Thai air force to replace 12 fighter jets with new planes

BANGKOK -- Thailand's air force chief will fly to Sweden and the U.S. this month to discuss details of a planned procurement of new fighter jets, a deal that could include a technology transfer agreement to foster the Southeast Asian country's nascent arms industry.

Air Chief Marshal Panpakdee Pattanakul's sights are set on either the Swedish-made Gripen or the U.S.-made F-16 Block 70/72 to replace a squadron of 12 aging F-16 As and F-16 ADFs. The plan was spelled out earlier this year in a white paper the Thai air force released to explain its security assessment for the 2024-2037 period.