Latest news with #PunpakdeePattanakul
AFP
18-06-2025
- Politics
- AFP
Posts misrepresent Thailand air force chief's remarks as Cambodia border row rumbles on
The video of Air Force Chief Punpakdee Pattanakul answering questions from reporters was viewed at least 1.7 million times after it was posted on TikTok on June 9, 2025. Thai-language text superimposed on the clip reads: "If Cambodia doesn't back off, Thailand will completely seize the country. The air force says Phnom Penh could be reduced to rubble within 5 minutes." It circulated as Thailand and Cambodia faced off over a border dispute that led to an exchange of fire on May 28 in which one Cambodia solder was killed (archived link). Both the Thai and Cambodian armies said they had acted in self-defence. While Thailand and Cambodia agreed to reposition their troops in the area to reduce confrontations, Phnom Penh has asked the International Court of Justice (ICJ) to help resolve the border dispute (archived here and here). Cambodia banned the import of Thai fruit and vegetables on June 17 after Bangkok refused to lift recently imposed border crossing restrictions. It had earlier banned Thai dramas from TV and cinemas, closed a popular border checkpoint, and cut internet bandwidth from across the border. Image Screenshot of the false TikTok post, captured on June 16, 2025 The same video was shared elsewhere in similar posts on TikTok, while a still from the clip was shared on Facebook. "They are the heroes. Please don't disappoint us. ," read a comment on one of the posts. : "This is true, Cambodia has no chance against the advanced weaponry Thailand has." But the Thai air force chief did not say they could reduce Phnom Penh "to rubble within five minutes". Warplane purchase briefing A logo for a subsequent search of the local broadcaster's channel found the same footage published on June 4 (archived here and here). The video, titled "Air force stands ready to safeguard Thai sovereignty", shows Pattanakul speaking to the media about plans to buy four Swedish-made Gripen fighter jets in a US$500 million deal (archived link). The plan is the first phase of a 10-year plan to buy 12 fighter aircraft as Thailand updates its air power. Punpakdee was asked about an unspecified "border situation", but did not mention Cambodia or say the Thai air force could reduce its capital to rubble. At the video's 3:14 mark, : "The air force is ready at all times. If an aircraft is likely to invade our airspace, we will be able to intercept within five minutes." Amarin TV also published the footage on their TikTok account on the same day. The clip is cropped in the same way it is in the false posts (archived link). Image Screenshor comparison of the falsely shared clip (left) and Amarin TV's video (right) Thailand's Anti-Fake News Center also addressed the false claims on June 14, Punpakdee had been and strengthening national defence (archived link). "The commander of the Royal Thai Air Force said in an interview that the Royal Thai Air Force is ready at all times. But it does not aim to attack the neighbouring country. It is to protect the country if danger occurs," it said. AFP has debunked other misinformation related to the Thailand-Cambodia border dispute.
The Sun
04-06-2025
- Business
- The Sun
Thailand chooses Swedish Gripen jets over F-16s for its air force
BANGKOK: Thailand on Wednesday announced plans to buy four Gripen fighter jets in a $500 million deal, choosing the Swedish-made planes over American F-16s as it renews its air combat fleet. The Gripen E/F models, made by Nordic industrial giant Saab, will replace the Royal Thai Air Force's older F-16 A/B jets bought in the 1980s. The announcement is the first phase of a 10-year plan to buy 12 fighter aircraft as Thailand updates its air power. 'This is an important project to strengthen our force to protect our sovereignty,' Air Force Chief Punpakdee Pattanakul told reporters. The procurement order will go to the Thai cabinet for approval around mid-July, and is expected to be finalised by the end of August. A procurement committee recommended buying the Gripen rather than the F-16 last August after a 10-month process of deliberation. The kingdom already operates 11 older Gripens, as well as dozens of F-16s. The decision to favour the Swedish fighter over the American one is unlikely to help Thailand's efforts to reach a tariff deal with US President Donald Trump's administration. Thailand is hoping to negotiate some kind of reduction or relief from Trump's threatened 36 percent levy, announced as part of the president's sweeping global 'reciprocal' tariffs.
