AI In-Brief

Thailand News in Brief

Thai PBS World

Thailand and the world, every day

AI can make mistakes. Please double-check.

Thailand signs Bt19.5bn deal for Gripen jets, first delivery in 2029

12 Sept 15:31 Key points summarised by AI

Thailand finalized a Bt19.5 billion agreement with Sweden for the procurement of four Saab Gripen E/F fighter jets, part of a broader plan to acquire 12 aircraft to modernize its fleet and replace aging F-16s.
The deal was signed by high-ranking Thai and Swedish officials, including the Thai Air Force commander-in-chief and the CEO of the Swedish Materiel Administration, alongside a separate agreement with SAAB AB.
The first two Gripen jets are scheduled for delivery in 2029, with subsequent deliveries of two aircraft annually over the following five years.
This acquisition is set to significantly enhance the Thai Air Force's operational capabilities and marks a strategic step in developing Thailand's domestic defense industry through technology transfer.

Today 14:58 Key points summarised by AI

Thailand's government will launch the "Chainat-Pasak-Gulf" water diversion canal project in fiscal year 2027, a seven-year mega-infrastructure initiative.
This permanent structural solution aims to mitigate recurrent central plains flooding by diverting water from the Chao Phraya River directly into the Gulf of Thailand, significantly reducing flow to major cities like Ayutthaya and Bangkok.
Prime Minister Anutin Charnvirakul justifies the long-term investment as a means to reduce future damages and fiscal burdens, contrasting it with the 40-50 billion baht spent annually on short-term flood relief.
Concurrently, the Prime Minister instructed officials to expand drainage capacity into the Tha Chin River and swiftly remove water hyacinths to improve immediate flood management.