List of aircraft of the Royal Thai Air Force
Appearance
The following is a list of aircraft of the Royal Thai Air Force, past, present, and future.
Current
[edit]Armament
[edit]Gallery
[edit]Future aircraft
[edit]Purchase 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
[edit]Aircraft 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
[edit]References
[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.