Stockholm, Sweden August 25, 2025 (Agencies) — Swedish aerospace and defense firm Saab has secured a long-anticipated contract to supply four next-generation Gripen E/F fighter aircraft to the Royal Thai Air Force (RTAF), marking a major milestone in Thailand’s airpower modernization program.
The agreement, signed with the Swedish Defence Materiel Administration (FMV), is valued at approximately SEK5.3 billion (USD551.3 million). Deliveries are scheduled between 2025 and 2030 and will include three single-seat Gripen E jets and one twin-seat Gripen F, along with associated mission equipment, training, and long-term operational support.
The RTAF confirmed its selection of the Gripen E/F platform in August 2024, following a competitive evaluation that favored Saab’s advanced multirole fighter over rival proposals. Final procurement terms, including offset arrangements and industrial collaboration, were concluded in May 2025.
As part of the acquisition, Saab has also signed a parallel agreement with the RTAF to deliver a comprehensive offset package. This includes significant defense technology transfers, industrial partnerships, and new investments across multiple sectors of Thailand’s economy. The Thai Ministry of Foreign Affairs stated that the offset policy will enhance national defense capabilities and foster cooperation in areas such as education, agriculture innovation, green transition, and cybersecurity.
The Thai cabinet approved the procurement on August 5, allocating THB19.5 billion (USD600 million) for the initial batch. The decision followed shortly after the conclusion of a five-day border conflict with Cambodia, underscoring the strategic urgency behind the modernization effort.
Thailand currently operates a fleet of Gripen C/D fighters acquired between 2011 and 2013. The new Gripen E/F aircraft will operate alongside the existing fleet, replacing aging F-16 A/B models and enhancing Thailand’s aerial combat readiness with advanced radar, electronic warfare systems, and long-range air-to-air capabilities.
With this contract, Thailand becomes the first nation in the Asia-Pacific region and the third globally—after Sweden and Brazil—to acquire the Gripen E variant, reaffirming its long-standing defense partnership with Sweden.