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Malaysia will buy 18 Jet Fighter and Interest in PakFa

Dear all hands
Aircraft exhibition in langkawi malaysia is over, but not recorded significant aircraft purchases . Contracts made by Malaysia just in the form of a maintenance contract of $ 100 million with the company Sukhoi.
But despite that, malaysia publicly revealed plans to buy 18 new fighter aircraft, fighter aircraft will replace the MiG 29 that will be mothballed. Candidate replacement aircraft is:
a. Su 30
b. Rafale
c. Typhon
d. Gripen
f. f 18 Hornet

Some analysts believe that the strongest candidate is the Rafale, Because rafale manufacturer offers the assembly process is done in malaysia.
However, recent developments indicate that Malaysia is also interested PakFA. As an news on an internet site, RMAF consider purchasing pakfa . We do not know if this is a purchase is replacement aircraft for MiG 29 or not. Lets wait and see

Singapore will buy more M-346 Jet Trainer from Italy

To bost trainng capability and capacaty on their own foghter pilot program, singapoe air force will buy 12 mre M346. This contract worth of 250milion euro. Italy's Finmeccanica has been awarded a 250 million euro contract by Singapore to supply 12 M-346 jet trainers built by its unit Alenia Aermacchi, the firm announced Sept. 28. Finmeccanica, teamed with prime contractor ST Aerospace and Boeing, expects to deliver the first aircraft in 2012.

"Successively, together with ST Aerospace, Alenia Aermacchi will make a contribution to ITS (Integrated Training System) activities and to supporting the fleet," Finmeccanica said in a statement. Finmeccanica CEO Pierfrancesco Guarguaglini said the contract proved "The international supremacy of this aircraft."

In July Finmeccanica confirmed that the aircraft had been selected by Singapore over the T-50 built by Korea's KAI.

The speed of the signing contrasts with negotiations to sell the M-346 to the UAE. The aircraft was selected by the Gulf state in early 2009, beating off competition from the T-50, but a firm order has yet to be made. The Italian Air Force has meanwhile ordered six M-346 trainers with the aim of acquiring a total of 15.

Finmeccanica has also teamed with EADS to pitch the aircraft for Europe's multi-nation Advanced European Jet Pilot Training (AEJPT) program and is set to compete with the T-50 again to supply the U.S. Air Force with a new trainer, a battle which will see BAE System's as a third competitor.

J10, IDF Cing KUO, F 16 A/B, SU 30 and Mirage 2000 Comparation according Taiwan Military Dept

Now day, China has better fighter than Taiwan, this statement come from simulation performed by Taiwan Military Department.The source told the Chinese-language Liberty Times’ (the Taipei Times’ sister newspaper) that when facing China’s Su-27s, Su-30s and J-10 fighters, Taiwan’s F-16A/Bs had a slight advantage, while the IDFs and Mirage were inferior. The computer evaluation showed that Su-30s are the best jets in China’s air force. While an F16A/B can match an Su-30, an Su-30 has 1.7 times the capability of the IDF and 2.8 times that of the Mirage 2000.
A J-10, meanwhile, has 0.88 times the capability of an F-16A/B, but 1.36 times that of a Mirage and 1.52 times that of the IDF.

Or if we make shortlisted of that figure :

1 F16 = 1 Su 30

1.7 IDF = 1 SU 30

2.8 Mirage 200 = 1 Su 30

0.88 F 16= 1 SU 30

1.36 Mirage 2000 = 1 J-10

1.52 IDF = 1 J 10

The military source said the main factor behind the results of the evaluation was the projected range of the air-to-air missiles the jets possess.

F-16A/Bs carry US-made AIM-20 missiles, IDFs carry domestic TK-2 missiles and Mirage 2000s carry French-made MICA missiles.

The Su-30s and Su-27s carry the Russian-made R-77 missiles while the J-10 carries Chinese-made PL-12s.

The source said that since the MICA only has a projected range of 60km — while the other four missiles have projected ranges of more than 100km — the Mirage 2000 did badly in the evaluation.

A senior fighter pilot told the Liberty Times the computer simulation was questionable because it failed to consider an aircrafts’ combat capabilities.

INDONESIA WILL PROCURE 6 MORE SU 27

Jakarta, Kompas - Three Russian-made Sukhoi planes are planned to come 5

September 2010. The third plane was completing a seven similar aircraft

has owned the Indonesian National Army Air Force.

"Three Sukhoi will come this September. Already have a team

pick up over there, "said Army Chief of Staff Air Force (Air Force Chief) Marshal

Imam Sufaat, Tuesday (31 / 8). Two aircraft will come on Sept. 5 and

one aircraft will come on Sept. 15. These new planes

plan will be performing at the TNI anniversary date of October 5.

