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Gripens For Lima

BANGKOK: Gripens for LIMA19. One or two JAS 39 Gripen from the Royal Thai Air Force (RTAF) are expected to take part in the Langkawi International Maritime and Aerospace (LIMA 19) 2019 scheduled for March, next year.

The actual number of Gripens to take part in the show will depends on the parking spot available at the show, says 701 Sqdn CO Wing Commander Kritsana Sukdee.

Unlike two years ago, the Gripen will only be there as part of the static display. The squadron is based at the Wing 7 RTAF airbase at Surat Thani, southern Thailand.

RTAF Saab Gripen taking off for its display at LIMA 17

It must be noted that the RTAF’s participation is on the invitation of the Malaysian Defence Ministry and the RMAF. This will be the third participation of the Thais at Langkawi. They took part in LIMA in 2011 and 2017.

This year’s participation will not be part of a marketing push for the Gripen as the MRCA programme has been KIVed pending approval from the government.

RTAF Gripen being prepared on the opening day of Lima 2011

Even Russia which is now offering the MIG-35 for the MRCA programme – even though its previous offer of the Su-35 has been rejected – has been told that LIMA 2019 was not the place to market their wares.
Wing 7 aircraft, Saab 340 Erieye and Saab JAS 39 Gripen with a full weapons load.

It is expected other Asean air forces will fill up the static or aerial display slots with the absence of any MRCA contenders.

However it is likely that the show organisers will accept the participation of any aircraft to fill up the static and aerial display slots.

– Malaysian Defence

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Marhalim Abas: Shah Alam

View Comments (23)

  • Marhalim, for LIMA next year can you please interview thai gripen drivers on their experience pitting the gripen against the T-50TH

  • I hope in lima we can get new powerpack for pendekar as well as upgrading our skyshield to include 3d radar and integration with starstreak

  • Aircraft appearance wishlist

    1. Pak AF JF-17
    2. Pak AF K-8 sherdils
    3. RAAF F-35A
    4. RAAF PC-21 roulettes
    5. IAF Tejas
    6. Bangladesh AF Yak-130
    7. Bangladesh AF C-130J
    8. Japan navy Kawasaki P-1
    9. Shenyang J-31

  • @ alex

    Tell me again why we need a new powerpack for the Pendekars? As is the current powerpack is rated at 1000hp and already has the Renk ESM350 gearbox that in DSA2016 somebody tried to sell to ATM (a little bit different combo of Scania engine + Renk ESM350 gearbox). All the advantages said of the new powerpack is mostly there in the PT-91M, the comparison was actually with the old transmission of T-72/PT-91 non Pendekars.

    BTW we never had any Skyshields. Unless you are actually an Indonesian citizen.

  • @ safran

    What Mahathir has to do with Apai looking at the JF-17? It is just an airshow. Of course you go to visit booths. If everyone that visits the JF-17 booth is "interested" in the fighter, that would mean a whole bunch of 3rd world countries are going to buy JF-17. Is that so?

  • The only way i can think of that Malaysia will ever be interested on jf17 if it has non Russian engine and non Chinese avionics.. Which would increase the price substantially thus defeat the whole purpose