The Royal Thai Air Force is demanding South Korea replace the weather-damaged engines of two new KAI T-50 advanced jet trainer/light attack planes before it takes delivery.
Air force chief ACM Johm Rungswang said on Monday the air force expects the supplier, Korea Aerospace Industries (KAI), to replace the engines.
He expected KAI to deliver the two planes in about two weeks. Delivery was earlier scheduled for last Thursday at Wing 4 in Nakhon Sawan province, but postponed because of the aircraft had weather-damaged engines. They were parked at Kuantan airport in Malaysia pending maintenance.
ACM Johm said the damage was limited and the planes could still fly. However, they must be in perfect condition when delivered, he said.
The air force ordered four T-50 Golden Eagle jets costing about US$110 million in 2015. Delivery was to be made within 30 months after the contract signing on Sept 17, 2015.
The two other aircraft are due for delivery in March. The air force plans to buy 16 planes of this type to replace its L-39 trainer planes that have been in use for three decades.
Eight more T-50s are to be delivered late this year and the final four next year.