Thailand’s Queen Becomes First Royal to Solo-Pilot a Gripen Fighter Jet

Queen Suthida of Thailand completed a solo flight in a Saab JAS 39C Gripen on October 8, 2026. She thus became the first royal to pilot a Gripen fighter jet solo.

The Bureau of the Royal Household of Thailand reported the flight.

King Maha Vajiralongkorn, Royal Thai Air Force Commander-in-Chief Air Chief Marshal Seksan Kantha, and the commander of Wing 7, observed the flight.

After receiving a briefing on the flight plan, the Queen conducted a pre-flight inspection of the single-seat fighter jet and taxied onto Runway 22.

The solo flight lasted 41 minutes. After landing, the King presented her with a bouquet and attached a Golden Gripen Order Patch to her left sleeve. The Swedish honorary association Gripen Order also awarded the patch and admitted the Queen as a full member.

Before the flight, the Queen underwent training, including sessions on an aviation simulator in accordance with Air Force standards. She also logged approximately 10 flight hours in a two-seat JAS 39D Gripen with an instructor before transitioning to the single-seat JAS 39C.

The Queen has logged more than 1,188 flight hours in total across various aircraft types, including the Cessna T-41D, CT-4E Airtrainer, Pilatus PC-9, Mooney M20M, and Piper PA-34 Seneca.

She also serves as co-pilot alongside King Maha Vajiralongkorn, who is also a qualified military and civilian pilot, during royal flights aboard Boeing 737-400 and 737-800 aircraft.

Thailand received 12 Gripen C/D fighter jets in 2011 and currently operates 11 of them after losing one JAS 39C in a crash in January 2017.

Amid the 2025 war with Cambodia, the Royal Thai Air Force is preparing to expand its fleet with JAS39E/F Gripen aircraft, which are intended to replace the aging F-16 fighters that have been in service with the country since 1988.

In late August 2025, the country signed a $500 million contract to procure its first four new fighter jets – three single-seat Gripen E aircraft and one two-seat Gripen F. Thailand plans to acquire more than 12 Gripen E/F fighters in total, which will be assigned to the 102nd Fighter Squadron.

Royal Thai Air Force Commander-in-Chief Napadet Dhupatemiya stated that the cost of acquiring a single Gripen fighter jet is estimated at $86 million, excluding the logistics support package and associated expenses.