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Further Reading

Royal Thai Air Force

The Royal Thai Air Force was the most recently formed of the three services. The air force had a command structure consisting of five groups: headquarters, logistics support, education, special services, and combat forces. The headquarters group in Bangkok performed the usual general staff functions, including planning and directing operations of the combat elements. The logistics support group provided engineering, communications, ordnance, transportation, quartermaster, and medical services support. The education group coordinated and supervised all air force training programs. The special service group was responsible for the welfare of air force personnel and coordinated the activities of Thai civil aviation with those of the air force.

The operational units of the air force were organized into two functional elements: a tactical air command structured and equipped for conventional warfare and an aerial security force trained and geared for counterinsurgency and other internal security missions. In 1987 the tactical air command had a combat force of one squadron committed to forward ground attack, two squadrons of fighter-interceptors also used for armed reconnaissance, a separate reconnaissance squadron that also served in a training role, three transport squadrons, one utility squadron, two helicopter squadrons, and one training squadron. By the late 1990s the RTAF Air Power was composed of four regional Air Divisions and a Flying Training School. The first Air Division (AD) has its air bases in Bangkok area, the second Air Division located in the eastern part of Thailand, the third Air Division is in the central and northern-provinces and the fourth Air Division has its bases in the long stretch of the sourthern provinces. The security force consisted of seven counterinsurgency squadrons, equipped with helicopter gunships, and other light aircraft suitable for counterinsurgency operations. Airfield security was provided by four battalions of troops trained in perimeter defense tactics.

The American withdrawal had quickly revealed to the Thai Supreme Command the inadequacy of its air force in the event of a conventional war in Southeast Asia. Accordingly, in the 1980s the government allotted large amounts of money for the purchase of modern aircraft and spare parts. Thirty-eight F-5E and F-5F fighter-bombers purchased from the Northrop Corporation formed the nucleus of the air force's defense and tactical firepower. The F-5Es were accompanied by training teams of American civilian and military technicians, who worked with members of the Thai air force. In addition to the F-5E and F-5F fighter-bombers, OV-10C aircraft, transports, and helicopters were added to the air force equipment inventory. In 1985 the United States Congress authorized the sale of the F-16 fighter to Thailand. A total of twelve of these aircraft were scheduled for delivery in 1988.

Like the other branches of the Royal Thai Armed Forces, the RTAF continues to modernize its force. Considered by most analysts, the most professional of the three services, the RTAF's pilots are well trained and competent. With the addition of its third squadron of F-16 fighters, the RTAF is considered the third strongest air force in the region, after Singapore and Malaysia. The RTAF over the past decade has significantly improved its frontline fighter capability through acquisitions or upgrades and is now looking to procure transport aircraft, air defense systems and airborne early warning and command aircraft. A second order of five refurbished Lockheed Martin F-16A fighters, due under the Peace Naresuan IV program, arrived at the Korat Air Base in October 2003. The first five of the 15 F-16As were delivered in August 2003 as part of the country's continuing efforts to modernize its air force. The remaining six aircraft on order (including one two-seat F-16B) will be delivered early in 2004. These deliveries mark the activation of the third F-16 squadron for the RTAF, which received 36 new F-16A/Bs delivered between 1988-1996. The F-16 Fighting Falcons will fill the gap in air defense left by the cancellation of the $390-million F/A-18 contract (due to economic difficulties) and also allow the RTAF to keep pace with air power trends in the region. Singapore and Malaysia have the latest F-16Ds, F/A-18C/Ds and MiG-29N; in addition, neighboring Myanmar has procured some MiG-29 Fulcrum interceptors. This will provide a third squadron of F-16s at a significantly lower price than the cancelled F-18 purchase. This squadron will be based at Korat as part of Wing 1. Recently, this past Spring (03), the RTAF participated in the RED FLAG exercise at Nellis and Luke Air Force Bases, utilizing Wing 1 pilots from Korat who traveled to Luke AFB, Arizona and flew the same F-16 's, which had recently been refurbished and have now been delivered to The RTAF and will be used to equip the RTAF's 3rd Squadron of F-16s.

The Thai and U.S. governments signed a letter of agreement on the sale of Raytheon AIM-120B Advanced Medium Range Air-to-Air Missiles (AMRAAMs) to Thailand to equip its F-16 fighters in July 2001. However, until a threat warrants their shipment to Thailand the missiles are currently being kept in the U.S. It has been reported by Raytheon sources, that in the wake of September 11, the Bush administration has been trying to help allies better protect themselves and this could lead to the delivery of restricted technology such as AMRAAM to Thailand.

Israeli Aircraft Industries (IAI) have contracted to upgrade the RTAF's F-5 fighters. These upgrades include a new fire-control radar and heads-up display. Reportedly, 16 of the planes would be equipped with new air-to-air weapons systems. Thai sources report the first two aircraft have been completed, with the remainder to follow by 2011. The RTAF has also purchased 25 used Dassault/Dornier AlphaJets from Germany to boost its ground attack capability. Despite their age of more than 20 years, government officials consider the AlphaJets a good buy and they will replace the ageing OV-10C Broncos, which are due for decommission in 2004. However, after a crash of an Alpha jet, the RTAF has decided to spend 400 million Baht replacing the ejection seats. Outgoing RTAF Commander-in-Chief ACM Pong Maneesilp said the cost of the 48 British-made replacement seats was about 100 million Baht cheaper than competing quotes. The RTAF has announced plans to buy six more C-130 transport planes to enhance peacekeeping efforts and to deliver Thai fruit exports. RTAF Chief ACM Kongsak Watana said the planes were needed to put into effect Prime Minister Thaksin Shinawatra's policy to use military aircraft to deliver fruit overseas because the air force only had 12 C-130 aircraft. One problem for the RTAF (and the Thai armed forces in general) is the wide range of aircraft in its inventory, which creates problems of maintenance and logistics support. In 2008, Thailand ordered a complete aircraft and command and control system from the Swedish Defence Materiel Administration (FMV) in a Government to Government deal. The order includes a first batch of six Gripen C/D with associated equipment and service, one Saab 340 aircraft equipped with Erieye radar (AEW), a Saab 340 for transport and training plus an integrated command and control system with data links. The Royal Thai Air Force will start their training on Gripen in Sweden next year and the fighters will be delivered to Thailand in 2011.

The Royal Thai Air Force procured an integrated air defence system with Gripen C/D, the ERIEYE airborne early warning system and a Command and Control C2 system including data link communication. In combination with bilateral Co-operation mainly focused on technology transfer, this will provide Thailand with the foundation for an advanced network based defence system.

The Royal Thai Air Force will receive six of the latest version Gripen C/D multirole fighter aircraft at the beginning of 2011. One ERIEYE Airborne Early Warning radar system aboard a Saab 340 aircraft and one additional Saab 340 aircraft will be delivered in December 2010. One Command and Control C2 system including equipment for three ground based Radio sites will be delivered in March 2011.

The first Thai Gripen aircraft made its maiden flight on 16 September 2009 and Thai pilots, technicians and aviation mechanics responsible for maintenance and support of the aircraft have started their training at the Armed Force Technical School (Air Force) in Halmstad and at F 7 Såtenäs.

Today's fleet of Royal Thai Army helicopter are consists of TH-300, Bell 206, UH-1H, Bell 212, Bell 412, CH-47D, and UH-60L. There once was a plan to replace UH-1H "Huey" by 33 Black Hawk, but the budget crisis from 1997 Asian Financial Crisis forced RTA to cut the number into only 7. Based on the original requirement in 2006, there is a requirment for 9 utility helicopter, with the helicopter required will be the same standard with Black Hawk.