Thailand may buy Gripen E/F Aircraft, Philippines should have an Offset Policy like them

A JAS-39F Gripen Aircraft, Photo by Saab AB

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Thailand is proposing to retire a Squadron of its F-16C Fighting Falcon Aircraft and buy a Squadron of new Fighter Aircraft starting the next Fiscal Year in Thailand which starts in October 2024, this according to a "White Paper" made by the Royal Thai Air Force (RTAF) recently. 

According to anonymous Sources within the Thai Military, they will likely choose the JAS-39E/F Gripen Aircraft rather than the latest Version of the F-16, the Block 70 which is made in the United States (US). The proposed budget is Usd 530 million for an initial four Aircraft, or Usd 132.5 million per Aircraft.

I think the RTAF getting the Gripen E/F instead is sort of expected since the US already did deny the sale of their F-35 Lightning II Stealth Fighter Aircraft to Thailand because they thought Thailand was just too close in Terms of Relations to China. 

The RTAF is also proposing to buy Air Defence Systems and Unmanned Aerial Vehicles (UAV), and to develop and manufacture their own Laser Guided Weapons. 

The News Article also mentioned the "Offset Policy" that Thailand has when buying Military Hardware, which means that any acquisition must be reciprocated by the Seller to an equal amount of Economic Valuation in Bilateral Trade. 

So for example, if Thailand buys Usd 100 million worth of Military Hardware from Country A, then that Country must come up with something equal to that amount in Terms of Trade. Many other Countries do this, like Malaysia, for example. 

I think this is great because it makes Military Transactions not just purely Military in Nature but also something that will benefit also a Country economically, and I think it is time that the Philippines pursues it also, especially now that the Philippines intends to acquire around Php 2 trillion worth of Military Hardware for the Modernization of the Armed Forces of the Philippines (AFP).

Here is the Link to the Article at the Bangkok Post Website: https://www.bangkokpost.com/thailand/general/2750798

SOURCE: RTAF Highlights need for new Military Hardware {Archived Link}

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