World · Vietnam Bureau
Thai Queen Undertakes Fighter Jet Training Program
Thailand's Queen Suthida has begun an intensive training course on the Gripen fighter jet at a military base in Surat Thani province. The program could position her to become the first Thai queen to complete a solo fighter jet flight.
LSN Vietnam ·
Queen Suthida has enrolled in a comprehensive aviation training curriculum centered on the Swedish-manufactured Gripen fighter aircraft, according to reports from the southern Thai province of Surat Thani. The training regimen represents a significant undertaking for the royal aviator, requiring mastery of advanced flight systems and high-performance aircraft operations.
The Gripen, a single-engine multi-role combat aircraft, presents substantial technical challenges and demands extensive preparation from pilots. The training program encompasses both theoretical instruction and practical flight experience necessary for independent aircraft operation.
Completion of the program would mark a historic milestone for the Thai monarchy, establishing Queen Suthida as the first reigning queen of Thailand to pilot a fighter jet independently. The achievement would underscore the Thai royal family's longstanding association with aviation and military affairs.
The training initiative reflects growing opportunities for women in military aviation roles across Southeast Asia, though such programs remain relatively uncommon among members of royal families in the region.