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U.S. Ready to Sell Used F-16s to Thailand
March 3, 1999 (by
Lieven Dewitte) -
U.S. Secretary of State Madeleine Albright said on Thursday the United States is prepared to sell used F-16 jet fighters to Thailand. The US is prepared to work with Thailand towards the purchase of used American F-16 fighter aircraft. This would further reinforce our strong bilateral security relationship.
The talks on the F-16s are still at an early stage. Thai and U.S. officials will need to discuss the technical specifications and price of the F-16s to be sold to Thailand and determine how many planes it would buy. Talks on the purchase of used planes take into account Thailand's current economic crisis.
In May last year, the United States acquired eight F/A-18 Hornet jetfighters ordered by Thailand because the cash-strapped country was unable to complete the contract after the baht plunged in July 1997. President Bill Clinton had told Thai Premier Chuan Leekpai last March the United States was prepared to take over the 1996 fighter purchase contract and to limit the Thai government's obligation to the $74. 5 million it it had already paid. That decision relieved Thailand of the burden of paying the remaining $317 million on the purchase order or paying termination costs of up to $250 million.
The F-16s are probably not going to be equipped with high-speed anti-radiation missiles that a U.S. plane fired on an Iraqi radar site in the no-fly zone over northern Iraq in January.
In May last year, the United States acquired eight F/A-18 Hornet jetfighters ordered by Thailand because the cash-strapped country was unable to complete the contract after the baht plunged in July 1997. President Bill Clinton had told Thai Premier Chuan Leekpai last March the United States was prepared to take over the 1996 fighter purchase contract and to limit the Thai government's obligation to the $74. 5 million it it had already paid. That decision relieved Thailand of the burden of paying the remaining $317 million on the purchase order or paying termination costs of up to $250 million.
The F-16s are probably not going to be equipped with high-speed anti-radiation missiles that a U.S. plane fired on an Iraqi radar site in the no-fly zone over northern Iraq in January.
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