Royal Thai Air Force

Royal Thai Air Force
กองทัพอากาศไทย
(RTGS: Kong Thab Akat Thai)

Emblem of the Royal Thai Air Force
Founded 2 November 1913
Country  Thailand
Type Air Force
Size 45,000 Active personnel
315 aircraft of which
184 are combat aircraft
Part of Royal Thai Armed Forces
HQ Don Muang Air Base, Bangkok
March มาร์ชกองทัพอากาศ
(Royal Thai Air Force March)
Anniversaries 9 April 1937
Engagements World War I
Franco-Thai War
Pacific War
Korean War
Vietnam War
Commanders
Commander-in-Chief Air Chief Marshal Itthaporn Subhawong
Insignia
Royal Thai Air Force Flag
Unit Colour
Roundel
Aircraft flown
Attack L-39, Alpha Jet, AU-23
Fighter Gripen, F-16, F-5
Helicopter UH-1, Bell 412, S-92
Reconnaissance Lear 35A, Arava, Saab 340 AEW&C
Trainer Airtrainer, PC-9, DA42
Transport C-130, BT-67, Nomad, G222, Avro 748, ATR-72, 737-400/800, A319, A310

The Royal Thai Air Force or RTAF (Thai: กองทัพอากาศไทย) is the air force of the Kingdom of Thailand. Since its establishment in 1913, as one of the earliest air forces of Asia, the Royal Thai Air Force had engaged in many major and minor battles. During the Vietnam war era, the air force has been developed with USAF-aid equipment. As of 2011, the Commander of the Air Force is Air Chief Marshal Itthaporn Subhawong.

Contents

History

In February 1911 the Belgian pilot Charles 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 1912 they dispatched three officers to learn to fly in France, a leading aviation country.

The three officers (Major Luang Sakdi Sanlayawut (Sunee Suwanprateep), Captain Luang Arwut Sikikorn (Long Sinsuk) and First Lieutenant Tip Ketuthat) learned 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 Pathum airfield to Don Muang.

The Ministry of Defence put the early air force under the control of the Army Engineer Inspector General Department. Prince Purachatra, Commander of the Army Engineers, and his brother Prince Chakrabongse Bhuvanath were instrumental in the development of the army's Royal Aeronautical Service, a forerunner to the Air Force.

During the French-Thai War, the Thai Air Force scored several air-to-air-victories against the Vichy France Armée de l'Air. During World War II the Thai Air Force supported the Royal Thai Army in its occupation of the Burmese Shan States as allies of the Japanese in 1942 and defended Bangkok from allied air raids during the latter part of the war. Some RTAF personnels also assisted the anti-Japanese resistance. After World War II, the Thai Air Force sent three C-47s to support the United Nations in Korean War. The victorious Wings Unit, operating C-47, also joined the US Force in Vietnam War. Along the border, Thai Air Force launched many campaign against the communists, such as Ban Nam Ta Airfield Raid in Laos, and clashes between Thai and Vietnamese troops along the Thai-Cambodian border. When the cold war ended, the Thai Air Force participated in Operation Border Post 9631 along the Thai-Burmese border in 1999, and launched the evacuation of Thais and foreigners during the 2003 Phnom Penh riots in Cambodia.

Command and Control

The Royal Thai Air Force is commanded by the Commander of the Royal Thai Air Force (ผู้บัญชาการทหารอากาศไทย) currently Air Chief Marshal Itthaporn Subhawong, who was appointed in 2008. The Royal Thai Air Force Headquarters is located in Don Muang Airbase, Bangkok, Thailand.

List of Commanders

Main article: List of Commanders of the Royal Thai Air Force

Organization

The RTAF command structure consists of five groups: headquarters, logistics support, education, special services, and combat forces.

  1. The headquarters group in Bangkok performs the usual general staff functions, including planning and directing operations of the combat elements.
  2. Combat Group.
  3. The support group provides engineering, communications, ordnance, transportation, quartermaster, and medical services support.
  4. The education group coordinates and supervises all air force training programmes.
  5. 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.

Combat Group

The Royal Thai Air Force Combat Group is divided into 11 wings plus a training school, plus a few direct-reporting units.

* The Flying Training School composes of three squadrons, the 1st Flying Training Squadron, 2nd Flying Training Squadron, and the 3rd Flying Training Squadron. The school is based at RTAFB Kamphang Saen in Nakhon Pathom Province
* The Wing 1 is an attack wing based at RTAFB Korat in Nakhon Ratchasima Province.
* The Wing 2 is a rotary aviation wing that is used for basic utility needs and transport as well as search and rescue (SAR) operations. This wing is normally based at RTAFB Lop Buri in Lop Buri Province
* The Wing 4 is a light attack / fighter wing based at RTAFB Takhli in Nakhon Sawan Province.
* The Wing 5 is a transport / observation wing based at RTAFB Prachuap Khiri Khan in Prachuap Khiri Khan Province.
* The Wing 6 is a non-combat wing used for a variety of functions including transport, mapping, communications and surveying. This wing

is based at RTAFB Don Muang / Bangkok.

