The planned purchase of luxury jets is based on the needs of the army, a ministry of defense spokesman said on Monday, and will be up to the service branch’s discretion on the necessity of the purchase.
Local media reported on Monday that 1.3 billion baht of the army’s annual budget will be used to buy a Gulfstream G500 jet for use by the army.
Defense Ministry Spokesman Lt-General Kongcheep Tantawanich told Thai Enquirer that he would not comment on the issue as it was an army purchase and not a defense ministry purchase.
“The purchase of the plane is based on need and up to the army,” he said.
Both the deputy army spokesman and spokesman did not return calls to Thai Enquirer.
The army has become under increasing pressure from the opposition parties for its expenditures in a year when the economy is due to contract from the coronavirus pandemic. The opposition parties have called for a professional army and an end to the military draft.
