Paul Lewis/BANGKOK
THE McDONNELL Douglas F-18 Hornet is emerging as the Royal Thai Air Force (RTAF) favourite to meet its next fighter-aircraft requirement, in preference to the Lockheed Martin F-16C/D
Thailand is considering purchasing an initial, eight fighters for delivery by early 1999. A follow-on buy is expected eventually to increase this to 18 aircraft, sufficient to equip a full operational squadron.
Long-lead funding for the air force's new fighter has already been included in the country's next defence budget for fiscal year 1996, starting on 1 October. A final selection is due to be made shortly, having been delayed since late June by the Thai general election and subsequent change of Government.
According to local sources, however, a variety of factors could still affect the timing and outcome of the air force's fighter selection. It is still not clear whether Air Chief Marshal Siripong Thongyai, an F-18 proponent, is to continue as commander-in chief of the air force, or be replaced from October (Flight International, 12-18 July).
Thailand has also made procurement of either the F-16 or F-18 dependent on the US Government's release of the Hughes AIM-120 Advanced Medium Range Air-to-Air Missile (AMRAAM) for sale. Industry sources are confident that the active-guided beyond-visual-range (BVR), air-to-air missile (AAM) will be cleared shortly for the region, but US State and Defense department officials have still formally to make a decision.
In the event that the AMRAAM is withheld, the air force is likely again to open up the competition to other non-US manufactured aircraft being offered with a BVR missile.
Also competing for the order, are the Dassault Mirage 2000-5 and Sukhoi Su-35 advanced variant of the Su-27 Flanker, which has attracted strong Thai interest.
The air force's eagerness to acquire a new fighter, and its insistence on a fully active BVR missile, has been spurred on by Malaysia's purchase of the Mikoyan MiG-29 Fulcrum and the F-18D, along with Vietnam's order for at least six Su-27s. Russia is also understood to be supplying each of the countries with export variants of the R-77 (AA-12 Adder) active medium-range AAM.
The Thai air force, in the meantime, is taking delivery of a second batch of 18 Lockheed F-16A/B fighters to supplement its 18 earlier-build aircraft in service.
Source: Flight International