* The Wing 7 is an interceptor and attack wing based at RTAFB Surat Thani in Surat Thani Province.
* The Wing 21 is an attack wing based at RTAFB Ubon Ratchathani in Ubon Ratchathani Province.
* The Wing 23 is a light attack wing based at RTAFB Udon in Udon Thani Province.
* The Wing 41 is a light attack wing based at RTAFB Chiang Mai in Chiang Mai Province.
* The Wing 46 is a transport / rainmaking wing based at RTAFB Phitsanulok in Phitsanulok Province.
* The Wing 56 is a currently forming wing based at RTAFB Hatyai in Songkhla Province.

Royal Thai Air Force Commando Company

Main Article

This 100 man unit, part of the Royal Thai Air Force's Special Combat Operations Squadron, has been in existence since the late 1970s. They are based near Don Muang Airport and provide anti-hijacking capabilities. They have three assault platoons, each divided into two smaller sections.

Squadrons

The following squadrons are currently active with the Royal Thai Air Force and their assigned Wing and equipment.

Squadron Wing Equipment Location Notes
201 Helicopter Squadron (Royal Guard) Wing 2 Bell 412 RTAFB Khok ka thiem
203 Helicopter Squadron Wing 2 Bell UH-1H RTAFB Khok ka thiem SAR detachments at RTAFB Chiang Mai, RTAFB Korat/Nakhon Ratchasima, RTAFB Bangkok, RTAFB udon, RTAFB ubon, RTAFB surat and RTAFB hat yai
102 Fighter Squadron Wing 1 Lockheed Martin F-16A/B(ADF) RTAFB Korat
103 Fighter Squadron Wing 1 Lockheed Martin F-16A/B OCU Block 15 RTAFB Korat
601 Transport Squadron Wing 6 Lockheed Martin C-130H/H-30 RTAFB Bangkok
602 Royal Flight Squadron (Royal Guard) Wing 6 Airbus A310-300, A319, Boeing 737-800 RTAFB Bangkok
603 Transport Squadron Wing 6 Alenia G.222(3), ATR72-500(3),4th on order HS-748-208 (one at least still in service as of mid October 2009, RTAFB Bangkok
604 Civil Pilot Training Squadron Wing 6 CT-4A, T-41D RTAFB Bangkok
211 Fighter Squadron Wing 21 Northrop F-5T Tigres RTAFB Ubon Ratchathani
231 Attack Squadron Wing 23 Dornier/Dassault Alpha Jet A RTAFB Udon Thani
401 Light Attack Squadron Wing 4 Aero L-39ZA/ART Albatros RTAFB Takhli
402 Elint Squadron Wing 4 Learjet 35, IAI Arava RTAFB Takhli
403 Fighter Squadron Wing 4 Lockheed Martin F-16A/B OCU Block 15 RTAFB Takhli 403's F-16A/Bs will be Midlife upgraded to be Block 50/52 standard. The first of totally 3 batches has been approved with $200Millions on Feb 2011. The first 6 F-16A/Bs would expect to be upgraded during 2011 to 2013.
411 Fighter Squadron Wing 41 Aero L-39ZA/ART Albatros RTAFB Chiang Mai
461 Transport/Rainmaking Squadron Wing 46 GAF Nomad, Basler BT-67 RTAFB Phitsanulok
701 Fighter Squadron Wing 7 Saab JAS-39 Gripen RTAFB Surat Thani Gripen replaced the Northrop F-5. the first 6 Gripens were delivered on 23 February 2011.[1]
702 Squadron Wing 7 Saab 340/Saab 340 AEW RTAFB Surat Thani Code 70201 is Saab 340,Code 70202 is S-100B Argus
501 Attack Squadron Wing 5 AU-23A Peacemaker RTAFB Prachuap Khiri Khan The former 531 Sqn was redesignated 501 Sqn on 1 April 2007
904 Aggessor Squadron - Northrop F-5E RTAFB Bangkok Former unit of Crown Prince Vajiralongkorn Mahidon, now an aggressor unit.
Tango Squadron - - RTAFB Chiang Mai Historical aircraft unit, not controlled by the Royal Thai Air Force
1st Flying Training Squadron Flying Training School Pacific Aerospace PAC CT/4E RTAFB Kamphang Saen Primary flight training squadron
2nd Flying Training Squadron Flying Training School Pilatus PC-9M RTAFB Kamphang Saen Basic flight training squadron
3rd Flying Training Squadron Flying Training School Bell 206B(struck off charge 1 October 2006) RTAFB Kamphang Saen Rotary aviation training squadron

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 and ground support equipment.

