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http://www.bangkokpost.com/news/securit ... n-fighters
http://news.xinhuanet.com/english/2017- ... 435346.htm11 Jul 2017 at 17:10
The KAI T-50 Golden Eagle advanced jet trainer is a two-seat, single-engine, light-combat aircraft developed by Korea Aerospace.
The cabinet on Tuesday approved the 8.8 billion baht purchase of another eight
T-50TH advanced jets from South Korea,
Prime Minister Prayuth Chan-ocha said, the latest defence acquisition by the military government.
The purchase of eight of the advanced two-seat trainer fighters
is the second phase of a 2015 deal under which Thailand bought four of the jets from South Korea.
First deliveries are due next year. They will replace the fleet of 20-year-old L-39 trainers.
"We got the South Korean ones," Gen Prayuth said after the cabinet meeting. "You can see that we are not tied to one particular country."
On Monday, the military said the deal was worth 8.8 billion baht (US$258 million).
Last month, Thailand's army chief said the United States would sell four Black Hawk helicopters to Thailand after initially suspending their sale following the 2014 coup.
The United States has sold Thailand military equipment worth more than $960 million, including Black Hawk helicopters, air-to-air missile systems and multiple naval missile and torpedo systems, over the past decade.
The Prayut government earlier had approved
the air force's plan to procure a total of 16 T-50TH jet trainers,
four of which were delivered in the first batch,
leaving the second batch of eight aircraft of that type
and the third batch of another four aircraft for future delivery, according to the air force spokesman.