The chief of the Royal Thai Air Force (RTAF), Napadej Dhupatemiya, on Tuesday led a committee responsible for fighter jet procurement on a visit to the United States that is scheduled to wrap up on Monday next week -- a move which could signal a fresh attempt to secure a new jet purchase deal.
While the committee was invited to visit the Air Command and Staff College (ACSC), ACM Napadej was accompanied by deputy air force chief ACM Thanasak Metanan, assistant air force chief ACM Alongkorn Vannarot and air force chief of staff ACM Phanphakdi Phatthanakun, said a source.
ACM Napadej was invited to visit ACSC, at Maxwell Air Force Base in Alabama, because of his status as an outstanding alumni of the college.
His name along with his father's, ACM Prapan Dhupathemiya, was included in the college's International Honour Roll.
In addition to his stint at the ACSC, ACM Napadej was known to have taken part in US Air Force Undergraduate Pilot Training.
An RTAF source said ACM Napadej is also scheduled to meet Gen Charles Q Brown, Chief of Staff of the US Air Force and Thai-born US Senator Tammy Duckworth before he returns to Thailand on Monday.
The RTAF now needs the support of both the US administration and Congress to procure four new F-35 fighter jets from the US, under a 13.8-billion-baht procurement plan approved by the cabinet on Jan 11.
The procurement plan is currently awaiting parliament approval.
A source said the RTAF's fighter jet procurement committee had concluded that F-35 fighter jets are most in line with the RTAF's requirements, in terms of both performance price and technology.
The conclusion was reached after a study in which the F-35 was compared side-by-side with China's J-20 fighter jet and Russia's Su-57 multirole combat aircraft, the source added. All three aircraft have stealth capability.
The US government's decision will be known in about a year.