"So, we already have 10 Sukhoi and plans to add six more.

The President had already approved, "said Imam. Owned Sukhoi aircraft

Indonesia first came in 2004. Currently aircraft

incorporated in the 11th Squadron based at Hasanuddin Air Field,

Makassar. Three Sukhoi who come will be accompanied by Antonov planes.

Priest admits, three planes were not equipped with weaponry.

According to him, purchase the package with the purchase of different aircraft

weaponry. "But we will definitely armed," he said.

Currently the Air Force R & D has managed to make bombs to arm

Sukhoi. In addition, it also has made rocket. However, for completeness

missiles can not be made. During this missile manufacture

aka seekers hindered technological mastery tracker. According to Imam,

with sophisticated technology capable Sukhoi shoot outside

range of visual and radar lock-on, the bullet that could accommodate

that technology can not be made by Indonesia.

Sukhoi related to communication systems, the Imam said, three planes

the future has been adjusted to the prevailing system

TNI AU. Several years ago, the difference in this communication system could

technical problems.

Currently two Air Force pilots were sent to study in Russia for

Sukhoi introduction. Some Russian technicians will come to Indonesia

to assist the Air Force. (EDN)

SRC:www.kompas.com

Video on f-18 crah in canada

This is very amazing video, show the pilot could escape from disaster when his plane out of control and crash to the ground. God bless for the pilot!!!

Seoul (ANTARA News / AFP) - Indonesia, Thursday, agreeing to join in

South Korea project about a new fighter jet development that postponed

for several years due to technical problems and funding.

Indonesia will get about 50 KF-X fighter jet with a bore 20

percent of the cost of developing multibillion dollar projects, said

South Korean Defense Ministry said in a statement.

The two countries also agreed to cooperate in the production and marketing

The fighter jet.

The agreement was signed in the South Korean capital, Seoul, by

Commissioner for South Korean Ministry of Defense and the Secretary-General

Indonesian Defense Ministry, Eris Herryanto.

South Korea has launched the project in 2000 to produce jet

domestically produced fighter.

After a long suspended because of technical and economic problems, President Lee

Myung-Bak in January and agreed to push the project in

amid rising tensions with North Korea.

South Korea plans to deactivate all the F-4 fighter jets and F-5 on

2020.

South Korean news agency Yonhap reported, about 170 units of F-5 fighter jets

operate in South Korea.

Aircraft was first flown in 1975, which has

experienced a number of air accidents.

"Reactivation of the project will begin early next year, and we

plans to produce a new fighter jets after the completion of study

eligibility at the end of 2012, "said a spokesman for the Ministry of

South Korean defense.

"We need a foreign partner who will transfer technology and

Parts of these fighter jets, "he said, without mentioning the total

the necessary funds.

In addition to the development of key projects that KF-X, South Korea will also continue

buying advanced fighter jets from foreign companies, said

the spokesman. (*)

source :antara

India Navy on aggressive acquisition; plans to have fighter planes

Topics:

Indian Navy

NEW DELHI: Indian Navy plans to take up aggressive acquisition programmes in aviation including induction of fighter planes and multi-role

helicopters for its fleet, its Chief Admiral Nirmal Verma has said.

"We are acquiring our ships, aircraft and submarines in accordance with the Navy's current Maritime Capability Perspective Plan. There are presently 40 ships and submarines on order," Verma said.

He said in addition, Navy has aggressive acquisition programmes in aviation including induction of Mig 29K, the acquisition of Boeing P8I MPA aircraft, additional Kamov 31 helicopters and new multi-role helicopters.

"We would also by then have our indigenous strategic submarine force fully operationalised," the Chief of Naval Staff said in an interview to recently published 'Manas Defence Year Book'.

"The linking of all our platforms through ongoing efforts in data linking will realise the creation of a truly network centric force that is tomorrow ready. In sum by 2020, I see a modern and powerful Navy with a large indigenous component, manned by a highly tech-savvy manpower ready to meet the transformational changes," Verma said.

To a question on expanding reach of Chinese Navy in Indian Ocean, he said the force views it with respect and not in confrontational terms.

"We appreciate that the economy of China, like that of India, is highly growth-oriented and, consequently, highly dependent upon energy. Thus, to sustain her economic growth, China -- like India -- must rely increasingly upon external sources of energy and raw materials.

"The principal sources of supply for both countries, lie either in the Indian Ocean, or (they) must travel across the Indian Ocean... Indian Navy views the PLA (People's Liberation Army) Navy with respect and does not see it in confrontational terms," he said.

Verma said as for the expanding reach of the PLA Navy impacting India's security, "we must remember every nation has the right to establish friendly and beneficial relations with others, in accordance with its own national interests.