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 Don Mueang International Airport. The RTAF also had large air fields and facilities at Nakon Ratchasima Ubon Ratchathani, and Takhli.

Weaponry

Type Country of Origin Role Quantity Program
Air-to-Air Missiles
IRIS-T  Germany SRAAM 220 Gripen Deal
AIM-9 Sidewinder  United States SRAAM 769< PEACE NARESUAN, all variants
AIM-120C5 AMRAAM  United States BVRAAM 140> ?
Python-4  Israel AAM 1000>? ?
Air-to-Surface Missiles/Rockets/Bombs
GBU-10/GBU-12/GBU-22 Paveway II  United States Laser-Guided Bomb 50 ?
GBU-31(V)1/B JDAM  United States GPS/INS Guided Bomb ? ?
GBU-38/B JDAM  United States GPS/INS Guided Bomb ? ?
GBU-54/B JDAM  United States GPS/INS/Laser-Guided Bomb ? ?
AGM-65B/D/G Maverick  United States Air-to-Ground Missile 800 ?
Mk 81/Mk82/Mk84  United States (500/1000/2000 pound) General Purpose Bombs 10000+ Can be produced in the country.
RBS-15  Sweden (200 KG) Anti-ship missile 12 Gripen Deal
Anti Aircraft Warfare System
Oerlikon ADATS  Switzerland laser-guided supersonic missile 40 Fixed emplacement/ semi-mobile
Saab Bofors Dynamics RBS 70 Mk.2  Sweden Short-range man-portable air-defence system (MANPAD) ??
QW-2 Vanguard II  China Short-range man-portable air-defence system (MANPAD) ??
Rheinmetall Mauser Mk.30 mod.F  Germany ??
Bofors 40mm  Sweden 40mm L/70 ??
Type 74  China Twin 37mm Anti Aircraft Artillery ??
Ground Weaponry
Cadillac Gage V150 Commando  United States 4x4 amphibious armored car 15 With 12.7mm and 7.62mm MG
Rheinmetall Condor  Germany 4x4 amphibious armored car 20 With 20mm and 7.62mm MG

Aircraft inventory

Dual-seat training version of Northrop F-5. F-5B to be replaced by JAS 39D Gripenin 2011.

Aircraft Origin Role Versions In service On order Note
Trainer Aircraft
Pacific Aerospace CT/4  New Zealand basic prop trainer CT-4A/E 20 24 were purchased, at least 3 crashed.
Cessna T-41D Mescalero  United States basic prop trainer T-41D 6 For civil training. Due to be replaced.
Pilatus PC-9  Switzerland advanced prop trainer PC-9M 23 Cockpit and avionic were upgraded by Thai Aviation Industry.
Diamond DA42  Austria advanced prop trainer DA42 6 Delivery in mid 2009.
Combat Aircraft
Saab JAS 39 Gripen  Sweden multirole fighter JAS 39C/D 6 6 First 6 Gripens (including 4-Gripen D and 2-Gripen C) delivered in 2011. Another 6 Gripens will be delivered in 2013.[1]
Lockheed Martin F-16 Fighting Falcon  United States multirole fighter F-16A/B 55 18 F-16s are going under MLU Upgrade by US
Northrop F-5  United States fighter-bomber F-5T Tigris

F-5E Tiger II

F-5B Freedom Fighter/F-5F Tiger II

 14

~10

~5
Aero L-39 Albatros  Czechoslovakia light strike aircraft/trainer L-39ZA/ART 36 Westernized version of the Aero L-39 Albatros, equipped with Israeli avionics and AIM-9P.
Dassault-Breguet/Dornier Alpha Jet  Germany light strike aircraft/trainer Alpha Jet A 19 Ex-Luftwaffe. Five airframe use for spare. One aircraft crashed.
Pilatus AU-23A Peacemaker  Switzerland light strike aircraft/utility aircraft AU-23A ~40 Armed version of the Pilatus PC-6. EX-USAF
Reconnaissance
GAF Nomad  Australia surveillance and patrol aircraft Nomad N.22B 19 More than 10 completed service-life extension by Thai Aviation Industry.
Learjet 35  United States patrol aircraft Learjet 35A 1 2 Delivered. 1 crash during training.
Israel Aircraft Industries Arava  Israel patrol aircraft IAI 201 6 1 airframe stored.
Saab 340  Sweden AEW S-100B Argus 1 1 First S-100B Argus have been delivered in 2010. Another Argus will be delivered in 2013. Equipped with Erieye radar.
Aeronautics Defense Systems  Israel UAV Aerostar 1 Ordered in 2011 with option for 3 more.
Transport aircraft
Saab 340  Sweden Short Range Transport Saab 340 1 0 Delivered on 2010,Used by 702 Sqn.
Lockheed C-130 Hercules  United States tactical transport C-130H

