Aircraft

TAI will begin Falcon Up modernisation in January, but new fighter purchase in doubt

Thailand plans to begin upgrading its Lockheed Martin F-16A/B fighters from next January, but has failed to approve the funds needed to acquire a new batch of F-16C/Ds. Government-owned Thai Aviation Industries (TAI) says it will begin installing Falcon Up modification kits to the first of 18 F-16A/Bs in early 2006, with Lockheed already under contract to supply the kits and provide training and engineering support.

TAI then plans to launch a Falcon Star structural upgrade to the Thai air force’s three F-16 squadrons, extending the type’s service life to 8,000 flight hours.

The Thai air force says both programmes are fully funded, but that a request to conduct an avionics upgrade has not yet been approved. However, industry sources say the Thai government pledged to fund the complete mid-life upgrade during a meeting with top US officials last month. The roughly $400 million programme will modify the F-16A/Bs to an equivalent of Lockheed’s Block 50 configuration.

Bangkok is not prepared to fund the proposed purchase of 18 additional F-16C/Ds, having received a proposal from Lockheed earlier this year in competition with the Saab/BAE Systems Gripen and Sukhoi Su-30 (Flight International, 18-24 January). The air force has now completed an operational evaluation of the three platforms, but an acquisition requires government approval. Sources suggest Sukhoi was the favourite to secure the deal, but that Thailand may instead opt to delay the replacement of its Northrop F-5s.

BRENDAN SOBIE/SINGAPORE