"We have confidence in our own national and maritime capabilities not to feel threatened by any country's legitimate relations with another," he said adding that the Navy is constantly working at capability enhancement and capacity building in pursuance of the country's strategic requirements and doctrinal necessities. (http://economictimes.indiatimes.com/)

OLS: The MiG's Eyes

OLS or Optical Locator Sensor

The OLS, a new development from space technologies, incorporates a helmet-mounted target designation system providing targeting solutions for both ground and air targets in the forward and aft hemispheres of the aircraft. The most vital difference from the previous IRST sensor is that the new device provides not only a better operation range but also offers manually switchable display options of IR view, TV mode or a mix of both that significantly improves man-machine coordination. The OLS on the nose serves as the IRST while the OLS under the right air intake serves as the ground strike designator.

In air combat, the optronic suite allows:

Detection of non-afterburning targets at 45 km range and more;
Identification of those targets at 8 to 10 km range; and
Estimates of aerial target range at up to 15 km.

For ground targets, the suite allows:

A tank-effective detection range up to 15 km, and aircraft carrier detection at 60 to 80 km;
Identification of the tank type on the 8 to 10 km range, and of an aircraft carrier at 40 to 60 km; and
Estimates of ground target range of up to 20 km.

The defensive system equipment consists of radar reconnaissance, electronic countermeasures, and optical systems — notably the laser emission detector on each wingtip — which are able to detect and evaluate the approaching danger and operate decoy dispensers to counteract the approaching threat in the radar and infrared ranges.

Due to financial contrain 10th Five Year Plan (2011-215) Malaysia defense buget maybe will not include new MRCA procurrement in list

The Malaysian government has announced that it will continue to operate 10 of its 16 MiG-29N interceptors until 2015, reversing plans to decommission the aircraft by the end of 2010. A plan to replace the MiG-29s with a new fighter aircraft has been delayed by the economic downturn.

However, maintaining the aircraft will impose burdens of its own since the aircraft’s engines need to be overhauled every year and the weaponry for the fighter jets has reached the end of its life span.
The 10th Five-Year Malaysian Plan (2011-1015) is expected to propose procurement and development funding of MYR7 billion ($2.07 billion) for the entire defense and security sector, with approximately MYR5 billion being allocated for defense proper.
Nearly half of this funding will be allocated to replenish war stocks (missiles, bombs, and ammunition), with relatively little money being left for new procurement efforts.
source:http://www.defenseworld.net/go/defensenews.jsp?id=4232&h=Malaysia%20to%20operate%20MiG-29N%20interceptors%20till%202015

Pak-fa : the game changer from Russia

Sukhoi PAK-FA - Russia's Strategic ‘Game Changer’

Air Power Australia - Australia's Independent Defence Think Tank

Air Power Australia NOTAM
15th February, 2010

WGCDR Chris Mills, AM, BSc, MSc(AFIT), RAAF (Retd)

Mob: 0419-806-476 Mob: 0437-478-224

The first high quality in flight image of a PAK-FA prototype to be released by Sukhoi/KnAAPO (Sukhoi).

When a nation accustomed to decades of projecting power loses control of large tracts of airspace, that is a strategic disaster. If that nation loses control of the airspace over its homeland, that is a strategic catastrophe.

America has enjoyed air superiority over airspace in locations of its choice for about 40 years. The F-22A ‘Air Dominance’ Raptor and the clear intent to establish the next level, air dominance, was an aircraft thirty years ahead of its time. Its concept design is now twenty years old, and the aircraft should be in full stride and in its prime. The Sukhoi PAK-FA is the new, younger, tougher kid on the block, and is likely to become the nemesis of the F-22A, but still prey to a more advanced F-22C.

Some will say, “if we are defeated in the air, the Navy will protect us”. “With what?”, is the response; “legacy aircraft like the F/A-18s, or the F-35B/C, with performance worse than the pre-legacy F-4E, so that its manifold deficiencies must be papered over by marketing spin like: ‘manoeuvre is irrelevant – let the missiles do the turning’?”. So when these aircraft are shot down by the PAK-FA escorting a swarm of Su-35S Flankers delivering carrier-killing supersonic missiles, the USN fleet is a sunk cause.

“Oh, well, the Army will protect us,” is the next response. Pity the poor Army. No US ground forces in recent times have ever operated without overhead air superiority, and as professionals, they know the dire consequences if the enemy controls the air. As an example, an Su-30/35 can carry three KAB-1500 bombs with a thermobaric fill. Detonate these in airburst above a dug-in Battalion, and nobody emerges alive or without serious, debilitating injury. One aircraft, three bombs, one Battalion.

