The following is a list of aircraft of the Royal Thai Air Force, past, present, and future.
Current
editArmament
editGallery
editFuture aircraft
editPurchase Programme
edit- Additional Saab JAS 39C/D Gripen fighters procurement – RTAF plans to purchase 3 additional Saab JAS 39C/D Gripen fighters.[22]
- Additional KAI T-50TH Golden Eagle Lead-in fighter training procurement – RTAF plans to purchase 2 additional KAI T-50TH Golden Eagle which will increase the fleet size of this type from 12 to 14.[23]
- New Multirole combat aircraft procurement - As a fleet of General Dynamics F-16A/B Fighting Falcon Block 15 ADF and Block 15 OCU are expected to retire within 2031.,[24] RTAF plans for a replacement aircraft which will be deployed in 103 Squadron at Korat Royal Thai Air Force Base. In the beginning, RTAF has made an intention to purchase the Lockheed Martin F-35A Lightning II.[25] However, United States has denied a request and offer Lockheed Martin F-16 Fighting Falcon Block 70/72 and Boeing F-15EX Eagle II instead.,[26] causing the process to return to considering the selection of aircraft model again. After that, Saab also joined the competition by offering the latest JAS 39E/F Gripen[27] while KAI offers KF-21 Boramae and FA-50 Fighting Eagle[28]
As of July 2024, RTAF has decided to choose Saab JAS 39E/F Gripen for the procurement, only waiting for final decision from the government[29]
Upgrade Programme
edit- Northrop F-5TH Super Tigris upgrade – Royal Thai Air Force (RTAF) has signed the contract with Elbit Systems, currently upgrading Northrop F-5E/F Tiger II which had avionics and weapons upgrades, becoming functionally equivalent to fourth generation fighter, it is equipped with new glass cockpit with Head-up display, EL/M-2032, tactical datalink, Sky Shield jamming pod and are capable of firing the beyond visual range air-to-air Derby missile. At first, RTAF has plan to upgrade 14 aircraft[2] However, One upgraded F-5THF two-seat version crashed during training on 3 December 2021, resulting in final number reduced to 13.[4][5]
- Dornier Alpha Jet TH upgrade – Royal Thai Air Force (RTAF) has signed the contract with RV Connex, currently upgrading Dornier Alpha Jet A to equipped a new glass cockpit with Head-up display, new HOTAS controller and avionics upgrade from CMC Electronics with 14 aircraft planned.
Indigenous Programme
edit- RTAF-6 – Royal Thai Air Force (RTAF) plans to produce 25 planes.
Historic aircraft
editAircraft of the Royal Thai Air Force and its precursors, the Siamese Flying Corps (1914–1919), Royal Siamese Air Service (RSAS) (1919–1937) and Royal Siamese Air Force (RSAF) (1937–1939).[30][31][32]
Aircraft type | Origin | Designation | Role | Service period | # used | Notes |
---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
Aeritalia G.222 | Italy | B.L14 | transport | 1995–2012 | 6 | 3 traded for Saab 340B |
Aermacchi SF.260 | Italy | B.F15 | trainer | 1973–1999 | 18 | locally built |
Aero Commander 690 | US | B.PhTh4 | reconnaissance | 1982–1988 | 1 | |
Aero L-39ZA/ART Albatros | Czechoslovakia | B.KhF1 | trainer | 1994–2021 | 37 | |
Airbus A310-324 | France | B.L13 | transport | 1991–2016 | 1 | |
