Thailand Declares Gripen Integrated Air Defense System is Fully Operational

13 September 2013

The Gripen Integrated Air Defense System (GIADS) paves the way to develop RTAF’s network to connect all three military services so that they are able to jointly operate under the concept of Network Centric Operations (NCO). (photo : Saab)

Supreme Commander of the Royal Thai Armed Forces declares the Gripen Integrated Air Defense System commissioned as a fully operational part of the air force at its home base, Wing 7 in Surat Thani.

The Royal Thai Air Force held a ceremony on 11 September at Wing 7, Surat Thani, to officially declare the Gripen Integrated Air Defense System commissioned as a fully operational part of the air force. General Thanasak Patimaprakorn, Supreme Commander of the Royal Thai Armed Forces, officiated over the ceremony along with RTAF Commander ACM Prajin Juntong and high ranking representatives from the Royal Thai Army and the Royal Thai Navy.

The ceremony was attended by Thai and Swedish guests, diplomats, press and foreign military attachés stationed in Thailand. The presence of all three military branches at the ceremony symbolizes what the new system stands for: integrated defense operations. With the 12 Gripen fighters on order from Sweden delivered and operational as well as two SAAB 340 AEW aircraft, radar stations, command and control systems and much more, Wing 7 stands ready to defend and protect the Thai nation with a state of the art integrated air defense system.

(SaabGroup)