“Well, we all know that Russian aircraft are rubbish, and won’t work in a real war” is the next piece of hubris. America, you have been here before. Here is what Robert Coram wrote in his biography of John Boyd, whose ‘energy-manoeuvre’ analysis became the genesis of the hugely successful air combat aircraft of the latter part of the 20th century, the F-16 and the F-15 – which has over 100 kills and no losses in air combat (‘Boyd’, Page 211):

’If there was a turning point, a time when even the most jingoistic Air Force General at last understood that Communist forces could build fighter aircraft superior to anything that America put in the air, it was Vietnam in 1967, the worst year of the war for the Air Force. It finally sank in that, as Boyd had said for years, the air force had no true air-to-air fighter. It is said that combat is the ultimate and unkindest judge of fighter aircraft. That was certainly true in Vietnam. The long-boasted-about ten-to-one exchange ratio from Korea sank close to parity in North Vietnam; at one time it even favored the North Vietnamese. When the war finally ended, one Air Force pilot would be an ace. North Vietnam would have sixteen.’

And so it goes. Yet today, the Gates OSD has killed the only program that has a chance of developing a capability to engage and defeat the PAK-FA – the F-22 Raptor, designed from the outset as an ‘air dominance fighter’. To make matters worse, the Gates OSD has delivered a ‘double-dog-in-the-manger’ to its allies by not producing enough F-22A aircraft to protect its own airspace of interest, let alone airspace of its threatened allies, AND by denying its allies access to the F-22A through a Foreign Military Sales export program.

Killing the Raptor program is transparently a marketing ploy designed to ensure that the F-35 JSF will be bought simply because it becomes a forced monopoly in the production and sale of US air combat aircraft.

The entry of the PAK-FA could see this backfire big-time on US industry. Nations like Japan and Israel could well take the attitude: “OK USA, we are under imminent threat, you cannot protect us with a meagre 187 F-22As, the F-35 is not up to the task, you won’t sell us the F-22A, so we will see what Sukhoi has to offer. And we will save money as the way things are going with the JSF Program, the PAK-FA will likely cost less than half the price of an F-35 and be fully operational that much sooner.”

Sukhoi has negotiated co-production of the PAK-FA with India, and further co-production deals could the centre of gravity of production of top-tier air combat aircraft to East Asia. Israel would no doubt be delighted to participate; its excellent avionics industry already provides equipment used in several types of Sukhoi combat aircraft. Operating the PAK-AF would give it access to Regional airspace where no F-35 would be able to enter and survive.

The US would be left with the scraps, producing ineffective combat aircraft that could only be sold by forcing purchases onto the wary and resentful US Armed Services, who would know that they are now ‘second tier’ and likely to be slaughtered en-masse in a shooting war.

This outcome would overturn President Obama’s 28 January 2010 statement that “I do not accept second-place for the United States of America” when it comes to any contest with Russia, India or China.

President Obama, ask your Intelligence Services for a ‘warts and all’ assessment of the air combat capabilities of the F-22A and the F-35 JSF, and those of the Su-35S and the PAK-FA, and be prepared to change the course of the Nation to ensure you are developing air dominating air power1.

The new Air Power Australia Analyses technical analysis paper ‘Assessing the Sukhoi PAK-FA’, produced by Carlo Kopp and Peter Goon, both of whom are experienced design engineers with complementary skills in other areas, while necessarily preliminary because of the recency of the maiden flight of the PAK-FA, clearly reveals this aircraft will become a giant, standing on the giant shoulders of the F-22A and the YF-232.

Sukhoi and the Russian MoD have maintained a clear understanding of the strategic value of control-of-the-air, and through a cost-effective and risk mitigating merge of evolutionary and revolutionary capability development, have drawn from their own knowledge, and knowledge borrowed from the USA, to produce what could, if left unchecked, become the world’s deadliest air combat fighter. There should be no sentimentality about these aircraft, they are killing machines in a world where it is ‘kill or be killed,’ and technical systems superiority puts pilots and nations well along the path to victory.

For the F-22A to defeat the mature versions of the PAK-FA requires that the existing production line remain open to provide interim protection for the US, and export aircraft for its allies, and to provide the industrial base to develop the F-22C Raptor II, with advanced capabilities such as an expanded kinematic operating envelope, more range, improved sensors and missile countermeasures, and a range of new air-to-air weapons that will be effective in finding and killing the PAK-FA3.

These capabilities could be added to the F-22 design in minimal time and at modest cost. The Raptor needs IRST sensors, more advanced control surfaces and control authority to provide extreme agility, advanced countermeasures including apertures for electronic jamming and towed decoys, 3D thrust vectoring and a variable-cycle engine to improve thrust and fuel efficiency at all altitudes. Using the Russian ‘evolutionary development’ model rather than the now favoured US rent-seeking ‘start from scratch development’ model, these enhancements would be added to a proven and effective aircraft at a fraction of the cost of development of the failed F-35 JSF, or the development of an entirely new aircraft. The US has sufficient lead in this area to stay ahead of the PAK-FA for the foreseeable future if it acts decisively, and acts now.

