Thailand F-16 Peace Naresuan
In 1985 the United States Congress authorized the sale of the F-16 fighter to Thailand. In July 1987, Thailand obtained approval to order the F100-powered F-16. A letter of agreement was signed in December 1987 for the purchase of 18 F-16s under the Peace Naresuan Foreign Military Sales program. Thailand took delivery of its first F-16A at Lockheed Martin Aeronautics Company. A total of twelve of these aircraft were scheduled for delivery in 1988.
All of Thailand's first F-16 order was for Block 15 aircraft. In September 1995, Thailand received the first aircraft of a second batch of 18 new F-16A/B Block 15 aircraft, including 12 A-models and six B-models. The last six of those F-16s were delivered to Thailand in February 1996.
This event marked the end of production for all Block 15 F-16s. The Block 15 had been in continuous production for more than 14 years. At 983 aircraft, it was the F-16 block most produced. In July 2000, Thailand signed a letter of agreement for purchase of 16 F-16A/B Block 15 Air Defense Fighter versions from the U.S. Air Force inventory. Thailand was the fifth country to acquire used F-16s. Two additional aircraft were procured for spares generation.
The F-16 Fighting Falcons filled the gap in air defense left by the cancellation of the $390-million F/A-18 contract (due to economic difficulties) and also allowed the RTAF to keep pace with air power trends in the region. Singapore and Malaysia had 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.
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 had 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 Spring 2003, 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 would 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 was trying to help allies better protect themselves and this could lead to the delivery of restricted technology such as AMRAAM to Thailand.
On September 29, 2010 the US Defense Security Cooperation Agency notified Congress of a possible Foreign Military Sale to Thailand of a three-phased program to upgrade 18 F-16A/B Block 15 aircraft with the Mid-Life Upgrade (MLU) and associated parts, equipment, and logistical support for a complete package worth approximately $700 million. The Government of Thailand requested a possible sale of a three-phased program to upgrade 18 F-16A/B Block 15 aircraft with the Mid-Life Upgrade (MLU). Each phase will upgrade six aircraft over a three-year period, with each phase overlapping by one year. The MLU with Modular Mission Computer includes APG-68(V)9 Radar, APX-113 Combined Interrogator and Transponder, ALQ-213 Electronic Warfare Management System, ALE-47 Countermeasures Dispenser System, spare and repair parts, tools and support equipment, publications and technical data, personnel training and training equipment, U.S. Government and contractor engineering and technical support services, and other related elements of logistics support.
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