Thai Air Force plans to buy F-35 Lightning jet fighters

By Thai Newsroom Reporters

THE THAI AIR FORCE plans to buy a mini-squadron of US-built F-35 Lightning jet fighters, confirmed Air Force chief ACM Napadej Dhupatemiya today (Dec. 31).

The Air Force plans to procure eight to 12 Lockheed Martin F-35 Lightning fighters in next fiscal year to replace those ageing combat aircraft deployed for several decades, ACM Napadej said.

The F-35 jets currently deployed by the US Navy, Marine Corps and Air Force will replace F-16 Fighting Falcons, among other combat aircraft, currently deployed by the Thai air force, according to the air force chief.

ACM Napadej said the Lockheed Martin F-35 fighters might be offered for sale in a range of 70 to 82 million dollars each. 

The F-35s have joined ranks of the fifth-generation of highly manoeuvrable combat aircraft for air-to-air and air-to-surface missions.

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Top and Home Page: Lockheed Martin F-35 Lightning II fighters. Photo: Lockheedmartin.com