And how to fund the F-22C? Well, the answer has been staring everybody in the face for ages: kill the deeply troubled F-35A program and transfer the funds and recoverable technology to future F-22A and F-22C production – the economies of scale will result in a lower unit cost, saving around US$50 to US$70 million per aircraft.

The USMC F-35B? Well maybe, but the Marines should be asked again whether they really want to be in an F-35B with Su-35S and PAK-FA’s in the airspace. Perhaps they would feel safer and more effective in an F-22A or F-22C fleet, as proposed last year by APA4.

And the USN F-35C? No way – the PAK-FA (and, likely, the Su-35S) will be carrier based and to counter this, the USN needs a navalised F-22N developed in parallel with the F-22C to keep those supersonic anti-ship cruise missiles away from vulnerable surface fleet hulls5.

To conclude on a lighter note, NATO should assess the PAK-FA as a new type of air combat aircraft. We can speculate on what ‘F’ word they will choose, but ‘Fighter’ seems appropriate, for the time being.

http://www.ausairpower.net/APA-NOTAM-150210-1.html

Sukhoi Pak-Fa vs. F-22 Raptor: Who is better ?

[1] Stealthy Parameters
Radar Cross Sections cited (X-band):
F-22A Front Aspect = 0.0001 m², Side and Rear Aspect = 0.01 – 0.001 m²(0.005 used in this analysis);
F-35A Front Aspect = 0.001 m², Side and Rear Aspect = 0.01 m²;
PAK-FA All Aspect = 0.01 m²;
Su-35-1 Front Aspect= 2 m².

So we can conclude that F-22 better in stealthy parameter, but we must underline that the stealthy gap between Pak-fa and F-22 is become narowwer , and will lost the significantce in fews years become.

[2] Thermal Sensor Paremeter

Pak-Fa will be equipped with latest IRST that Russian has. In terms of thermal sensor Fak-fa has an advantages compared with the F-22. F-22 even now is not equipped with heat sensors. With their IRST latest technology, Pak -Fa can detect F-22 in the distance 70 km, even Pak-fa can detect Amram 120 firing in such of distance.

As like Pak-fa, i think F-22 designer will include IRST as upgrade package in tomorow years. And in term sensor and computation technology we must accept that US is the master.

[3] Radar parameter Radar Range Figures used are:
F-22A APG-77 = published figures (AW&ST - pessimistic);
F-35A APG-81 = published figures (AW&ST - pessimistic);
PAK-FA IRBIS-E N035 Best Case published figures (Tikhomirov NIIP);
Su-35-1 IRBIS-E N035 Worst Case published figures (Tikhomirov NIIP)

Irbis-E can detect and track up to 30 airborne targets at one time at ranges near 400 kilometers, and attack up to 12. In air-to-surface mode the Irbis-E provides mapping allowing to attack a surface target with precision-guided weapons while scanning the horizon searching for airborne threats that can be engaged using active radar homing missiles.

Tikhomirov NIIP has provided the ability to spot super-low observable targets with RCS equal to 0.01 square meters at ranges out to 90 kilometers.

[Price Parameter]
Pak-fa price is about one-third of the price of F-22. F-22 almost imposible to lower its price.

Final Conclussion

In stealthy and radar parameter F-22 still better than PAk-fa, but this advantageous will fadded in tomorrow years. In optical parameter Pak-fa better than F-22, but as radar parameter, this advantageous also fadded away in tomorow years. In kinematic parameter F-22 and Pak-fa is comparable. And in price parameter, definitifly, F-22 cannot win this parameter , and price parameter become the most advantageus of pak-fa than F-22.

First Pak-Fa Flight

MOSCOW - A new fighter jet of Russia, who made a very confidential as part of military equipment modernization plan, successfully flew the prime, Friday (29 / 1).

The sixth-generation jet Sukhoi factory-built and known as PAK FA is a flight of more than 45 minutes at the base Komsomolsk-on-Amur in the Far East region, Russia. "The flight was a success. The incident lasted 47 minutes. All things are set for first flight was completed," said spokesman Sukhoi, Olga Kayukova, told the Russian news agency Interfax.

Interfax said the new jet has the ability to fly longer with the speed exceeds the speed of sound and able to attack different targets at the same time.

Russia's renewed military equipment. For some tools of war, the Russian Air Force still uses a lot of equipment from the Soviet era and have often had an accident.

According to Interfax, the new fighter aircraft built since the beginning of the 1990s had been scheduled to be fully combat equipment in 2015.