Avro 504N | UK | B.F4 | trainer | 1930–1948 | 70+ | 50+ built locally |
Beechcraft Bonanza | US | B.S5 | transport | 1951–1962 | 3 | Ex-Royal Thai Navy |
Beechcraft C-45B/F | US | B.L1 | transport | 1947–1971 | 7 | First transport |
Beechcraft King Air | US | B.PhTh3 | reconnaissance | 1982–1989 | 1 | |
Beechcraft Queen Air | US | B.PhTh2 | reconnaissance | 1971–1989 | 3 | |
Bell 47/OH-13H | US | B.H7 | helicopter | 1972–1973 | 9 | |
Bell 206B Jet Ranger | US | B.H8/B.HPhT1 | helicopter | 1982–2006 | 7 | 1 ex-Thai Army |
Bell 212/UH-1N | US | B.H6k | helicopter | 1976–1999 | 2 | |
Bell UH-1 Iroquois | US | B.H6 | helicopter | 1968–2021 | 31 | Received 31, 18 lost |
Boeing 100E | US | B.Kh7 | fighter | 1931–1949 | 2 | comparison testing |
Boripatra | Siam | B.Th2 | bomber | 1927–1940 | 4+ | local design |
Breguet 14 | France | B.Th1 | bomber | 1919–1937 | 40+ | built locally |
Breguet III | France | n/a | trainer | 1913–? | 5 | |
Bristol Bulldog | UK | B.Kh6 | fighter | 1930–1940 | 2 | comparison testing |
Cessna 150 | US | B.Ph1 | trainer | 1971–2004 | 6 | |
Cessna 170B | US | B.S7 | transport | 1954–1959 | 9 | |
Cessna 411 | US | B.PhTh1 | reconnaissance | 1982–1989 | 2 | |
Cessna A-37 | US | B.J6 | attack | 1972–1994 | 20 | |
Cessna O-1 Bird Dog | US | B.T2 | reconnaissance | 1967–1990 | 54 | |
Cessna T-37B/C Tweet | US | B.F12 | trainer | 1961–1996 | 22 | |
Consolidated PT-1 | US | B.F3 | trainer | 1928–1939 | 4 | |
Curtiss Hawk 75N | US | B.Kh11 | fighter | 1939–1949 | 12 | ordered 25, received 12 |
Curtiss Hawk II | US | B.Kh9 | fighter | 1934–1949 | 12 | |
Curtiss Hawk III | US | B.Kh10 | fighter | 1935–1949 | 74+ | |
Curtiss SB2C-5 Helldiver | US | B.J3 | attack | 1951–1955 | 6 | Ex-Royal Thai Navy |
de Havilland Canada DHC-1 Chipmunk | Canada | B.F9 | trainer | 1950–1989 | 66 | |
de Havilland DH.82A Tiger Moth | UK | B.F10 | trainer | 1951–1961 | 34 | |
Douglas C-47 & EC-47D | US | B.L2 | transport | 1947–1997 | 55 | B.L2k still in service |
Douglas C-54/DC-4 | US | B.L3 | transport | 1959–1966 | 2 | |
Douglas DC-8-62AF | US | B.L10 | transport | 1979–1989 | 3 | |
Eurocopter AS332L-2 Super Puma | France | B.H9 | helicopter | 1996–2002 | 3 | |
Fairchild 24 | US | B.S1 | transport | 1938–1950 | 13 ca. | |
Fairchild C-123B/K | US | B.L4 | transport | 1964–1995 | 46 | |
Fairey Firefly FR.1 & T.2 | UK | B.J4 | attack | 1951–1955 | 12 | later target tug |
GAF N.22B Nomad | Australia | B.L9 | transport/reconnaissance | 1982–2015 | 22 | [33] |
Grob G 109 | Germany | B.R2 | trainer | 1989–1994 | 2 | motor glider |
Grumman F8F-1 Bearcat | US | B.Kh15 | fighter | 1951–1963 | 207 | |
Grumman Widgeon | US | B.S6 | transport | 1951–1956 | 5 | |
Heinkel HD 43 | Germany | B.Kh8 | fighter | 1930–1940 | 2 | comparison testing |
Helio Courier | US | B.Th1 | transport | 1963–1986 | 20 | |
Hiller 360/UH-12 | US | B.H2 | helicopter | 1950–1952 | 5 | |
Hoffman H-36 Dimona | Austria | B.R1 | trainer | 1983–1994 | 10 ca. | motor glider |
Kaman HH-43 Huskie | US | B.H5 | helicopter | 1962–1970 | 4 | |
Kawasaki KH-4 | Japan | B.HPhT2 | reconnaissance helicopter | 1982–1985 | 1 | ex-Thai Army |
Lockheed T-33A/RT-33A | US | B.F11 | trainer | 1955–1996 | 54 | |
