BANGKOK, Aug 3 (TNA) – Royal Thai Air Force (RTAF) commander ACM Napadej Dhupatemiya thanked the House Committee for approval of the 369-million-baht budget to fund its F-35A fighter jet procurement scheme after the project had been turned down by a budgetary sub-committee of the House.
The House Committee, scrutinizing the 2023 budget bill reviewed the RTAF’s appeal and voted 45:22 to endorse the funding but the approved budget was reduced to 369 million baht from 738 million baht.
If the US Congress does not approve the sale, the budget will be returned to the state coffer.
The RTAF commander insisted on the transparency of the procurement scheme.
The F-35A fighter jet procurement scheme is estimated at 7.4 billion baht. The remainder will be carried over to the 2026 fiscal year. (TNA)