Thailand Buying JAS-39 Gripens, AWACS

27-Jan-2010 08:37 EST

Gripen & S-1000
(click to view full)

The RTAF asks for almost $700 million in advance approvals to by batch 2, and upgrade 6 F-16s.(Jan 26/10)

It’s a small, agile fighter that can take off and land on highways, while carrying the latest technologies and weapons. It does very well against NATO’s best aircraft in exercises, comes with a reasonable price tag, and is built for low lifetime operating costs. Unfortunately, in a world where people often buy your weapons because they want you to be their friend, the cachet of having Sweden in your corner isn’t quite what it used to be when their sailors wore those cool horned helmets. As a result, the JAS-39 Gripen is an excellent, reasonably-priced fighter yet it has been struggling for traction in the global marketplace.

A recent sale to Thailand has expanded Saab’s horizons somewhat, as the Gripen beat out the SU-30s favored by the previous Thai government. Lockheed Martin’s F-16 had been considered the leading contender to replace the RTAF’s 15-25 aging F-5B/Es, given Thailand’s extensive history with that aircraft. Other candidates included Russia’s MiG-29, and France’s Rafale. Saab had a very competitive offering on cost and performance, but in order to win, they had to throw in a very significant “something extra”: their Saab 340-AEW AWACS aircraft.

The Thai AF and the Program

Thai F-5T
(click to view full)

At present, the Royal Thai Air Force’s fighter fleet consists of old 1960s-70 era upgraded F-5E/F Tiger IIs, plus AV-8S Harrier IIs and F-16A/B fighters. A number of its neighbors are currently flying longer-range and more advanced SU-27/30 Flanker fighters, however, including India (SU-30MK & SU-30MKI), Indonesia (SU-27SK & SU-30MK),Malaysia (SU-30MKM), Vietnam (SU-27SK), and China (SU-27SK/J-11 & SU-30MKK).

In mid-October 2007 The Thai Cabinet approved a budget of 34.4 billion baht (about $1.1 billion) for the Royal Thai Air Force (RTAF) to purchase 12 JAS-39 Gripen multi-role fighters to replace its aging fleet of F-5 B/E Tiger II aircraft (the Israeli-upgraded F-5Ts with DASH helmet displays and Python missiles will remain in service). The RTAF would also buy 2 Saab S-1000/ S340 Erieye Airborne Early Warning aircraft, together with associated equipment and services.

The Saab Erieye AWACS was recently sold to Pakistan, and uses a fixed active-array S-band antenna with 200 solid state modules. The look angle on each side is about 160 degrees, with a maximum range of about 450 km (279 miles) from 20,000 feet, and effective range against fighter-size or seaborne targets of about 300-330 km (180-205 miles). The electronically scanned antenna can scan sectors of interest frequently while others are monitored, and a single sector can be scanned in different modes at the same time.

Thai Air force chief Chalit Phukphasuk Chavalit reportedly met with Prime Minister Surayud Chulanont on Sept 29/07 and convinced him to support the purchase, citing the need for new combat aircraft to match neighboring Malaysia’s new SU-30MKMs. Prime Minister Thaksin Shinawatra reportedly ordered then air force chief ACM Kongsak Wantana to switch to the SU-30s for Thailand’s own purchase, but ACM Chalit rejected the plane as unsuited to Thailand’s needs when he became the new air force chief.

Negotiations between Thai and Swedish government officials followed, in order to conclude a formal agreement. Delivery of the Gripens into operational service of the Royal Thai Air Force is now planned for 2011, and the buy is divided into 2 phases:

Erieye cutaway
(click to view full)

Phase 1 covers 6 JAS-39 Gripen fighters (2x JAS-39C single-seat, 4x JAS-39D 2-seat), including spare parts and training; and 2 Saab 340 turboprop aircraft. One Saab 340 will be outfitted as an S-1000 airborne early warning system with Saab’s Erieye radar, while the other will be a training and transport platform. The cost would be about 19 billion baht/ SEK 3.8 billion/ $600 million¹, spread within a 5-year budgetary commitment from 2008-2012.

The Swedish fighters will be stationed at the air force base in Surat Thani, where they would cover the Gulf of Thailand, the Andaman Sea and the southern region of the country.

In Phase 2, the RTAF intended to procure an additional 6 Gripen fighters together with associated equipment, spare parts and training, and a 2nd Saab S340 Erieye AEW system aircraft, for about $500 million over a 5-year budgetary commitment from 2013-2017. A budget squeeze ended up delaying this option, and may remove it entirely.

Sweden has offered the Gripen fighters with a 2-year maintenance and spare parts support package. As is frequently the case, Saab’s deal includes industrial offsets and benefits involving Saab investment, and Thai-Swedish industrial, science & technology co-operation, technology transfer, and investment co-operation.

