Saab has signed a contract with Sweden’s Defence Materiel Administration (FMV) to supply four Gripen E/F fighters for the Royal Thai Air Force (RTAF), formalizing Bangkok’s June selection of the type.
The order is valued at approximately SEK 5.3 billion (around $500 million), with deliveries scheduled between 2025 and 2030.
The package covers three Gripen E and one Gripen F aircraft, along with associated equipment, support, and training. The fighters will be powered by General Electric F414-GE-39E engines.
Saab also signed a separate agreement with the RTAF for a long-term offset program that includes technology transfer, industrial cooperation in Thailand, and new investments across multiple sectors.
“We welcome Thailand as the latest customer for Gripen E/F,” said Saab President and CEO Micael Johansson, noting Thailand’s previous experience operating the type. “Thailand has chosen the most modern fighter on the market with which to build its next generation of strategic, independent capabilities.”
To operate alongside Thailand’s current Gripen fleet
The signed order follows the RTAF’s confirmation on June 4, 2025, that it had selected the Gripen E/F as its future multi-role fighter. Thailand’s cabinet subsequently approved the first batch of four jets in early August 2025, paving the way for the contract. Thai officials have outlined a broader plan for a total of 12 Gripen E/F over the next decade.
Thailand has operated one squadron of Gripen C/D since 2011. The new E/F aircraft will serve alongside the existing fleet once they enter service.
Border tensions highlight need for modern airpower
The order also comes amid heightened tensions along Thailand’s border with Cambodia. In July 2025, Thai F-16s were deployed to conduct air strikes during a border clash, marking one of the most significant uses of airpower by the RTAF in recent years.