Martin 139WSM & 166 | US | B.Th3 | bomber | 1937–1949 | 15 | 9 ex-Dutch 166s via Japan |
Miles Magister | UK | B.F7 | trainer | 1947–1952 | 20 | |
Mitsubishi Ki-21 | Japan | B.Th4 | bomber | 1940–1949 | 9 | |
Mitsubishi Ki-30 | Japan | B.J2 | attack | 1940–1951 | 25 | |
Nakajima Ki-27 | Japan | B.Kh12 | fighter | 1942–1945 | 12 | |
Nakajima Ki-43 | Japan | B.Kh13 | fighter | 1943–1949 | 24 | |
Nieuport 17 & 21 | France | B.Kh1 | fighter | 1918–1927 | 4+ | |
Nieuport 24bis | France | B.Kh2 | fighter | 1918–1932 | 12+ | |
Nieuport 80 | France | B.F1 | trainer | 1918–1935 | 12 ca. | |
Nieuport 83 | France | B.F2 | trainer | 1918–1935 | 12 ca. | |
Nieuport II & IV | France | n/a | trainer | 1913–? | 4 | |
Nieuport-Delage NiD 29 | France | B.Kh4 | fighter | 1923–1936 | 12+ | built locally |
North American F-86F/L Sabre | US | B.Kh17 | fighter | 1961–1972 | 74 | |
North American T-6 Texan | US | B.F8 | trainer | 1948–1974 | 220 | |
North American T-28D | US | B.F13 | trainer | 1962–1988 | 120 | |
Northrop F-5A/B/C & RF-5A Freedom Fighter | US | B.Kh18 | fighter | 1967–2000 | 29 | Variants in service. |
PAC CT/4 Airtrainer | New Zealand | B.F16 | trainer | 1999–2018 | 24 | |
Percival Prince | UK | B.T1 | reconnaissance | 1952–1962 | 1 | |
Pilatus PC-9 | Switzerland | B.F19 | trainer | 1991-2023 | 22 | |
Piper L-4 Cub/Piper PA-11 | US | B.S3 | transport | 1947–1962 | 44 | |
Prajadhipok | Siam | B.Kh5 | fighter | 1929–? | 1 | local design |
Rearwin 9000 | US | B.S2 | transport | 1938–1947 | 2 | |
Republic F-84G Thunderjet | US | B.Kh16 | fighter | 1956–1963 | 34 | |
RFB Fantrainer 400 & 600 | Germany | B.F18 | trainer | 1988–1994 | 26 | |
Rockwell OV-10C Bronco | US | B.J5 | attack | 1971–2004 | 32 | to Philippine AF |
RTAF-4 | Thailand | B.F17 | trainer | 1974–1989 | 13 ca. | locally built |
Sikorsky S-51/H-5 | US | B.H1 | helicopter | 1950–1954 | 4 | |
Sikorsky S-55/H-19 | US | B.H3 | helicopter | 1954–1965 | 11 | |
Sikorsky S-58/S-58T/H-34 | US | B.H4 | helicopter | 1962–2003 | 65 | |
SPAD VII & XIII | France | B.Kh3 | fighter | 1919–1931 | 32+ | |
Stinson L-5 & L-5B | US | B.S4 | transport | 1947–1959 | 10 | |
Supermarine Spitfire FR.14/PR.19 | UK | B.Kh14 | fighter | 1951–1955 | 34 | |
Tachikawa Ki-36 | Japan | B.F6 | trainer | 1942–1950 | 24 | |
Vought V-93S Corsair | US | B.J1/B.F5 | attack/trainer | 1934–1950 | 84+ | Locally built/modified |
Gallery
edit-
Royal Thai Air Force Boeing 100E
-
RTAF Tachikawa Ki-36
-
model of RTAF Nakajima Ki-43
-
North American F-86L Sabre of the RTAF in flight
-
Royal Thai Air Force T-33A
-
Decommissioned Northrop F-5E Tiger II of the RTAF at the Royal Thai Air Force Museum
See also
editReferences
edit- Notes
- ^ a b c d e f g h i j k l m n o "World Air Forces 2021". FlightGlobal. 4 December 2020. Retrieved 5 January 2021.
- ^ a b c "กองทัพอากาศไทย มีเครื่องบินรบกี่ลำ (ในปี 64-68)". ThaiArmedForce. 3 December 2021. Retrieved 17 August 2022.
- ^ "Royal Thai Air Force Becomes International Launch Customer For U.S. Beechcraft AT-6 Wolverine - The Aviationist". 14 November 2021.
- ^ a b Carter, Ann (6 December 2021). "A bird strike may have caused Royal Thai Air Force F-5 fighter jet's recent crashing". The Thaiger. Retrieved 6 December 2021.
