Thailand approved the purchase of four Gripen fighter jets from Sweden, following recent border hostilities with Cambodia that ended in a ceasefire last week.
The $600 million agreement for the Saab JAS 39 aircraft—initially unveiled in June—is part of the nation’s broader modernization of its air force.
The recent border conflict, which lasted five days and resulted in more than 40 deaths, saw Thailand deploy its F-16 fleet to engage Cambodian military targets.
It was the most violent flare-up between the two nations in decades. After a 10-month assessment that began last August, Thai defense officials selected the Swedish Gripen over the U.S.-made F-16s.
Thailand already fields 11 Gripens and several F-16s from earlier acquisitions in the 1980s.
The national defense budget, spread across the army, navy, and air force, totals 200 billion baht ($6 billion).
