Royal Thai Air Force

Royal Thai Air Force
กองทัพอากาศไทย
Emblem of the Royal Thai Air Force
Founded November 2, 1913 (1913-11-02)
Country Thailand
Allegiance King Vajiralongkorn of Thailand
Type Air Force
Size 45,000 Active personnel
288 Aircraft
Part of Royal Thai Armed Forces
HQ Don Muang Air Base, Bangkok
Colours Sky blue
March มาร์ชกองทัพอากาศ
(Royal Thai Air Force March)
Anniversaries 9 April 1937
(Royal Thai Air Force Day)
Engagements World War I
Franco-Thai War
World War II
Korean War
Vietnam War
Vietnamese border raids in Thailand
Thai–Laotian Border War
Commanders
Commander-in-Chief Air Chief Marshal Johm Rungswang
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, Eurocopter EC725
Reconnaissance Lear 35A, Arava, Saab 340 AEW&C
Trainer CT/4, PC-9, DA42
Transport C-130, BT-67, Nomad, ATR-72, 737-400/800, A319, A310, RRJ-95LR

The Royal Thai Air Force or RTAF (Thai: กองทัพอากาศไทย; rtgs: Kong Thap Akat Thai) 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 numerous major and minor battles. During the Vietnam War era, the air force was supplied with USAF-aid equipment.

History

In February 1911 the Belgian pilot Charles Van Den Born displayed the first aircraft in Siam at the Sa Pathum Horse Racing Course. The Siamese authorities were impressed enough that on 28 February 1912 they dispatched three officers to learn to fly in France, the main centre of aviation development of the time. After learning to fly, the three officers returned to Siam in November 1913 with eight aircraft (four Breguets and four Nieuport IVs). In March of the next year they moved from Sa Pathum airfield to Don Muang.

The Ministry of Defence put the Siamese Flying Corps under the control of the Army Engineer Inspector General Department. Prince Purachatra Jayakara, Commander of the Army Engineers, and his brother Prince Chakrabongse Bhuvanath were instrumental in the development of the army's Royal Siamese Aeronautical Service to which it was renamed in 1919. In 1937, the service was again renamed when it became an independent service, as the Royal Siamese Air Force, 1939 the country's name was changed to Thailand and force's name became the Royal Thai Air Force.

During the French-Thai War, the Thai Air Force scored several air-to-air-victories against the Vichy 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 personnel assisted the resistance against the Japanese. 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 the C-47, also joined the US Forces in the Vietnam War. Along the border, the Thai Air Force launched many operations against communist forces, such as Ban Nam Ta Airfield Raid in Laos, and clashes occurred 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 foreigners during the 2003 Phnom Penh riots in Cambodia.

Command and control

Regimental colours guard of Thai air cadet, RTAF, in full dress (royal Guard)

The Royal Thai Air Force is commanded by the Commander of the Royal Thai Air Force (ผู้บัญชาการทหารอากาศไทย) currently Air Chief Marshal Prajin Jantong, who was appointed in 2012.[1] The Royal Thai Air Force Headquarters is located in Don Muang Airbase, Bangkok, Thailand.

List of Commanders

Organisation

Hat Yai
Surat Thani
Chiang Mai
Prachuap Khiri Khan
Phitsanulok
Kamphang Saen
Khok Ka Thiem
Air bases of the Royal Thai Air Force

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.

Bases

The Royal Thai Air Force maintains a number of modern bases which were constructed between 1954 and 1968, have permanent buildings and ground support equipment.

All but one were built and used by United States forces until their withdrawal from Thailand in 1976 when 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, remain the primary operational installations.

Maintenance of base facilities abandoned by the United States proved 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.

Squadrons

The following squadrons are currently active with the Royal Thai Air Force.

