Government Wants SU-30s, Military Chief Prefers F-18s

One bird for another? That seems to be at the core of a reported deal between Thailand's Prime Minister Thaksin Shinawatra and Russia involving the possible purchase of 12 Sukhoi SU-30s (below) for that nation's military.

According to media reports, the Prime Minister has admitted to arranging a deal with senior Russian officials involving barter trade arrangements for the fighters. Under the terms of the deal, the purchase of the Russian jet fighters -- reportedly valued at $500 million -- would need to be linked with Russia's purchase of... Thai chicken, and various agricultural products.

The deal is not the official reason Thailand is looking at the Russian planes, however.

"It is not a good thing to depend on one provider of military equipment" said Thaksin, when asked if the Russian deal meant Thailand was moving away from the country's traditional military equipment supplier, the United States.

That response doesn't sit well with the commander of Thailand's air force, ACM Chalit Pukpasuk. According to the Bangkok Post, he prefers American-made fighters such as the F-16 and F-18s -- arguing the Russian planes are too large and fast for Thailand's needs.

"The government must heed what the air force needs," said Chalit. "The air force will select only one type which meets our needs and propose it directly to the government. The prime minister will not pick the type."

Fighters such as the F-18 (right) make better sense for Thailand, Chalit said, since those aircraft can land on an aircraft carrier, have folding wings for storage and can be refueled in the air.

ACM Chalit adds adoption of Russian fighter aircraft would require a thorough overhaul of training procedures and support infrastructure.

In either case -- with or without chickens to sweeten the deal -- the new jets would replace the air force's ailing F-5 fighters and AV-10 aircraft.

"If the government makes the wrong choice, the victim will be the air force as we will have to face the consequences," said one high-ranking source, who requested anonymity.

FMI: www.globalsecurity.org/military/world/thailand