List of aircraft of the Royal Thai Air Force

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The following is a list of aircraft of the Royal Thai Air Force, past, present, and future.

Current[]

Aircraft Origin Role Type In Service Total Notes
Combat Aircraft
Dornier Alpha Jet  Germany Light attack Alpha Jet A 18 18[1] 18 being upgraded
Beechcraft AT-6 Wolverine  United States Light attack AT-6TH (8) (8)[2] Eight on orders
Northrop F-5  United States Multirole fighter F-5E
F-5F 		30
3 		33[1] 14 from 34 of F-5E/F Super Tigris which had avionics and weapons upgrades, becoming functionally equivalent to fourth generation fighter. One F-5F (21105) crashed during training on 3 December 2021.[3][4]
General Dynamics F-16 Fighting Falcon  United States Multirole fighter F-16A
F-16B 		37
14 		51[1] 13A and 1B ADF; 13A and 8B OCU; 12AM and 6 BM MLU, becoming functionally equivalent to Block 52+.In early 2005, the RTAF received 3 F-16A-15OCU and 4 F-16B-15OCU from the RSAF. One F-16 A Block 15 and one F-16 B Block 15 decommissioned in 2021.[5]
Saab JAS 39 Gripen  Sweden Multirole fighter JAS-39C
JAS-39D 		7
4 		11[1] 18 planned. One JAS 39 Gripen C (701108) crashed during an air show on 14 January 2017.
AEW&C
Saab 340 AEW&C  Sweden AEW&C S100B Argus 2 2[1] Aircraft mounted with an Erieye radar.
Reconnaissance
Piaggio P.180 Avanti  Italy Reconnaissance Avanti II EVO 1 1[1]
Diamond DA42  Austria Reconnaissance DA42MPP 8 8[1] mounted with EO/IR
Pilatus PC-6 Porter   Switzerland Reconnaissance AU-23A 15 15[1] mounted with EO/IR
Transport
Boeing 737  United States VIP 737-8Z6 BBJ 1 1[6]
Airbus A319  Germany VIP/Transport A319-115CJ 1 1[7]
Airbus A320  France VIP/Transport A320-200ACJ 2 2[7]
Airbus A340  France VIP/Transport A340-541 1 1[8] Former Thai Airways aircraft
ATR 72  France VIP/Transport ATR-72-500 3 3
Lockheed C-130 Hercules  United States Tactical airlift C-130H
C-130H-30 		7
5 		12[1] 10 Being upgraded
Basler BT-67  United States Transport PT6A-67R 7 7[1] A modified Douglas DC-3 with P&W PT6A Turboprop engines. Used for firefighting/seeding. One lost in 2006.
Sukhoi Superjet 100  Russia VIP/Transport LR100 3 3[9][10][11]
Saab 340  Sweden Transport 340B 5 5[1]
Helicopter
Sikorsky S-92 Superhawk  United States VIP/Med Evac S-92A 2 2[1]
Bell 412  United States VIP/Utility 412
412SP
412EP 		6 6[1] 2 retired in Oct 2021.[12]
Bell UH-1H Iroquois  United States SAR/Utility UH-1H mod 16 16[1]
Eurocopter EC725  France CSAR/Utility EC725
H225M 		12 12[1] .[13]
Eurocopter EC135  France Utility H135 (6) (6)[1] Six on order.
Trainer aircraft
KAI T-50 Golden Eagle  South Korea Light attack/Lead-in fighter trainer T-50TH 12 12[13] 2 on order.[13] 14 T-50THs ordered in total. First 4 aircraft delivered in April 2018.[14]
Diamond DA42  Austria Trainer aircraft DA42 10 10[1]
Cessna T-41  United States Trainer aircraft T-41D 6 6[13]
PAC CT/4  New Zealand Trainer aircraft CT-4A/E 24 24[13]
Pilatus PC-9   Switzerland Trainer aircraft PC-9 22 22[1]
Beechcraft T-6 Texan II  United States Trainer aircraft T-6TH (12) (12)[15] Delivery scheduled for 2022-2023.[16]
RTAF-6  Thailand Trainer aircraft RTAF6 3 3[17] 25 planned
UAV
Aeronautics Defense Dominator  Israel Reconnaissance Dominator-2 (3) (3) Three on order.
RTAF U-1  Thailand Reconnaissance RTAF U-1 17 17 mounted with EO/IR
Aerostar Tactical UAS  Israel Reconnaissance Aerostar BP 4 4 mounted with EO/IR