An F-5E with the 904 Aggressor Squadron
A Basler BT-67 cargo airlifter
SquadronEquipmentWingRTAF BaseNotes
102 Fighter SqnF-16A/B ADFWing 1Korat
103 Fighter SqnF-16A/BWing 1Korat
201 Helicopter SqnBell 412, S-92Wing 2Khok Ka ThiemRoyal Guard
203 Helicopter SqnUH-1HWing 2Khok Ka ThiemSAR detachments at many locations.
To be replaced by EC 725 [2]
401 Light Attack SqnL-39Wing 4TakhliTo be replaced by T-50[3]
402 Elint SqnLearjet 35, IAI AravaWing 4Takhli
403 Fighter SqnF-16AM/BM, F-16eMLUWing 4Takhli
501 Light Attack SqnFairchild AU-23Wing 5Prachuap Khiri Khan Province
601 Transport SqnC-130H/H-30Wing 6Don Muang
602 Royal Flight SqnA319, B737Wing 6Don MuangRoyal Guard
603 Transport SquadronATR72Wing 6Don Muang
604 Civil Pilot Training SqnPAC CT-4A, T-41DWing 6Don Muang
701 Fighter SqnJAS-39 Gripen C/DWing 7Surat ThaniTotal 12 Gripens delivered (4 Gripen D and 8 Gripen C),[4] replacing F-5E/F. [5]
702 SqnSaab 340, S-100B ArgusWing 7Surat ThaniSaab 340 70201 and S-100B Argus AEW 70202[6]
211 Fighter SqnF-5T TigrisWing 21Ubon
231 Attack SqnAlpha JetWing 23Udorn
411 Fighter SqnL-39Wing 41Chiang Mai
461 Transport SqnGAF Nomad, Basler BT-67Wing 46PhitsanulokAlso conducts rainmaking flights.
561 Fighter Sqns-Wing 56Hat Yai Forward operating base for 701 Fighter Sqn.
904 Aggressor SqnF-5E-Don MuangFormer unit of Crown Prince Vajiralongkorn Mahidol.
1st Flying Training SqnPAC CT/4EFlying Training SchoolKamphang SaenPrimary flight training.
2nd Flying Training SqnPilatus PC-9MFlying Training SchoolKamphang SaenBasic flight training.
3rd Flying Training SqnBell 206B (withdrawn 2006)Flying Training SchoolKamphang SaenHelicopter training.

Royal Thai Air Force Commando Company

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

Wings

Royal Thai Air Force frontline fighter, Saab JAS 39 Gripen

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

composed of 1st, 2nd and 3rd Flying Training Squadrons. Based at RTAFB Kamphang Saen in Nakhon Pathom Province
Interceptor and fighter wing based at RTAFB Korat in Nakhon Ratchasima Province.
Helicopter wing providing utility/transport and search and rescue. Normally based at RTAFB Lopburi in Lopburi Province
Light attack / Interceptor wing based at RTAFB Takhli in Nakhon Sawan Province.
SAAB 340/AEW of the Royal Thai Air Force.
Transport and special mission wing based at RTAFB Prachuap Khiri Khan in Ao Manao, Prachuap Khiri Khan Province.
Multi-role non-combat wing providing transport, mapping, communications and surveying. Based at RTAFB Don Muang/Bangkok.
Interceptor and fighter wing based at RTAFB Surat Thani in Surat Thani Province. The wing is nicknamed, "Ferocious Shark of the Andaman" as well as "House of Gripen" as they fly Gripen aircraft.[7]
Fighter and attack wing based at RTAFB Ubon Ratchathani in Ubon Ratchathani Province.
Light attack wing based at RTAFB Udon in Udon Thani Province.
Light attack wing based at RTAFB Chiang Mai in Chiang Mai Province.
Transport/rainmaking wing based at RTAFB Phitsanulok in Phitsanulok Province.
Frontal operating base at RTAFB Hat Yai in Songkhla Province.

