TAI Thailand Details Modernization of Saab 340 ERIEYE AEW & C

08 Juni 2025

RTAF Saab 340 Erieye AEW&C (photo: RTAF)

Thai Aviation Industries (TAI) has provided further details on its procurement of 12 Saab JAS 39 Gripen E/F fighter aircraft. Under the replacement fighter aircraft type F-16A/B ADF Squadron 102, Wing 1, Korat of the Royal Thai Air Force (RTAF) that is waiting for the contract signing.

In addition to the first phase of procurement, worth approximately 19,500,000,000 baht ($562,665,012) for three single-seat Gripen E fighter aircraft and one two-seat Gripen F fighter aircraft, the second phase includes three Gripen E fighters and one Gripen F fighter, and the third phase includes four Gripen E fighters. The offset package also includes an unspecified number of MBDA Meteor beyond-visual-range air-to-air missiles (BVRAAMs), according to Thai company TAI.

Swedish company Saab will also upgrade two Saab 340 ERIEYE AEW (Airborne Early Warning) airborne early warning (AEW) aircraft based at Squadron 702, Wing 7, Surat Thani. It is an upgraded version of the Saab 340 ERIEYE AEW&C (Airborne Early Warning and Control) aircraft capability standard. This will improve the command and control capability of the Royal Thai Air Force.

According to Cirium, an aeronautical analytics company, two Saab 340B ERIEYE airborne early warning and control aircraft were delivered to the Swedish Air Force (SwAF, Svenska flygvapnet) in the 1990s and was delivered to the Royal Thai Air Force during 2011-2014 as part of the procurement of 12 Gripen C/D fighter aircraft.

RTAF Gripen, Saab 340 Erieye, Meteor missile (photo: RTAF)

TAI Thailand has also provided a list of 14 offset proposals, of which 7 are direct offsets related to the Gripen E/F fighter procurement agreement, consisting of: 

1. SAAB establishing a research and development office (SAAB R&D Office), 

2. Acquisition of Intellectual Property Rights (IP) of the Tactical Data Link (TDL) Link-T,

3. Development of Tactical Data Link System (Link-T Development), 

4. Development of the aviation industry in aircraft upgrade, 

5. Promotion of the aviation industry and creation of the Gripen E/F supply chain in the country, 

6. Development of the capability to send maintenance forces at the national level, and 

7. Development of the capability to maintain at Wing 1, Korat.

While the 7 indirect offset proposals will provide significant overall benefits to Thailand, including: 

1. Foreign Direct Investment, 

2. Cyber ​​technology development, 

3. Establishment of an innovation center in Thailand,

4. Promotion of agricultural science development, 

5. Education and vocational skills development, 

6. Cooperation in education and research, and 

7. English language skills development by the British Council, United Kingdom.

"TAI Aviation Industry Co., Ltd. is ready to support the development of the defense industry in cooperation with the Royal Thai Air Force in all dimensions through the defense compensation proposal, which will result in the transfer of important technologies. Including the development of human resources and various industries within the country to create sustainable economic security and defense industries for Thailand," said TAI Thailand.

Sweden's Saab confirmed the selection of Thailand's Gripen E/F fighter aircraft on 4 June 2024. The Royal Thai Air Force announced in August 2024 that it had selected the Gripen E/F over the US Lockheed Martin F-16C/D Block 70/72 fighter aircraft.

Currently, the Royal Thai Air Force has 11 Gripen C/D fighter aircraft in service at Squadron 701, Wing 7, Surat Thani (divided into 7 Gripen C single-seat fighter aircraft and 4 Gripen D two-seat fighter aircraft).

(AAG)