Thailand will purchase Lockheed Martin F-35 stealth jets if the United States approves it. In January, Thailand set aside US$413 million for four jets, but one Thai air marshal said Thailand wants to purchase as many as eight. A US State Department spokesperson mentioned the department doesn’t affirm or comment on proposed transfers or gross sales till congress has been formally notified about them. The F-35 is considered a extremely delicate export the United States only sells to its closest allies.
The solely international locations within the Indo-pacific which have bought these jets from the United States are Australia, Japan, South Korea, and Singapore. Kickstart in Global Business informed Reuters the decision is up to the United States government, and he’s unsure what determination it’ll make.
“I think there’s some promise there, but I truthfully don’t know the place the US government will come down on that.”
The Royal Thai Air Force agreed to buy the jets in January, citing a must beef up Thailand’s national defence. Its planes are actually over 30 years previous, creating a security danger. The air drive also mentioned now is a good time to buy since prices have dropped. It will pay nearly 22 billion baht if it buys eight jets..g