A Royal Thai Air Force (RTAF) delegation has visited Saab’s facility in Linköping, Sweden, to review progress on Thailand’s Gripen E/F fighter acquisition program as assembly begins on the country’s first aircraft. The visit comes after Thailand signed a contract in August 2025 for four Gripen E/F fighters under the procurement program known as Peace Burapha 1, valued at about 19.5 billion baht.
According to Saab, the order, placed via the Swedish Defence Materiel Administration (FMV), covers three single-seat Gripen E and one two-seat Gripen F, along with associated equipment, support, and training. Deliveries are scheduled between 2025 and 2030, with the first aircraft for Thailand expected to arrive around 2029.
The new fighters will replace aging F-16A/B aircraft at Wing 1 in Nakhon Ratchasima. A second phase of procurement, planned for 2028, could add four more Gripen E/Fs, with a long-term objective of building a 12-ship squadron.
The Gripen E features the GE F414 engine, increased internal fuel capacity, 10 external hardpoints, and the Raven ES-05 AESA radar with a wide scan angle. It also incorporates an infrared search and track sensor, a wide area cockpit display, a Targo II helmet-mounted display, and an AI-based assistance system, providing advanced network-centric and electronic warfare capabilities for the RTAF.