The air force has already bought six Gripen jets worth 19 billion baht with the planes due for delivery next year. The air forceneeds the other six Gripen jets to complete a fleet of 12 that willreplace its ageing F-5 fighters scheduled to be decommissioned in 2011.
With only six Gripen jets, the air force was not confident of protecting national security, according to the air force chief, who also warned that the decision would weaken national defence where competitive weaponry is vital.
"This affects the potential of the armed forcesbecause they need modern weaponry. If we must defend the nation withweapons that cannot match [our enemies'] or are outdated, nobody willhave respect for us," ACM Itthaporn said.
He said that the six other Gripen jets were necessary for nationaldefence. "We must explain what is essential and need a review fromthe government. Weapons result in national security. Without strong defences, neighbours will not have respect for us.
"We, all soldiers, are ready to sacrifice our lives for the nationbut in any fight we must have competitive weaponry. The life of everysoldier is valuable. If a conflict erupts and we have weapons that donot compare, soldiers will be killed," he said.
The Swedish fighters will be stationed at the air force base in Surat Thani to protect the Gulf of Thailand, the Andaman Sea and all areas in the southern region of the country.
The air force plans to use them as its main fighters instead of the F-16 jets used now.
The Defence Ministry was one of the agencies hit hardest by thebudget cuts, implemented because government revenues have fallen shortof target and the need to raise money to pay for economic stimulusschemes.
A ministry source said there was a question whether relations between the Democrat Party-led coalition and the armed forces would sour because the armed forces had supported the government but received budgetary reductions in return.
