THE THAI AIR force is pushing for funding in the next defence budget for an additional 18-20 fighter aircraft to equip its third frontline squadron.
The air force has been receiving informal preliminary briefings from competing manufacturers and is expected to make an official request for more information shortly.
Aircraft on offer are the Dassault Mirage 2000-5, Lockheed's F-16C/D, the McDonnell Douglas (MDC) F-18C/D and Mikoyan MiG-29.
The F-16C/D is considered by many to be the air force's most likely choice. Thailand already operates 18 early-built Block 15 F-16A/Bs and will begin taking delivery of a second squadron of 18 fighters in October.
MDC is also keen to secure another F-18 sale in Asia, having already sold eight aircraft to Malaysia and, more recently, lost a deal to Lockheed, with its F-16C/D, in Singapore.
The company is understood to have lowered its unit price to under $25 million to compete more effectively against the F-16.
Bangkok-based defence sources, however, are sceptical about whether the air force will receive approval for more fighters before the start of the 1996 financial year on I October. The budget is due to go before the Thai cabinet in April.
Observers suggest that, the Government will want the air force, to fully absorb its second F-16 squadron, before funding a further purchase with the 1997 budget, considered politically more acceptable.
Source: Flight International
