Royal Thai Air Force

Royal Thai Air Force
กองทัพอากาศไทย Kong Thap Akat Thai
Badge of the Royal Thai Air Force
Founded	2 November 1913; 107 years ago (1913-11-02)
Country	Thailand
Allegiance	King Vajiralongkorn
Type	Air force
Role	Aerial warfare Anti-aircraft warfare
Size	47,000 Active personnel 700 Aircraft
Part of	Ministry of Defence Royal Thai Armed Forces
Headquarters	Don Muang Air Base, Bangkok
Colours
March	Thai: มาร์ชกองทัพอากาศ "Royal Thai Air Force March"
Anniversaries	9 April 1937 (Royal Thai Air Force Day)
Engagements	World War I Western Front Boworadet rebellion World War II Franco–Thai War Japanese invasion of Thailand Pacific War South-East Asian Theatre Malayan Campaign Burma Campaign Bombing of Bangkok Bombardment of Southeast Asia Manhattan Rebellion Cold War Korean War Malayan Emergency Laotian Civil War Cambodian Civil War Vietnam War Communist insurgency in Thailand Communist insurgency in Malaysia Third Indochina War Cambodian–Vietnamese War Vietnamese border raids in Thailand Thai–Laotian Border War The Hijacking of Garuda Flight GA 206 (Woyla Operation) 1981 Persian Gulf War 1999 East Timorese crisis International Force East Timor War on drugs Internal conflict in Myanmar Operation Border Post 9631 2010–2012 Myanmar border clashes 2003 Phnom Penh riots Operation Pochentong 1 Global War on Terrorism Operation Enduring Freedom Iraq War OEF–Afghanistan (Humanitarian) OEF–Horn of Africa Southern Insurgency Cambodian–Thai border dispute United Nations peacekeeping UNIKOM UNGCI UNTAC ONUB UNTAET UNOMSIL UNAMID UNAMA UNMIS Marawi crisis (Humanitarian)
Website	http://www.rtaf.mi.th/en/Pages/default.aspx
Commanders
Commander-in-Chief	Air Chief Marshal Airbull Suthiwan
Notable commanders	Fuen Ronnaphagrad Ritthakhanee Chalermkiat Vatthanangkun Panieng Karntarat Kaset Rojananil Chalit Pukbhasuk Itthaporn Subhawong Prajin Juntong Sukampol Suwannathat Anudith Nakornthap
Insignia
Roundel
Fin flash
Flag
Aircraft flown
Attack	Alpha Jet, F-16A/B Block 15 OCU
Electronic warfare	Saab 340 AEW&C
Fighter	JAS-39C/D, F-16AM/BM, F-5E/F
Helicopter	UH-1, Bell 412, S-92, EC725
Interceptor	F-16 ADF
Reconnaissance	Saab 340B ELINT/COMINT, DA42 MPP, P.180 Avanti
Trainer	CT/4, T-41D, PC-9, DA42, L-39, T-50TH
Transport	C-130, BT-67, ATR-72, 737-400/800, A319/A320, A340-500, SSJ-100-95LR, AU-23

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 has engaged in numerous major and minor conflicts. During the Vietnam War era, the RTAF was supplied with USAF-aid equipment.

History[]

In February 1911 Belgian pilot Charles Van Den Born was responsible for the first aircraft demonstration in Siam at Bangkok's Sapathum Horse Racing Course. King Rama VI was sufficiently impressed that on 28 February 1912 he sent three Army officers to France to learn to fly. After receiving their wings and qualification, the officers returned to Siam in November 1913, bringing with them eight aircraft: four Breguets and four Nieuport IVs), which formed the nucleus for the Aviation Section of the Army Engineering Division. In March 1914, they moved from Sapathum to Don Muang, north of Bangkok and it became the Royal Siamese Flying Corps under the Department of the Army Engineer Inspector General.

Prince Purachatra Jayakara, Commander of the Army Engineers, and his brother Prince Chakrabongse Bhuvanath, were instrumental in the development of the Royal Siamese Aeronautical Service as it was renamed on 19 March 1919. In October 1936, it became an independent service and was renamed the Royal Siamese Air Force in March 1937. Two years later, when the kingdom was renamed Thailand, it became the Royal Thai Air Force. The Air Force during the years before the Second World War was a moderately-well equipped force made up of a mixture of French, American, and Japanese types.

