang International Airport. The special thing is that this place used to be the home of Wing 1 before they moved to Korat.

We welcome our old Bearcat to her fromer home today. 😀

That’s all. Thank for reading this thread.

RTAF F8F Bearcat

In serviced between 1951-1960, Bearcat is the most numerous fighter in the 95-years history of Royal Thai Air Force with 204 airframes in serviced nationwide. This aircraft is paint in the original scheme when she was commissioned in 12 Sqn. (today is 102 sqn.) of Wing 1.