Thailand "F-35 Purchase Bid Application, No Other Alternatives"... US Remains Unresponsive

"US Government Expects Response by July Next Year"
Resumption of Military Drills with China... Negative Impact on Exports from the US

[Image source=EPA Yonhap News]

[Asia Economy Reporter Hyunwoo Lee] The Thai government has announced that it has applied to the U.S. side for a bid to purchase the latest stealth fighter jet, the F-35, but the U.S. side has remained unresponsive. As Thailand recently resumed joint military exercises with China and is engaging in balancing diplomacy between the U.S. and China, it is reported that there are negative views regarding the export of the F-35 within and outside the U.S. government.

According to the Bangkok Post, a local Thai media outlet, on the 25th, Air Chief Marshal Alongkorn Bannarot, Commander of the Royal Thai Air Force, stated at an air force event held the previous day, "We have applied for the F-35 purchase bid and there is no change in our purchase policy. We expect a response from the U.S. government between January and July next year." He added, "We do not have a Plan B," emphasizing, "If there is any signal from the U.S. government regarding the sale of the F-35, we will then consider alternatives."

Earlier, the Royal Thai Air Force announced plans to purchase up to eight units of the latest stealth fighter, the F-35 from the U.S. company Lockheed Martin, citing the need for a new fighter jet to replace the existing F-5 aircraft that have been in operation for over 30 years. However, the U.S. government has yet to make a clear statement and has not conducted due diligence for the fighter jet sale.

However, it is reported that there are negative views within and outside the U.S. government regarding the export of the F-35 to Thailand. Since the pro-China regime in Thailand, which came to power through a military coup in 2014, is strengthening military cooperation with China, there is concern that advanced strategic weapons with high risks of technology leakage cannot be exported.

Earlier, in August, Thailand resumed joint air force exercises with China after a three-year hiatus due to COVID-19, and has consecutively purchased Chinese-made tanks, submarines, and amphibious assault ships, which has provoked the U.S.

Opposition voices against the introduction of the F-35 are also growing within Thailand. Given the worsening economic difficulties following the COVID-19 crisis, the stance is that support for the livelihood of the people should take priority before introducing stealth fighter jets that require enormous budgets. Accordingly, the Thai House of Representatives approved only 369 million baht (approximately 13.8 billion KRW) of the budget for purchasing the F-35 fighter jets in August. This budget is far from sufficient for purchasing F-35s, which cost over 100 billion KRW per unit.

Commander Alongkorn emphasized, "We are efficiently using the air force budget for fighter jet purchases and reducing expenditures in other areas," adding, "The F-35 fighter jet is worth purchasing as its capability is equivalent to that of three existing mainstay F-16 fighter jets."