2025-02-28
The Thai Air Force has conducted a historic test with its Gripen fighter jet by landing and taking off from a highway in SongkhlaThe test, which was carried out on highway 4287, aimed to evaluate the Air Force's ability to use the road network as temporary runways in a crisis situation.
A strategic military exercise
During the test, the Gripen aircraft landed on a selected, straight stretch of highway and carried out a quick refueling and weapon arming before taking off again. The entire procedure, including engine shutdown, refueling and arming, took only 27 minutes.
Air Chief Marshal Phanpakdi Pattanakul, who was present during the exercise, praised the pilots' precision and the aircraft's flexibility, stressing the importance of having alternative landing sites in the event of a conflict or emergency.
Why is Gripen being tested on country roads?
Using highways as temporary airfields is a strategy used by several nations to improve operational flexibility. In the event that air bases become unusable, the military can quickly regroup and continue operations from other locations.
The current test in Songkhla was part of a broader military strategy to optimize Thailand's defense capabilities and adapt to modern conflict scenarios.
What happens now?
Following the successful test, the Thai Air Force plans to conduct more similar exercises in other locations in the country.
This exercise strengthens Thailand's ability to handle different scenarios and demonstrates that the Gripen aircraft can be used effectively in varying environments.
JAS Gripen E/F – the fighter jet of the future
- Manufacturer: Saab (Sweden)
- Maximum speed: Mach 2
- Scope: Up to 1 km
- Arming: Can be equipped with air-to-air and air-to-ground missiles as well as a 27 mm automatic cannon.
- Advanced technology: AESA radar and advanced electronic warfare.
- Thailand's interest: The country is considering expanding its Gripen fleet with the newest E/F version.
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Text: The editorial staff
Image license: EnglishAirforce, Wikimedia, original image