Thailand Picks Gripen E/F, Philippines Buys 12 New FA-50 Jets Amid Beijing’s Shadow

(DEFENCE SECURITY ASIA) — In a significant development underscoring Southeast Asia’s accelerating airpower modernisation, two of America’s key treaty allies in the region—Thailand and the Philippines—have concurrently confirmed the acquisition of new-generation fighter aircraft to boost their aerial deterrent amid rising geopolitical tensions with China.

Thailand has officially selected the Saab JAS-39E/F Gripen multirole fighter for its future air combat fleet, with the Royal Thai Air Force (RTAF) confirming an initial order of four aircraft as part of a planned acquisition of 12 jets over a period of 10 years.

Concurrently, South Korea’s KAI sealed a landmark US$700 million (RM3.3 billion) deal with the Philippines for 12 additional FA-50 “Golden Eagle” jets, boosting Manila’s frontline airpower and regional force projection.

Speaking at a press conference in Bangkok, RTAF Chief of Staff Air Chief Marshal Punpakdee Pattanakul revealed that the first batch will consist of three single-seat JAS-39Es and one twin-seat JAS-39F variant.

The RTAF had previously announced its intention to formalise a contract in August for the acquisition of four Gripen E/F fighter jets under the initial procurement phase, with an allocated budget of 19.5 billion baht (approximately US$596 million or RM2.8 billion).

The newly ordered Gripen fighters will be equipped with the cutting-edge Raven ES-05 Active Electronically Scanned Array (AESA) radar, Infrared Search and Track (IRST) sensors, and secure tactical datalinks, significantly enhancing the RTAF’s beyond-visual-range and network-centric warfare capabilities.

This new Gripen tranche will complement Thailand’s existing fleet of 11 older JAS-39C/D fighters and is set to gradually replace the ageing Lockheed Martin F-16A/Bs over the coming decade as part of a phased recapitalization of its tactical aviation assets.

Crucially, Thailand will also acquire the MBDA Meteor beyond-visual-range air-to-air missile (BVRAAM), widely regarded as one of the world’s most advanced long-range air dominance weapons, giving the RTAF a formidable standoff strike capability far superior to legacy systems.

The Meteor is a next-generation beyond-visual-range air-to-air missile (BVRAAM) developed by MBDA, designed to dominate in long-range air combat.

Equipped with an advanced active radar seeker and a unique ramjet propulsion system, it offers unmatched speed, agility, and a no-escape zone significantly larger than traditional missiles like the AMRAAM.

Integrated on platforms such as the Eurofighter Typhoon, Gripen, and Rafale, the Meteor gives pilots a decisive edge in engagements against highly manoeuvrable or stealthy adversaries.

Additionally, the country will upgrade its Saab 340-based airborne early warning (AEW) platforms, with the enhancements bringing full command-and-control (C2) capability to the fleet—an operational leap that RTAF officials have long aspired to realise.

These acquisitions will be conducted under a government-to-government arrangement between Bangkok and Stockholm, which will include offset provisions, as Thailand had earlier confirmed the selection of the Gripen over Lockheed Martin’s F-16 Block 70/72 following a comprehensive evaluation in 2024.

In February, a roadway in Thailand’s southern border province of Songkhla was repurposed as an improvised runway for a Gripen fighter jet, marking the aircraft’s first participation in a contingency landing drill simulating emergency operational scenarios.

Saab, in a statement, confirmed that while no formal contract has yet been signed, it will now proceed to the next stage of the procurement process in coordination with Sweden’s Defence Materiel Administration (FMV).

“Gripen E/F is the best solution to provide Thailand with independent airpower for the future which will contribute significantly to the nation’s safety and security,” Saab President and CEO Micael Johansson stated, welcoming the RTAF’s decision.

The Swedish company said it had not signed a contract nor received a firm order yet.

Thailand, a longstanding strategic partner of the United States and officially designated as a Major Non-NATO Ally by Washington in 2023, had initially expressed interest in acquiring up to eight Lockheed Martin F-35A Lightning II stealth fighters—widely regarded as among the most advanced multirole combat aircraft in the world.

However, the United States ultimately declined Bangkok’s request that same year, citing concerns related to training limitations, maintenance infrastructure, and broader technical compatibility issues required to support fifth-generation air combat operations.