Contracts & Key Events

RTAF Erieye
(click to view full)

Jan 26/10: The RTAF asks for seeking cabinet approval in principle to buy 6 more JAS-39 Gripens (15.4 billion baht/ $467 million), and upgrade 6 existing F-16 fighters (6.9 billion baht/ $209 million).

Royal Thai Air Force deputy spokesman Gp Capt Monthon Satchukorn said the RTAF wanted the cabinet to approve the 2 projects in principle first so it had enough time to prepare its FY 2011 budget, which will be considered in May 2010. Bangkok Post.

Dec 3/09: Saab announces a joint venture partnership with Thailand’s Avia Satcom Co. Ltd., to developing high technology products within the aviation and defense sectors. Avia Saab Technologies’ first project will develop a National Tactical Datalink for use in the country’s JAS-39 C/D Gripen fighters.

The company will be based in Bangkok, and plans to offer products including Command & Control Systems, Simulators, Training, Mission Support Systems, Electronic Warfare Systems, Upgrade Programs and Logistic Support.

Nov 13/09: The first Saab 340 Erieye AEW aircraft for Thailand completes its maiden flight, accompanied by the first Royal Thai Air Force Gripen aircraft, in Linkoping, Sweden. Flights will continue into spring 2010, and interoperability trials will be carried out along with the other elements of the Thailand order. Saab release.

Sept 17/09: The first RTAF Gripen completes its 80-minute maiden flight in Linköping, Sweden. The Royal Thai Air Force will start their training on Gripen in Sweden in 2010, and the fighters will be delivered to Thailand in 2011. Swedish FMV | Gripen International.

May 29/09: Thailand’s follow-on Gripen purchase may end up being delayed, rather than canceled. Defence Minister Prawit Wongsuwan says that the ministry would push for the 15.4 billion bhat follow-on buy, saying that:

“As and when the economy improves and the country is in a position to earmark the budget for security-related procurement, the fighter jets will be bought and deployed.”

Thailand’s 5 billion bhat buy of search and rescue helicopters is also on hold, and the plan reportedly involves spreading the Gripen purchase over the next 5 years, beginning next fiscal year. Prawit reportedly added that the delayed purchase plan has been forwarded to the Cabinet for approval in principle, but with no set-aside of funds. While the support would be welcome, any purchase program that does not have funds allocated must be considered high political risk.Thailand’s The Nation.

May 9/09: Thai Government cancels follow-on option. The Thai Democrat Party government is faced with a drop in government revenues, and moves to spend government funds in an attempt at economic stimulus during the downturn. As a consequence, it has slashed the coming defense budget from 171 billion to 151 billion baht. The biggest casualty is the follow-on order for 6 more JAS-39 Gripen jets, which accounted for 15 billion baht.

The Bangkok Post quotes RTAF chief ACM Itthaporn Subhawong as saying that with only 6 Gripen jets, the RTAF is not confident of protecting Thailand’s national security.

RTAF F-16A
(click to view full)

Feb 11/08: Swedish FMV Director General Gunnar Holmgren, and Commander in Chief of the Royal Thai Air Force (RTAF) Air Chief Marshal Chalit Pukbhasuk, sign a contract in Stockholm, Sweden for Phase 1 of the deal as outlined above. The contract’s value is SEK 2 billion (about $310 million). This is a lot less than the full Phase 1 contract, but Sweden’s FMV informs DID that:

“The total value of the deal signed on 11 February is 19 billion baht. The figure 2 billion SEK refers to the contract between FMV and Saab is a part of the total value.”

Saab release | Gripen International release.

Jan 24/08: The Swedish Government authorizes the FMV (Defence Materiel Administration) to enter into a sales agreement with the Royal Thai Air Force. While Saab makes the aircraft, this will a government to government deal structure, with Saab as the contractor. The reported SEK 3.8 billion order covers 6 JAS-39 Gripen aircraft, Saab’s Erieye surveillance aircraft, and accompanying datalinks that let these aircraft all share a common picture of the battlespace.

The agreement will still be conditional upon the Swedish Inspectorate of Strategic Products (ISP) issuing export licences after a review, per customary procedure. Swedish MoD | Saab release.

Jan 8/08: The Thai News Agency reports that the cabinet has approved the Bt 19 billion ($637 million) budget for the first 6 Gripen fighters.

Nov 6/07: A DID reader in Sweden writes to dispute the Defense News report:

“The claim “Prime Minister Frederik Reinfeldt has welcomed the sale, although he did concede that the country’s strict arms export laws prohibit the sale of arms equipment to “non-democracies.”... is just 100% fabrication, without quotation and factually wrong. They even misspelled his name. The PM said no such thing and it’s not even proper for him to comment as its a parliamentary committee that judge on this without ministerial influence.

