BC-ARMS-THAILAND-SINGAPORE Singapore to lease Thai bases for used
F-16s BANGKOK, Nov 12 (Reuters) - Singapore will be able to use
two Thai air bases for 15 years in exchange for seven used F-16
jet fighters under a military cooperation agreement signed on
Friday, a senior Thai Air Force officer said.
Singapore, which has had strong ties with the Thai military for
20 years, would be entitled to use one air base in Khon Kaen and
one in Udon Thani, both in the northeast, said the officer, who
declined to be identified.
The Udon Thani base was used by U.S. bombers during the Vietnam
War.
A Thai statement said a military cooperation pact was signed on
Friday by Thai Defence Minister Sumpun Boonyanun and his Singapore
counterpart Teo Chee Hean, but gave no details.
Teo was accompanying new Singapore Prime Minister Lee Hsien
Loong on an introductory visit.
- ENDS -
BC-AS-GEN--Thailand-Singapore-Air Forces Thailand, Singapore agree
on air base sharing for training By RUNGRAWEE CHALERMSRIPINYORAT=
Associated Press Writer=
BANGKOK, Thailand (AP) Â… Thailand and Singapore have agreed to
share their air bases for training exercises over the next 15
years.
An agreement on mutual air force training and logistical
support between the Southeast Asian nations was signed last week,
Thai Air Force spokesman Capt. Montol Suchookorn said Thursday.
Allowing Singapore temporary basing rights raised some concerns
in the Thai press about national security. But Montol said only 20
Singaporean planes at most will be permitted to use Thai bases for
a maximum of 60 consecutive days.
Each training exercise would have to be approved by the Thai
Air Force, and the agreement was subject to revision every five
years, he added.
A statement from the Singapore Defense Ministry said the deal
creates �more opportunities‘ for the two air forces to train
together, and �enhances professional development and
interoperability.‘
The agreement will serve Singapore's long-standing need for
airspace in which its supersonic jets can conduct exercises.
Thailand will benefit from by having access to logistical support
in Singapore, Montol said.
The deal was signed immediately after a visit by Singapore's
Prime Minister Lee Hsieng Loong to Thailand. During Lee's stay,
Singapore agreed to give seven used F-16 fighter jets to Thailand
as a gesture of cooperation.
- ENDS -
20 Planes...exact number as NGF...nice to put NGF in Thailand.. =/
From a political point of view, those NGF will be extremely safe cause in foreign soil....
BUT..a problem pops up..will Thailand allow these "strike aircraft"
to fly around the potential "aggressor?"
and risk a war all because of 7 F-16 A/B??
Umm i can imagine a scenario of a NGF travelling at mach 2 to meet a KC-135 C Singapore plane flying around gulf of thailand..
refueled and armed with AIM-9X..
Anyway, those F-16 C/D (s) in U.S.A kinda useless..going by the idiom..
yuan qin bu ru jin ling