The Royal Thai Air Force (RTAF) has publicly demonstrated the full suite of operational armaments integrated onto its Saab JAS 39C/D Gripen multirole combat aircraft during a ceremony commemorating 15 years of operations under the Peace Suwannabhumi procurement program. Held at Wing 7 Airbase in Surat Thani province, the event showcased the operational readiness of the 701 Fighter Squadron to deploy both the single-seat JAS 39C (designated B.Kh.20 in Thai service) and two-seat JAS 39D (B.Kh.20A) variants for national defense missions. RTAF leadership emphasized the platform’s multirole capabilities and rapid-response posture, highlighting its capability to launch fully armed sorties on short notice across diverse combat scenarios.
The static display featured an extensive inventory of air-to-air and air-to-surface munitions tailored for varied operational tasking. Air defense capabilities were represented by the IRIS-T short-range infrared-homing air-to-air missile alongside training munitions for the AIM-9M Sidewinder. For air-to-ground precision strike and close air support, the exposition included Mk 82 500-lb and Mk 84 2,000-lb general-purpose unguided bombs, various weight classes of Paveway-series Laser-Guided Bombs (GBU), and AGM-65 Maverick air-to-surface tactical missiles. Furthermore, the aircraft’s internal 27 mm Mauser BK-27 single-barrel revolver cannon was highlighted as a high-rate-of-fire system capable of prosecuting both aerial threats and ground positions.
This weapons showcase underscores the maturing combat capability of Thailand’s Gripen fleet, several systems of which were operationalized during live national defense missions late last year. Originally authorized by the Thai Parliament in 2007 under a THB34 billion (USD1.1 billion) program to replace legacy Northrop F-5E/F fighters, the initial batch of six Gripens arrived in early 2011, followed by a second tranche in 2013 to form the core of Wing 7’s defensive network. Operating alongside Saab 340 Airborne Early Warning (AEW) aircraft, the Gripen fleet functions as the central node of the Gripen Integrated Air Defence System, fully networked with Royal Thai Army and Royal Thai Navy command and control infrastructure.
Looking toward future force modernization, the RTAF selected the next-generation Gripen E/F in August 2024 over competing proposals to succeed its aging Lockheed Martin F-16A/B Block 15 fleet. Following this selection, a SEK5.3 billion (USD510 million) contract was signed in August 2025 for an initial batch consisting of three single-seat Gripen E and one dual-seat Gripen F aircraft, with deliveries scheduled for completion by 2030. This initial procurement marks the first tranche of a planned 12-aircraft acquisition aimed at maintaining the RTAF’s technological edge and ensuring seamless operational continuity well into the next decade.