C-130H-30

 6

6

 Underwent avionic and structural upgrade by Thai Aviation Industry.
Basler BT-67  United States tactical transport BT-67 +/-8 Re-built version of Douglas C-47 Dakota. used for aerial firefighting and cloud seeding. one written in a crash in August 2006.
Alenia G.222  Italy tactical transport G.222 6 3 additional airframes stored at Don Mueang RTAFB, used by 603 Sqn. Alenia has demonstrated its latest version of the G.222, the Alenia C-27J recently to the Thai military.
Avro 748  United Kingdom short range transport 748 Series-2 4 Phased out.
ATR-72  France transport ATR-72-500 4 Delivered.
Boeing 737  United States main royal family carrier B737-8Z6 (B737-800) 1
Boeing 747-8  United States royal family carrier B-747-8I (B-747-8I-BBJ) 2 RTAF ordered two B-747-8I-BBJ/VIP for the Royal family in June 2011, delivery expected in late 2014 and early 2015.
Airbus A310  European Union royal family carrier A310-300 1 Mainly used by military officer.
Airbus A320  European Union royal family carrier A-319-115X CJ 1 1 Mainly used by Government officer.
Helicopter
Bell UH-1 Iroquois  United States utility helicopter/CSAR UH-1H 19 Soon to be replaced.
Sikorsky S-92 Superhawk  United States royal family carrier S-92 3 Three delivered April 2011
Bell 412  Canada royal family carrier and VIP/VVIP transport 412EP/SP 12

Historic Aircraft

Historic and remarkable aircraft of Royal Thai Air Force.[2]

News

Incidents

Combat and Trainer Aircraft

On a press conference on 17 October, the decision to buy six JAS 39 Gripen (version C/D), with an option for six more,[6] was presented by Air Chief Marshal Chalit Pookpasuk. Twelve JAS 39 Gripen, two Saab 340 Erieye AEW&C, and one Saab 340, training, technology transfer, and a number of RBS-15 anti-ship missiles will be delivered to RTAF in two phases:

first phase: consists of six JAS 39 Gripen and one Saab 340 Erieye from 2008 to 2012. second phase: consists of six JAS 39 Gripen, one Saab 340 Erieye, and one Saab 340 from 2013 to 2017.[7][8]

On 8 Jan 2008, cabinet approved the budget for the first phase. The deal, worth 19 billion Baht, consists of six JAS 39 Gripen: two single-seat C models and four dual-seat D model along with support, training, and spare parts. The offset includes one Saab 340 Erieye, one Saab 340, Datalink system, and 92 Master-degrees scholarships for Thai students to study in Sweden. The first three aircraft will be delivered in January 2011 and another three in March 2011. Saab 340 and Saab 340 Erieye will be delivered in 2010.[9][10]

On 11 February 2008, the Gripen agreement was signed at FMV in Sweden, mark the start of the first batch.[11]

Transport Aircraft and Helicopter

See also

References

Notes
  1. ^ "Royal Thai Air Force welcomes Gripen aircraft". www.mcot.net. http://www.mcot.net/cfcustom/cache_page/173107.html. Retrieved 2011-03-08. 
  2. ^ Royal Thai Air Force Museum Historic Painting
  3. ^ Wieliczko and Szeremeta 2004, p. 81.
  4. ^ F-16.net RTAF F-16 Crashes
  5. ^ F-16.net Two Thai F-16s Mid-air collision and crash during air to air combat exercise]
  6. ^ International Herald Tribune Sweden's sale of fighter jets to Thailand generates controversy
  7. ^ Ny Teknik, (Swedish)
  8. ^ Bangkok Post Chalit insists purchase of Swedish jets appropriate, also the best deal.
  9. ^ MCOT News Chalit Cabinet gives green light to buy Swedish jet fighters.
  10. ^ Flight International Thai cabinet approves budget for Saab Gripen fighters.
  11. ^ Gripen International Gripen agreement between Sweden and Thailand signed.
  12. ^ RTAF News กองทัพอากาศประสบผลสำเร็จในการสร้างเครื่องบินต้นแบบ บ.ชอ.๒ (Thai)
  13. ^ Diamond Aircraft Industries Royal Thai Air Force chooses 6 DA42 for it's training program
  14. ^ http://www.defencetalk.com/thailand-requests-f-16-mid-life-upgrade-29131/
  15. ^ Flight International Contracts
Bibliography
  • Wieliczko, Leszek A. and Zygmunt Szeremeta. Nakajima Ki 27 Nate (bilingual Polish/English). Lublin, Poland: Kagero, 2004. ISBN 83-89088-51-7.

External links