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[18]
AIM-120C AMRAAM  United States beyond-visual-range missile initial 50 missiles[18]
AIM-9E/J/P Sidewinder  United States short range infrared homing missile 600 missiles obtained[18]
IRIS-T  Germany short range infrared homing missile 40 units – employs a thrust vector control motor[18]
Meteor  Germany short range infrared homing missile Future operators
Air-to-surface missile
RBS-15F  Sweden anti-ship missile 25 missiles obtained[18]
AGM-65D/G Maverick  United States infrared imaging AGM 200 missiles obtained[18]
GBU-10 Paveway II  United States Laser-guided bomb
GBU-12 Paveway II  United States Laser-guided bomb
GBU-16 Paveway II  United States Laser-guided bomb
GBU-24 Paveway III  United States Laser-guided bomb
Mark 81 bomb  United States Low-drag general-purpose bomb
Mark 82 bomb  United States Low-drag general-purpose bomb
Mark 83 bomb  United States Low-drag general-purpose bomb
Mark 84 bomb  United States Low-drag general-purpose bomb
GBU-54 Laser JDAM  United States Unguided bomb
GBU-31 or GBU-38  United States Unguided bomb

Gallery[]

  • RTAF Jas 39 Gripen.jpg
  • Tre Gripenplan 2013-08-30 001.jpg
  • Exercise Cope Tiger 16 (32).jpg
  • RTAF JAS39C 70108.jpg
  • Saab JAS-39C Gripen 70107 Thai AF (8352852583).jpg
  • Saab JAS 39 Gripen 70106 (Royal Thai Air Force) in Australia.jpg
  • B.Kh20k-5-54 (70105) (28107187899).jpg
  • RSAF F16 COPE TIGER 2003.JPEG
  • Two Royal Thai Air Force F-16 aircraft.JPG
  • Royal Thai Air Force F-16 descends after being refueled by a KC-135.jpg
  • F-16B Blk 20 MLU 403 Sqn.jpg
  • RTAF A319.JPG
  • Rtafsaab340aew.jpg
  • Royal Thai Air Force Sikorsky S-92 (cropped).png
  • Rtaf C130.jpg
  • Royal Thai Air Force Aero L-39ZA-ART Albatros Prasertwit.jpg
  • F-5E Royal Thai AF at Korat 2000.JPEG
  • Rtaf uh-1h csar.jpg
  • TA-50- Group Display in ROKAF Airbase.jpg
  • RTAF Alpha Jets 2003.jpeg
  • Alphajet rtaf analayo.jpg

Future aircraft[]

Purchase Programme[]

  • Additional Saab JAS 39C/D Gripen fighters procurement – Royal Thai Air Force (RTAF) plans to purchase 6 additional Saab JAS 39C/D Gripen fighters.[19]
  • Lead-in fighter training procurement – Royal Thai Air Force (RTAF) expects to launch a US$400 million programme to acquire Lead-in fighter training (LIFT) aircraft to replace Northrop F-5 trainers and eventually its fleet of Aero L-39 Albatros trainer/light attack aircraft procured in the early 1990s. The procurement programme has become pressing since the RTAF started operating a fleet of 12 Saab JAS 39C/D Gripen fighters, which were delivered from 2011–2013.[20][21]
  • General Dynamics F-16 Fighting Falcon replace procurement - Royal Thai Air Force (RTAF) has a plans to purchase the new fighter aircraft for replacing the General Dynamics F-16 Fighting Falcon fleet that rather to be retire for the next few year. The RTAF commander-in-chief is looking at the US based Lockheed Martin F-35 Lightning II stealth fighter, The RTAF plans to purchase 8 or 12 Lockheed Martin F-35 Lightning II in 103 Squadron Korat Royal Thai Air Force Base, expected to announced an official order in FY2023. By 12 January 2022 Thailand’s cabinet endorsed the Royal Thai Air Force (RTAF) plan to purchase a four fighter jets of first batch, at an estimated cost of 13.8 billion bath, the spending will be spread over the next four fiscal years.[20]

Upgrade Programme[]

  • upgrade of F-16 – Royal Thai Air Force (RTAF) plans to upgrade 18 F-16A/B Block 15 aircraft with the Mid-Life Upgrade (MLU) and associated parts, equipment, and logistical support for a complete package worth approximately $700 million.[22]

Indigenous Programme[]

  • RTAF-6 – Royal Thai Air Force (RTAF) plans to produce 25 planes.