- ^ a b "F-5 ของกองทัพอากาศตกที่ชัยบาดาล นักบินดีดตัวสำเร็จ บาดเจ็บ". ThaiArmedForce. 3 December 2021. Retrieved 6 December 2021.
- ^ "Royal Thai Air Force B737". airfleets.net. Retrieved 20 June 2015.
- ^ a b "A319 for VIPs". flightglobal.com. Retrieved 20 June 2015.
- ^ "Sukhoi Civil Aircraft to Deliver the Third SBJ to the Royal Thai Air Force". superjetinternational. Archived from the original on 6 October 2018. Retrieved 15 December 2016.
- ^ "A340 for VIPs". airfleets.net. Retrieved 12 April 2021.
- ^ "Royal Thai Air Force retires five older Bell 412s". 21 October 2021.
- ^ a b c d e "World Air Forces 2018". Flightglobal Insight. 2018. Archived from the original on 6 February 2018. Retrieved 18 May 2018.
- ^ "Thai Airforce list" (PDF). 19 February 2023.
- ^ "Thai Airforce list" (PDF). 19 February 2023.
- ^ "Thailand's Air Force Commissions First Four T-50TH Supersonic Advanced Trainers". Defense World. 4 April 2018.
- ^ "กองทัพอากาศไทย สร้างเครื่องบินใช้เองมีใครรู้บ้างไหม บ.ทอ.6 (RTAF6) ROYAL THAI AIR FORCE" – via www.youtube.com.
- ^ "UAV in Royal Thai Air Force".
- ^ Caramelli, F; Battie, F; Scaccia, A (1 August 2019). "The first Vega ride-share mission flight" (PDF). Utah State University. Retrieved 22 September 2020.
- ^ a b Nanuam, Wassana (16 June 2020). "Napa-1 satellite finally readies for Friday launch". Bangkok Post. Retrieved 22 September 2020.
- ^ "ISIS selected by the Royal Thai Air Force to realize a complete 6U mission for Earth Observation". 7 September 2018. Retrieved 22 September 2020.
- ^ Henry, Caleb (3 September 2020). "Arianespace launches Vega on return-to-flight mission with 53 smallsats". SpaceNews. Retrieved 22 September 2020.
- ^ a b c d e f Trade Registers Armstrade.sipri.org. Retrieved on 2015-05-18.
- ^ WASSANA NANUAM (16 June 2023). "RTAF plans to buy 3 fighter jets from Sweden". Bangkok Post. Retrieved 20 June 2023.
- ^ "Thailand confirms plan to buy additional T-50TH aircraft". Janes. 10 September 2022.
- ^ ""โฆษก ทอ." แจงความจำเป็น ต้องได้งบฯ66 ซื้อ F-35A เพื่อเพิ่มประสิทธิภาพการรบ". Bangkok Biz News. 10 September 2022.
- ^ Mintra Adair (18 January 2022). "Cabinet approves Air Force's planned purchase of 4 fighter jets". Thai PBS World.
- ^ "Thailand air force says U.S. has denied request to buy F-35 jets". Reuters. 25 May 2023. Retrieved 20 June 2023.
- ^ "Saab Positions Gripen For Thai Fighter Requirement". Aviation Week. 7 November 2023.
- ^ "Korea pitches fighter jets to defence minister Sutin". Bangkok Post. 31 March 2024.
- ^ "Air force chooses Swedish jets over US F-16s". Bangkok Post. 10 July 2024.
- ^ "Historic Painting". Royal Thai Air Force Museum. Archived from the original on 21 March 2007. Retrieved 17 November 2016.
- ^ Small Air Force Observer magazine, author unknown, No. 47 July 1988 & No. 50 April 1989
- ^ "Royal Thai Air Force" (PDF). Thai Aviation. 2 September 2016. Archived from the original (PDF) on 4 November 2016. Retrieved 17 November 2016.
- ^ AirForces Monthly. Stamford, Lincolnshire, England: Key Publishing Ltd. March 2016. p. 27.
- Comments
- Bibliography
- Wieliczko, Leszek A. and Zygmunt Szeremeta. Nakajima Ki 27 Nate (bilingual Polish/English). Lublin, Poland: Kagero, 2004. ISBN 83-89088-51-7.