During the French-Thai War, the Thai Air Force achieved several air-to-air-victories in dogfights 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 Shan States of Burma as somewhat reluctant allies of the Japanese and took part in the defense of Bangkok against allied air raids in the latter part of the war, achieving some successes against state-of-the-art aircraft like the P-51 Mustang and the B-29 Superfortress. During these times, the RTAF was actively supplied by the Japanese with Imperial Japanese Army Air Force aircraft such as the Ki-43 "Oscar," and the Ki-27 "Nate." Other RTAF personnel took an active part the anti-Japanese resistance movement.

The Thai Air Force sent three C-47 Skytrains to support the United Nations in the Korean War. The Wings Unit, operating the C-47, also joined the anti-communist forces in the Vietnam War. Following the end of the Vietnam War in April 1975 the Thai Air Force took possession of 117 aircraft of the former South Vietnamese, Cambodian and Laotian air forces that had evacuated to Thailand.^[1]:469

Along the border, the Thai Air Force launched many operations against communist forces, including the Ban Nam Ta Airfield Raid in Laos, and clashes between Thai and communist Vietnamese troops along the Thai-Cambodian border. In addition to the F-5E and F-5F fighter-bombers, OV-10C Bronco counterinsurgency aircraft, transports, and helicopters were added to the RTAF inventory. In 1985 the United States Congress authorized the sale of the F-16 fighter to Thailand.

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.

Structure[]

The Air Force is commanded by the Commander of the Royal Thai Air Force (ผู้บัญชาการทหารอากาศไทย). The Royal Thai Air Force Headquarters is located in Don Muang Airbase, Bangkok, Thailand.

The RTAF consists of headquarters and five groups, which are: command group, combat group, support group, education and training group, and special services group.^[2]

1. The headquarters group in bangkok consists of:royal thai air force headquarters support groups, royal flight aircraft administrative center, royal flight helicopter administrative center, air warfare center, office of public sector development and office of intellectual development.
2. Command group consist of RTAF secretariat, directorate of administrative service, personnel, intelligence, operations, logistics, civil affairs, information and communications technology, finance, inspector general, office of RTAF comptroller, internal audit, safety and judge advocate.
3. Combat group
4. The support group provides engineering, communications and electronics, ordnance, transportation, quartermaster, medical services support, civil engineering and transportation.
5. The education and training group coordinates and supervises all air force training programmes.
6. The special service group is responsible for research and development, the welfare of air force personnel, air police and coordinates the activities of Thai civil aviation with those of the air force.

Royal Thai Air Force(Headquarters)[]

• Royal Thai Air Force Headquarters Support Groups
• Royal Flight Aircraft Administrative Center
• Royal Flight Helicopter Administrative Center
• Air Warfare Center
• Office of Public Sector Development, RTAF
• Office of Intellectual Development, RTAF

Command Group[]

• RTAF Secretariat
• Directorate of Administrative Service
• Directorate of Personnel
• Directorate of Intelligence
• Directorate of Operations
• Directorate of Logistics
• Directorate of Civil Affairs
• Directorate of Information and Communications Technology
• Office of the RTAF Comptroller
• Directorate of Finance
• Directorate of Inspector General
• Office of RTAF Internal Audit
• Office of RTAF Safety
• Office of RTAF Judge Advocate

Combat Group[]

The Royal Thai Air Force Combat Group is divided into 11 wings plus a training school, plus a few direct-reporting units.^[2]

• RTAF Directorate of Air Operations Control
• RTAF Security Force Command
• RTAF Space Operation Center
• Navaminda Kasatriyadhiraj Royal Thai Air Force Academy
• Flying Training School

composed of 1st, 2nd and 3rd Flying Training Squadrons. Based at RTAFB Kamphang Saen in Nakhon Pathom Province

• Wing 1

Interceptor and fighter wing based at RTAFB Korat in Nakhon Ratchasima Province.

• Wing 2

Helicopter wing providing utility/transport and search and rescue. Normally based at RTAFB Khok Kathiam in Lopburi Province

• Wing 3

Unmanned aerial vehicle wing based at RTAFB Watthana Nakhon in Sa Kaeo Province.

• Wing 4

Light attack / Interceptor wing based at RTAFB Takhli in Nakhon Sawan Province.

• Wing 5

Transport and pecial mission wing based at RTAFB Prachuap Khiri Khan in Ao Manao, Prachuap Khiri Khan Province.

• Wing 6

Multi-role non-combat wing providing transport, mapping, communications and surveying. Based at RTAFB Don Muang in Bangkok.

