Bangkok becomes Southeast Asia’s first Gripen E/F operator as Thailand ramps up airpower with advanced multirole fighters amid growing tensions along the Cambodian frontier.
In a major reinforcement of its air defence posture, the Royal Thai Air Force (RTAF) has received Cabinet approval for the acquisition of four Saab JAS 39 Gripen E/F multirole fighter jets from Sweden, marking a critical step in modernising Thailand’s combat air fleet amid recent operational deployments near the Cambodian frontier.
The announcement was confirmed via the RTAF’s official Facebook page, which stated, “Saab JAS 39 Gripen E/F ready to take off,” and highlighted that the newly approved procurement will replace decommissioned aircraft while enhancing the RTAF’s ability to secure Thai airspace.
The Commander-in-Chief of the RTAF, Air Chief Marshal Punpakdee Pattanakul, is scheduled to travel to Sweden from August 23 to 27 to finalise the agreement with Saab, underscoring Bangkok’s commitment to deepening its long-standing defence ties with Stockholm.
The deal comes in the wake of reports by outlets such as Breaking Defense, which noted Sweden’s initial hesitation to authorise additional Gripen exports following what has been interpreted by some analysts as the aircraft’s first combat deployment during Thai operations along the Cambodian border.
Swedish Foreign Minister Maria Malmer Stenergard acknowledged the situation by stating, “The government is closely monitoring developments in the border conflict,” though she did not explicitly confirm or deny a freeze in future defence exports to Thailand.
The move follows operational activity involving Thailand’s Gripen C/D jets along the Thai-Cambodian border, with Thai authorities describing those sorties as defensive in nature.
Currently, the RTAF operates a fleet of 11 Gripen C/D aircraft at Wing 7 in Surat Thani, though one aircraft was lost during an airshow accident, leaving 10 in service.
These aircraft are fully integrated into Thailand’s network-centric command-and-control infrastructure and operate alongside the Saab 340 AEW&C (Airborne Early Warning & Control) system to deliver real-time surveillance and enhanced air domain awareness over the Gulf of Thailand.
Thailand was the first operator in Asia to adopt the Gripen platform, following a USD 1.1 billion (approximately RM5.2 billion) procurement in 2008 that included 12 fighters and associated surveillance capabilities.
Since then, the RTAF has remained a flagship customer for Saab in the Asia-Pacific region, which is increasingly being targeted by global aerospace firms due to its growing appetite for advanced multirole fighters.
With this latest procurement, Thailand is set to become the first Southeast Asian air force to field the next-generation Gripen E/F variant, a major upgrade over its predecessor and a potent force multiplier in regional air combat dynamics.
The Gripen E and F variants represent Saab’s most advanced fighter offering, specifically designed for operations in complex, contested environments and future digital warfare theatres.
At the core of the Gripen E is the Leonardo UK-developed Raven ES-05 Active Electronically Scanned Array (AESA) radar, which provides wide-angle scanning, simultaneous tracking of over 20 targets, and high resistance to electronic jamming.
This radar capability enables the Gripen E to detect, engage, and track stealth platforms and high-value threats across varying altitudes and ranges, rivalling systems typically reserved for fifth-generation fighters.
The aircraft’s survivability is further enhanced by the Skyward-G Infrared Search and Track (IRST) system, which allows passive detection of aerial threats without emitting radar signals, offering a decisive edge when engaging radar-evading aircraft such as the F-35.
In terms of lethality, the Gripen E is configured to carry the MBDA Meteor beyond-visual-range air-to-air missile (BVRAAM), widely regarded as the most advanced BVR missile in service globally.
With a strike envelope exceeding 200 kilometres and powered by a ramjet propulsion system, the Meteor enables the RTAF to adopt a “first detect, first engage, first kill” doctrine with unmatched confidence.
The aircraft is also compatible with a full suite of Western munitions, including the IRIS-T short-range AAM, GBU-39 Small Diameter Bombs, RBS-15 anti-ship cruise missiles, and a variety of reconnaissance, jamming, and targeting pods for multi-domain missions.
Operational cost remains one of the Gripen E’s most compelling features.
According to Saab, the cost per flight hour is estimated at just USD 4,700 (approximately RM22,000), less than half that of the F-16 and significantly below the cost of operating fifth-generation jets such as the F-35 or the Dassault Rafale.
This makes the Gripen ideal for nations like Thailand, which seek to maintain high sortie rates and constant readiness without exceeding budgetary constraints.
Additionally, the aircraft’s design prioritises operational flexibility, with the ability to take off and land from austere airstrips with minimal logistical support and reduced turnaround time—perfectly suited to the geographically fragmented nature of Southeast Asia.
The Gripen E also functions as a tactical node within a Network-Centric Warfare (NCW) ecosystem, capable of real-time data exchange with airborne, land-based, and maritime assets.
Its Tactical Data Link (TDL) supports NATO-standard Link-16 as well as regional interoperability protocols, enabling seamless joint operations with partner forces from the United States, South Korea, Australia, and ASEAN allies.
Saab’s open-architecture approach allows for future upgrades and integration of third-party systems, giving the RTAF operational independence and the ability to tailor the platform according to its evolving threat environment.
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