Rank structure

Equivalent
NATO Code 		OF-10 OF-9 OF-8 OF-7 OF-6 OF-5 OF-4 OF-3 OF-2 OF-1 Cadet Officer
Officer
ranks		 No Insignia
จอมพลอากาศ พลอากาศเอก พลอากาศโท พลอากาศตรี พลอากาศจัตวา1 นาวาอากาศเอก นาวาอากาศโท นาวาอากาศตรี เรืออากาศเอก เรืออากาศโท เรืออากาศตรี นักเรียนนายเรืออากาศ
Marshal of the Air Force Air Chief Marshal Air Marshal Air Vice Marshal Air Comodore1 Group Captain Wing Commander Squadron Leader Flight Lieutenant Flying Officer Pilot Officer Air Cadet
Equivalent
NATO Code 		OR-9 OR-8 OR-7 OR-5 OR-4 OR-3 OR-2 OR-1
Enlisted
ranks		 No insignia
พันจ่าอากาศเอกพิเศษ พันจ่าอากาศเอก พันจ่าอากาศโท พันจ่าอากาศตรี จ่าอากาศเอก จ่าอากาศโท จ่าอากาศตรี จ่าอากาศตรีกองประจำการ พลทหาร
'Special'
Flight Sergeant
1st Class		 Flight Sergeant
1st Class		 Flight Sergeant
2nd Class		 Flight Sergeant
3rd Class		 Sergeant Corporal Leading Aircraftman Leading Aircraftman Airman

Aircraft

Current inventory

Royal Thai Air Force F-16 descends after being refuelled by a KC-135
A Thai S-92 for the Royal flight
Royal Thai Air Force A319
Royal Diamond DA42 at Khon Kaen
Thai Air Force Lockheed C-130H Hercules
Aircraft Origin Type Variant In service Notes
Combat Aircraft
Northrop F-5 United States fighter F-5E 30[8]
F-16 Fighting Falcon United States multirole A OCU / ADF 40[9] / 13 [9]
JAS 39 Gripen Sweden multirole JAS 39C 8[8]
Alpha Jet France / Germany light attack 19[8]
AEW&C
Saab 340 AEW&C Sweden early warning and control S 100B 2[8] aircraft mounted with a Erieye radar
Reconnaissance
Diamond DA42 Austria reconnaissance 5[8]
Piaggio P.180 Italy reconnaissance 1 on order[8]
Learjet 35 United States photomapping 1[8]
Transport
Boeing 737 United States VIP 1[10]
Airbus A319 France VIP A319CJ 1[11]
Airbus A340-500 France VIP 1[12]
Basler BT-67 United States transport 6[8] modified Douglas DC-3 with P&W PT6A Turboprop engines
C-130 Hercules United States transport C-130H 12[8]
HS 748 United Kingdom transport 5[8]
Super King Air United States utility transport 90 1[8]
GAF Nomad Australia transport N.22B 14[8]
Saab 340 Sweden transport 2[8]
IAI Arava Israel transport 2[8]
Helicopters
Sikorsky S-92 United States VIP / Med Evac 3[13]
Eurocopter EC 725 France CSAR / utility 4 2 on order[8]
Bell UH-1 United States SAR / utility UH-1H 17[8]
Bell 412 United States utility 8[8]
Trainer Aircraft
Northrop F-5 United States conversion trainer F-5B/F 4[8]
F-16 Fighting Falcon United States conversion trainer F-16B 15[8]
JAS 39 Gripen Sweden conversion trainer JAS 39D 4[8]
Aero L-39 Czech Republic trainer 35[8]
Pilatus PC-9 Switzerland trainer 23[8]
Diamond DA42 Austria multi engine trainer 6[8]
KAI T-50 Republic of Korea fighter trainer T-50TH 4 on order[8]
RTAF-6 Thailand trainer N/A

Armament

Illustration of an AGM -65 Maverick
Name Origin Type Notes
Air-to-air missile
Python 4/3 Israel beyond-visual-range missile 120 obtained[14]
AIM-120C AMRAAM United States beyond-visual-range missile initial 50 missiles[14]
AIM-9E/J/P Sidewinder United States short range infrared homing missile 600 missiles obtained[14]
IRIS-T Germany short range infrared homing missile 40 units – employs a thrust vector control motor[14]
Air-to-surface missile
AGM-65D/G Maverick United States infrared imaging AGM 200 missiles obtained[14]

See also

References

Notes
Comments
    Bibliography
    • Wieliczko, Leszek A. and Zygmunt Szeremeta. Nakajima Ki 27 Nate (bilingual Polish/English). Lublin, Poland: Kagero, 2004. ISBN 83-89088-51-7.
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