Malay Mail
04-06-2025
- Business
- Malay Mail
Thailand goes Nordic for new fighter jets, drops Uncle Sam's F-16s amid tariff trouble
BANGKOK, June 4 — Thailand on Wednesday announced plans to buy four Gripen fighter jets in a US$500 million deal, choosing the Swedish-made planes over American F-16s as it renews its air combat fleet. The Gripen E/F models, made by Nordic industrial giant Saab, will replace the Royal Thai Air Force's older F-16 A/B jets bought in the 1980s. The announcement is the first phase of a 10-year plan to buy 12 fighter aircraft as Thailand updates its air power. 'This is an important project to strengthen our force to protect our sovereignty,' Air Force Chief Punpakdee Pattanakul told reporters. The procurement order will go to the Thai cabinet for approval around mid-July, and is expected to be finalised by the end of August. A procurement committee recommended buying the Gripen rather than the F-16 last August after a 10-month process of deliberation. The kingdom already operates 11 older Gripens, as well as dozens of F-16s. The decision to favour the Swedish fighter over the American one is unlikely to help Thailand's efforts to reach a tariff deal with US President Donald Trump's administration. Thailand is hoping to negotiate some kind of reduction or relief from Trump's threatened 36 percent levy, announced as part of the president's sweeping global 'reciprocal' tariffs. — AFP
The Star
04-06-2025
- Business
- The Star
Thailand chooses Swedish Gripen jets over F-16s for its air force
The Saab JAS 39 Gripen is a multirole fighter jet manufactured by Saab, designed to perform various aerial missions. - Photo source: US DoD BANGKOK: Thailand on Wednesday (June 4) announced plans to buy four Gripen fighter jets in a US$500 million deal, choosing the Swedish-made planes over American F-16s as it renews its air combat fleet. The Gripen E/F models, made by Nordic industrial giant Saab, will replace the Royal Thai Air Force's older F-16 A/B jets bought in the 1980s. The announcement is the first phase of a 10-year plan to buy 12 fighter aircraft as Thailand updates its air power. "This is an important project to strengthen our force to protect our sovereignty," Air Force Chief Punpakdee Pattanakul told reporters. The procurement order will go to the Thai cabinet for approval around mid-July, and is expected to be finalised by the end of August. A procurement committee recommended buying the Gripen rather than the F-16 last August after a 10-month process of deliberation. The kingdom already operates 11 older Gripens, as well as dozens of F-16s. The decision to favour the Swedish fighter over the American one is unlikely to help Thailand's efforts to reach a tariff deal with US President Donald Trump's administration. Thailand is hoping to negotiate some kind of reduction or relief from Trump's threatened 36 percent levy, announced as part of the president's sweeping global "reciprocal" tariffs. - AFP
Free Malaysia Today
04-06-2025
- Business
- Free Malaysia Today
Thailand to buy 12 Swedish Gripen fighter jets
Thailand has dozens of American F-16 and F-5 aircraft, some of which have been in operation since the late 1980s. (EPA images pic) BANGKOK : Thailand plans to acquire a dozen Gripen JAS 39 fighter jets built by Sweden's SAAB over 10 years to replace its ageing fleet of mainly US aircraft, the air force chief said today, two years after Washington denied its request to buy F-35s. Thailand has one of Southeast Asia's best-equipped air forces, with 11 JAS 39 Gripen jets and dozens of American F-16 and F-5 aircraft, some of which have been in operation since the late 1980s. The budget for the first procurement phase from 2025 to 2029 is US$596 million for four Gripen jets, air chief marshal Punpakdee Pattanakul said. The air force, which had said last year that it wanted to buy more Swedish jets, said it would send the plan to cabinet for approval next month. If approved, the contract was expected to be signed in August. 'We welcome the Royal Thai Air Force's selection of Gripen E/F as its future fighter and look forward to the next steps in this procurement process,' SAAB CEO Micael Johansson said in a statement. 'Gripen E/F is the best solution to provide Thailand with independent airpower for the future which will contribute significantly to the nation's safety and security,' he said. The Swedish company said it had not signed a contract nor received a firm order yet. Thailand, which has a long history of military cooperation with the US and was designated a major non-Nato ally by Washington in 2023, had initially sought as many as eight Lockheed Martin F-35 stealth jets, among the world's most advanced fighter aircraft. But the US in 2023 declined to sell them over what Bangkok said were issues with training and technical requirements including maintenance compatibility. The F-35 is considered a sensitive export sold only to the US' closest allies, which in the Indo-Pacific include Australia, Japan, South Korea and Singapore.
