Royal Thai Air Force
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The Royal Thai Air Force (Thai: กองทัพอากาศไทย, Kong Thab Akat Thai) is the air force of the Kingdom of Thailand. As of 2006, the Commander of the Air Force was Chalit Pookpasuk, who was also a Deputy of the Council for National Security that seized power during the 2006 Thailand coup.
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[edit] Structure
The RTAF command structure consists of five groups: headquarters, logistics support, education, special services, and combat forces.
The headquarters group in Bangkok performs the usual general staff functions, including planning and directing operations of the combat elements.
The logistics support group provides engineering, communications, ordnance, transportation, quartermaster, and medical services support.
The education group coordinates and supervises all air force training programmes.
The special service group is responsible for the welfare of air force personnel and coordinates the activities of Thai civil aviation with those of the air force.
The operational units of the air force are organised 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 is located in the eastern part of Thailand
- The Third Air Division is in the central and northern-provinces
- The Fourth Air Division has its bases in the long stretch of the southern provinces.
- The security force consists of seven counterinsurgency squadrons, equipped with helicopter gunships, and other light aircraft suitable for counterinsurgency operations. Airfield security is provided by four battalions of troops trained in perimeter defence tactics.
[edit] Early history
In February 1911 the Belgian pilot Van den Born displayed the first aircraft in Thailand at the Sa Pathum Horse Racing Course. The Thai authorities were impressed enough by the display that on 28 February 1913 they dispatched three officers to learn to fly in France, at the time a leading aviation country.
The three officers (Major Luang Sakdi Sanlayawut (Sunee Suwanprateep), Captain Luang Arwut Sikikorn (Long Sinsuk) and First Lieutenant Tip Ketuthat) learnt to fly and on 2 November 1913 returned to Thailand with eight aircraft (four Breguets and four Nieuports). They are today regarded as the forefathers of the Royal Thai Air Force. In March of the next year they moved from Sa Patham airfield to Don Muang.
The Ministry of Defence put the early air force under the control of the Army Engineer Inspector General Department.
During the French-Thai War, the Thai Air Force scored several air-to-air-victories against the Vichy French Armée de l'Air.
[edit] Royal Thai Air Force Bases
The Royal Thai Air Force maintains a number of modern bases from which it conducts its administrative, transport, and training operations. The bases, which were constructed between 1954 and 1968, have permanent buildings, sophisticated ground support equipment, and some of the best runways in Asia.
All but one were part of the network of airfields built and used by United States forces until their withdrawal from Thailand in 1976. Consolidating the equipment left by the departing units in accordance with government-to-government agreements, the Thai air force assumed use of the installations at Takhli and Nakhon Ratchasima (Korat).
In the late 1980s, these bases and Don Muang Air Base outside Bangkok, which the air force shares with civil aviation, remains the primary operational holdings.
Maintenance of the facilities at other bases abandoned by the United States proved too costly and exceeded Thai needs. Nonetheless, all runways were still available for training and emergency use.
By 2004 the Royal Thai Air Force had its main base at Don Muang airport, adjacent to Bangkok's International Airport. The RTAF also had large air fields and facilities at Nakon Ratchasima Ubon Ratchathani, and Takhli.
| RTAFB | Location |
|---|---|
| Don Muang (Ex-BKK airport) | Bangkok |
| Chiangkham | Chiang Mai |
| Kamphaeng Saen | Nakhon Pathom |
| Ubon | Ubon Ratchathani |
| Udon | Udon Thani |
| Khorat | Nakhon Ratchasima |
| Prachuap Khiri Khan | Prachuap Khiri Khan |
| Takhli | Nakhon Sawan |
| Had Yai | Songkhla |
[edit] Procurement of 12 - 18 Next Generation Fighter
The Royal Thai Air Force is evaluating 3 models of a next generation fighter, JAS-39 C/D, Su-30, and F/A-18 E/F. The decision has been delayed to later this year or 2007 because of Thailand's current political crisis. [citation needed]
[edit] Aircraft in Commission
[edit] Fighter/Attacker
F-16 A/B/ADF (61)
F-5 A/B/E/F (46) (F-5 A have retired from the fleet)
L-39 ZA/ART (34)
Alpha Jet (25)
AU-23 A (21) [1] ("Peacemaker", turboprop, manufactured by Fairchild )
[edit] Transportation
C-130 H/H-30 (12)
BT-67 (9) (Transport aircraft used for aerial firefighting and cloud seeding; turboprop; remanufactured DC-3 by Basler Turbo Conversions)
N22B (19) (GAF N22B "Nomad"; patrol and surveillance)
G222 (6) (Italian; Manufactured by Alenia, SPA)
BAE 748 (6)
Boeing B737-2Z6/4Z6 (1) (For Royal Flight)
Boeing 737-8Z6 (1) (For Royal Flight) will delivery in OCT 2006
Airbus A310-324 (1) (For Royal Flight)
Airbus A319-115X CJ (1) (For Government Business)
[edit] Reconnaissance
Lear Jet 35A (2)
IAI201 (3)
[edit] Helicopter
UH-1 Iroquois (20) UH-60L (7)for the Thai army
[edit] Training
CT-4E (20)
Pilatus PC-9 (23)
The Royal Thai Air Force has ordered 20 Swedish JAS 39 Gripen to replace its F-5 Freedom Fighter.The Royal Thai Air Force is thinking to order 30-40 Su-30 from Russia. [citation needed]
[edit] See also
[edit] External links
- Royal Thai Air Force
- Royal Thai Air Force Museum Many Historical Aircraft Here (English Page available)