The F-35A, which integrates cutting-edge stealth, sensor fusion, and network-centric warfare capabilities, remains a tightly controlled platform whose export is reserved only for America’s most trusted security partners.

In the Indo-Pacific, approved F-35 recipients are currently limited to a select group of close allies—namely Australia, Japan, South Korea, and Singapore—reflecting Washington’s cautious approach to maintaining technological edge and strategic balance in the region.

Following Washington’s decision in 2023 to reject Thailand’s request for the fifth-generation F-35A Lightning II stealth fighter, the United States moved swiftly to present Bangkok with an alternative offer—the latest and most advanced variant of the F-16 Fighting Falcon, the Block 70/72 “Viper.”

The proposal, aimed at maintaining bilateral defence cooperation and regional interoperability, came with enhanced financial incentives, including a reported 30 percent reduction in interest rates for associated loans, as well as a customised offsets package designed to strengthen Thailand’s long-term defence industrial base.

The F-16 Block 70/72 represents the pinnacle of the iconic multirole fighter’s evolution, incorporating a host of next-generation systems such as the Northrop Grumman AN/APG-83 AESA radar, advanced cockpit avionics, and the AN/ALQ-254(V)1 Viper Shield electronic warfare suite for survivability in contested airspace.

Operational endurance is also significantly improved through the integration of conformal fuel tanks, enabling longer range missions without sacrificing aerodynamic performance.

The platform’s flexibility remains one of its strongest assets, with compatibility for more than 3,300 certified weapons configurations, allowing it to conduct air-to-air, air-to-ground, suppression of enemy air defences (SEAD), and maritime strike missions across multiple theatres.

At the same time, South Korea’s Korea Aerospace Industries (KAI) confirmed the signing of a landmark contract worth US$700 million (approximately RM3.3 billion) with the Philippine government for the acquisition of 12 additional FA-50 “Golden Eagle” light combat aircraft, significantly enhancing Manila’s frontline air combat capability and force projection in the region.

The newly contracted FA-50PHs for the Philippine Air Force (PAF), scheduled for delivery by 2030, will incorporate advanced Active Electronically Scanned Array (AESA) radar systems, significantly boosting situational awareness, threat tracking, and multirole engagement capabilities across contested airspaces.

These next-generation aircraft will also be equipped with inflight refuelling capability—an essential enhancement that extends operational range and mission endurance, offering critical strategic flexibility in defending the Philippines’ vast archipelagic territory.

Notably, this upgraded FA-50PH configuration will closely mirror the FA-50 Block 20 variant ordered by Malaysia, aligning both Southeast Asian nations under a common light combat aircraft standard that features improved avionics, radar systems, and multirole adaptability.

The Philippine Air Force has operated the FA-50PH since 2017, following the acquisition of 12 units, though one aircraft was lost during a combat mission against insurgent forces in the country’s southern region in March 2025.

Since its induction, the FA-50PH has played an integral role in internal and regional security operations, including the decisive 2017 campaign to retake Marawi City from Islamic State-linked militants—a landmark mission that validated the platform’s combat effectiveness.

Based on KAI’s T-50 advanced trainer airframe, the FA-50 has emerged as one of the Indo-Pacific’s most widely adopted light combat aircraft, with current operators including South Korea, Indonesia, Thailand, and Iraq, while Malaysia is expected to receive its first FA-50 Block 20 units beginning in 2026.

Poland has also joined the list of FA-50 operators as it modernises its tactical fighter fleet, further underscoring the type’s growing appeal as a cost-effective, multirole solution for air forces seeking 21st-century capabilities without the prohibitive costs of full-scale fighter platforms.

Although the FA-50PH enhances Manila’s immediate combat readiness, the Philippines remains committed to acquiring a more advanced 4.5 or fifth-generation fighter jet, reflecting its strategic recalibration toward a more robust defence posture in response to escalating tensions with China.

Rising maritime confrontations between Philippine and Chinese naval and paramilitary forces near contested areas in the Spratly Islands have heightened the urgency for force modernisation across air and sea domains.

In this context, the parallel announcements from Bangkok and Manila underscore a clear strategic shift among U.S.-aligned Southeast Asian states, as they pursue next-generation air combat capabilities to deter grey-zone coercion and safeguard national sovereignty in an increasingly volatile Indo-Pacific security environment.

— DEFENCE SECURITY ASIA