The quick relevant facts relating to Thailand is that Sweden has NO democracy-requirement in the regulations, there’s no UN/EU embargo and Sweden has exported military products both this year and last year to the Thai junta. When (if) Thailand sign a contract they need to then apply for a export permit by the Swedish Inspectorate of Strategic Products (ISP). And it’s regulations not laws.. depending on how you read them we’re not even supposed to export to the USA or Britain because they are now in armed conflicts. But yet we do because other rules override weaker ones. Anyway.. the point is, we have no democracy requirement for exports as our exports to Pakistan and Saudi Arabia clearly show.”

Oct 29/07: Defense News reports that the sale may face political problems at home. Sweden’s Arms Export Control Regulations (AECM) ban military exports to “undemocratic states” or countries engaged in civil unrest. Mona Sahlin, the leader of the Social Democrats party says “The question, ‘Is Thailand a democratic state?’ may need clarification before this sale is approved.”

Thailand is currently classified as a “country moving towards a democratic rule” under the AECM, as the military leaders have said that they plan to step down and hold free and fair elections. There is a strong school of thought in Europe that “constructive engagement,” with incentives built in for pledges of reform and for better behavior, is the best option when dealing with unfree states, up to and including the world’s worst regimes. If that doctrine prevails in Thailand’s case, its status as a mildly authoritarian regime that has pledged to restore democracy should remove obstacles to the sale. Time will tell.

Oct 25/07: Jane’s Defense Weekly reports that the US State Department told them it “has no restrictions on military sales to the government of Thailand.” This is important, because the GE F404 engine that powers the Gripen needs US permission for exports. It’s also an enlightening statement, as it suggests that the F-16 option was a possibility when the Gripen was selected.

Oct 17/07: Announcement made that Thailand has selected the JAS-39 Gripen in a 2-phase deal.

Footnotes:

¹ Figures vary. The Bangkok Post specifies the deal as $34.4 billion baht overall. Gripen international referred to the deal’s components as “19,000 billions baht (US$ 600 million)” and “15,400 billions baht (US$ 500 million).” We think they may have meant 19,000 million (i.e. 19 billion) and 15.4 billion baht. To put that 10-year budgeted cost in perspective, Thai military spending was 29 billion baht the year before the coup. The 2008 military budget is 140 billion.

Appendix A: Wild Card – Thailand’s Political Situation (October 2007)

The elephant in the room

The Thai government of Prime Minister Thaksin Shinawatra was ousted in a Sept 19/06 coup that was widely believed to have been masterminded by Thailand’s king, with the cooperation of its military. That may have provided Saab with its opportunity, as an Australian newspaper reported a Thai officer as saying that ”....we preferred F-16 C/D over Gripen, [but] the Americans are not allowed by their laws to sell weapons to countries whose governments have been ousted in coups.” On the other hand, the US State Department has told Jane’s that there are no restrictions on weapons sales to Thailand.

Whatever the case may be, Sweden’s fighter won. In response, its government appears to have opted for a policy of constructive engagement. While the opposition party has voiced misgivings, Swedish Minister for Foreign Affairs Carl Bildt said:

“I welcome the decision from the Royal Thai government to start negotiations with the Swedish government, to purchase Gripen fighter aircraft and the Saab Erieye Airborne Early Warning (AEW) system. This decision once again confirms that Gripen is a world class and cost effective system. The selection of Gripen was made in fierce competition with advanced US and Russian systems. We must now wait for the result of the formal negotiations that will now commence between the Swedish and Thai authorities. When a formal agreement is in place, this will be managed in accordance with the appropriate export legislation, rules and regulations.”

The current situation created that opportunity for Saab, by sidelining the previous choice, and opening the doors to a significant budget increase for Thailand’s military. It could also serve to torpedo the deal later on, of course, if the government that follows decides to undo what its military predecessor has done. Thaksin Shinawatra has stated that he has no intention of returning to politics, but he remains popular in many parts of Thailand, and his supporters could come looking for payback once elections begin again. Fighter jets are high-profile military deals with a lot of symbolism behind them, which makes them attractive targets in such situations. The Gripen’s planned acquisition period is also rather long, and much of that period will follow planned elections. This is a significant risk factor.

Until Thailand actually accepts jets into operational service, therefore, we’re hesitant to count this deal as truly done. The Gripen will also have to demonstrate exceptional performance against RTAF F-16s to make a strong case for Phase 2 and build a strong cadre of support within the Thai military. The Gripen is certainly capable of performing at that level – but much of the turbulence ahead of it will be of a type that its avionics aren’t programmed to handle.

Appendix B: Additional Readings