TSAMTO, July 29. According to Thai Internet resources, the command of the Thai Air Force intends to sign a contract with the South Korean company Korea Aerospace Industries (KAI) for the supply of two additional T-50TH training aircraft.
According to Janes Defense Weekly, the budget for the 2022 fiscal year provides for the allocation of 2.36 billion rubles. baht ($72 million). The agreement will also include the supply of spare parts, related equipment and tools. This purchase will increase the T-50TH fleet of the Thai Air Force to 14 units.
As a representative of KAI told Janes, the company and the command of the Thai Air Force are currently negotiating. The contract should be signed at the end of the year.
As reported by TSAMTO, in September 2015, the command of the Thai Air Force concluded an agreement with Korea Aerospace Industries for the supply of four T-50TH TCBMS. Their cost was 3.7 billion rubles. baht ($110 million). In July 2017, the Thai government approved the Air Force's request for the supply of eight more T-50TH provided for by the option. The contract for the supply of aircraft was signed with KAI on July 29, 2017. The sale value is estimated at 8.8 billion. baht ($258 million).
The delivery of the TCB to the Thai Air Force began in January 2018. In April 2018, the first four T-50TH were officially adopted. At the moment, 8 aircraft have been delivered. All UTS were adopted by the 401st Aviation Squadron, which was previously equipped with outdated L-39ZA/ART "Albatross".
As part of the third phase of the project, a contract worth $ 52 million was signed in 2019, providing for the modernization of aircraft equipped with an EL/M-2032 radar, a radar exposure warning system and other equipment.
At the fourth stage of the project, it was initially planned to purchase 4 additional aircraft, but the COVID-19 pandemic made adjustments to the plans of the Thai Air Force. In February 2020, the Thai Air Force released a " White Paper on Defense, which is a plan for the procurement and modernization of weapons for the near future. One of the points was the purchase of two additional T-50TH by 2022. However, in April 2020, the Thai government decided to suspend the purchase of additional T-50TH TCBMS in order to redirect funds from the defense budget to overcome the crisis associated with the COVID-19 pandemic. Now the program has resumed.