Historic aircraft[]

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).[23][24][25]

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-39 Czechoslovakia B.KhF1 trainer 1994–2021 37
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 212/UH-1N US B.H6 helicopter 1976–1999 2
Bell 206B Jet Ranger US B.H8/B.HPhT1 helicopter 1982–2006 7 1 ex-Thai Army
Boeing 100E US B.Kh7 fighter 1931–1949 2 comparison testing
Breguet III France n/a trainer 1913–? 5
Breguet 14 France B.Th1 bomber 1919–1937 40+ built locally
Bristol Bulldog UK B.Kh6 fighter 1930–1940 2 comparison testing
Boripatra Siam B.Th2 bomber 1927–1940 4+ local design
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 II US B.Kh9 fighter 1934–1949 12
Curtiss Hawk III US B.Kh10 fighter 1935–1949 74+
Curtiss Hawk 75N US B.Kh11 fighter 1939–1949 12 ordered 25, received 12
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 [26]
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-27b Japan B.Kh12 fighter 1942–1945 12
Nakajima Ki-43 Japan B.Kh13 fighter 1943–1949 24
Nieuport II & IV France n/a trainer 1913–? 4
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-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 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
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 H-5/S-51 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 & SPAD 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[]

  • Royal Thai Air Force Boeing 100E

  • RTAF Tachikawa Ki-36

  • model of RTAF Nakajima Ki-43

  • RTAF Grumman F8F-1 Bearcat

  • North American F-86L Sabre of the RTAF in flight

  • Royal Thai Air Force
    T-33A

See also[]

References[]

Notes
  1. ^ a b c d e f g h i j k l m n o p q r "World Air Forces 2021". FlightGlobal. 4 December 2020. Retrieved 5 January 2021.
  2. ^ "Royal Thai Air Force Becomes International Launch Customer For U.S. Beechcraft AT-6 Wolverine - The Aviationist".
  3. ^ 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.
  4. ^ "F-5 ของกองทัพอากาศตกที่ชัยบาดาล นักบินดีดตัวสำเร็จ บาดเจ็บ". ThaiArmedForce. 3 December 2021. Retrieved 6 December 2021.{{cite web}}: CS1 maint: url-status (link)
  5. ^ "RTAF decommissions two F-16 and five L-39". www.janes.com.
  6. ^ "Royal Thai Air Force B737". airfleets.net. Retrieved 20 June 2015.
  7. ^ a b "A319 for VIPs". flightglobal.com. Retrieved 20 June 2015.
  8. ^ "A340 for VIPs". airfleets.net. Retrieved 12 April 2021.
  9. ^ "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.
  10. ^ "Archived copy". Archived from the original on 6 October 2018. Retrieved 6 October 2018.{{cite web}}: CS1 maint: archived copy as title (link)
  11. ^ "Archived copy". Archived from the original on 6 October 2018. Retrieved 6 October 2018.{{cite web}}: CS1 maint: archived copy as title (link)
  12. ^ https://helihub.com/2021/10/21/royal-thai-air-force-retires-five-older-bell-412s/
  13. ^ a b c d e "World Air Forces 2018". Flightglobal Insight. 2018. Archived from the original on 6 February 2018. Retrieved 18 May 2018.
  14. ^ "Thailand's Air Force Commissions First Four T-50TH Supersonic Advanced Trainers". Defense World. 4 April 2018.
  15. ^ "Textron Aviation place son T-6C Texan II en Thaïlande". 29 September 2020.
  16. ^ Releases, DP Press. "Royal Thai Air Force Awards Textron Contract For 12 Beechcraft T-6C Texan II Aircraft". DefPost.
  17. ^ "กองทัพอากาศไทย สร้างเครื่องบินใช้เองมีใครรู้บ้างไหม บ.ทอ.6 (RTAF6) ROYAL THAI AIR FORCE" – via www.youtube.com.
  18. ^ a b c d e f Trade Registers Armstrade.sipri.org. Retrieved on 2015-05-18.
  19. ^ Greg Waldron (12 February 2014). "SINGAPORE: Saab looks for additional Thai Gripen sale". Flightglobal. Archived from the original on 22 February 2014. Retrieved 17 November 2016.
  20. ^ a b John Grevatt (22 January 2014). "Thailand to launch lead-in fighter programme after new government forms". IHS Jane’s 360. Archived from the original on 27 January 2014. Retrieved 17 November 2016. Cite error: The named reference "programme" was defined multiple times with different content (see the help page).
  21. ^ CHUTER, ANDREW. "Alenia Aermacchi Sets Its Sights on Thai Trainer Contest". Archived from the original on 17 February 2014.
  22. ^ "Thailand – F-16 Mid-Life Upgrade". Defense Security Cooperation Agency. 30 September 2010. Archived from the original on 7 April 2014. Retrieved 17 November 2016.
  23. ^ "Historic Painting". Royal Thai Air Force Museum. Archived from the original on 21 March 2007. Retrieved 17 November 2016.
  24. ^ Small Air Force Observer magazine, author unknown, No. 47 July 1988 & No. 50 April 1989
  25. ^ "Royal Thai Air Force" (PDF). Thai Aviation. 2 September 2016. Archived from the original (PDF) on 4 November 2016. Retrieved 17 November 2016.
  26. ^ 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.

External links[]

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