• Wing 7

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.^[3]

• Wing 21

Interceptor wing based at RTAFB Ubon Ratchathani in Ubon Ratchathani Province.

• Wing 23

Attack wing based at RTAFB Udon in Udon Thani Province.

• Wing 41

Light attack wing based at RTAFB Chiang Mai in Chiang Mai Province.

• Wing 46

Transport/rainmaking wing based at RTAFB Phitsanulok in Phitsanulok Province.

• Wing 56

Forward operating base at RTAFB Hat Yai in Songkhla Province.

Squadrons[]

The following squadrons are currently active with the Royal Thai Air Force.^[2]

Squadron	Equipment	Wing	RTAF Base	Notes
101st Fighter Squadron	-	Wing 1	Korat
102nd Fighter Squadron	F16ADF	Wing 1	Korat
103rd Fighter Squadron	F-16A/B OCU	Wing 1	Korat
201 Helicopter Squadron	Bell 412, S-92	Wing 2	Khok Ka Thiam	Former Royal Guard
202 Helicopter Squadron	-	Wing 2	Khok Ka Thiam
203 Helicopter Squadron	UH-1H, EC 725	Wing 2	Khok Ka Thiam	SAR detachments at many locations. To be replaced by EC 725[4]
206 UAV Squadron	Aerostar BP, RTAF U-1	Wing 3	Watthana Nakhon
401 Light Attack Squadron	L-39, T-50TH	Wing 4	Takhli	To be replaced by T-50TH[5]
402 Elint Reconnaissance Squadron	P.180 Avanti	Wing 4	Takhli
403 Fighter Squadron	F-16AM/BM	Wing 4	Takhli
501 Light Attack Squadron	Fairchild AU-23	Wing 5	Prachuap Khiri Khan
601 Transport Squadron	C-130H/H-30	Wing 6	Don Muang
602 Royal Flight Squadron	A319, B737	Wing 6	Don Muang	Former Royal Guard
603 Transport Squadron	ATR72	Wing 6	Don Muang
604 Civil Pilot Training Squadron	PAC CT-4A, T-41D, Diamond DA42	Wing 6	Don Muang
701 Fighter Squadron	JAS-39 C/D	Wing 7	Surat Thani	Total 12 Gripens delivered (4 Gripen D and 8 Gripen C),[6] replacing F-5E/F.[7][8]
702 Air Control Squadron	Saab 340, S-100B Argus	Wing 7	Surat Thani	Saab 340 70201 and S-100B Argus AEW 70202[9]
211 Fighter Squadron	F-5 Super Tigris	Wing 21	Ubon
231 Attack Squadron	Alpha Jet	Wing 23	Udorn
411 Fighter Squadron	L-39	Wing 41	Chiang Mai	To be replaced T-6 TH[10]
461 Transport Squadron	Basler BT-67	Wing 46	Phitsanulok	Also conducts rainmaking flights.
561 Fighter Squadron	-	Wing 56	Hat Yai	Forward operating base for 701 Fighter Sqn.
904 Aggressor Squadron	F-5E	-	Don Muang	Former unit of Crown Prince Vajiralongkorn Mahidol.
1st Flying Training Squadron	PAC CT/4E	Flying Training School	Kamphang Saen	Primary flight training.
2nd Flying Training Squadron	Pilatus PC-9M	Flying Training School	Kamphang Saen	Basic flight training.
3rd Flying Training Squadron	Bell 206B (withdrawn 2006)	Flying Training School	Kamphang Saen	Helicopter training.

RTAF Security Force Command[]

The RTAF Security Force Command (Thai: หน่วยบัญชาการอากาศโยธิน) is a Division size unit in the Royal Thai Air Force. It has been in existence since 1937. They are based near Don Mueang International Airport. The RTAF Security Force Command is the main ground forces which providing Infantry for protecting air bases and high value assets, Special forces, Combat Controller (CCT), Combat Rescue Officer (CRO), Pararescue, Tactical Air Control Party, and anti-hijacking capabilities.^[11] Royal Thai Air Force Security Force Command consist of 3 main Regiments and multiple support units. Additionally, air base protection Battalions and Anti-aircraft Battalions are each assigned to every air base of the RTAF.

Royal Thai 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 the RTAF took over 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 (Ubon, Udorn) proved costly and exceeded Thai needs; they were turned over to the Department of Civil Aviation for civil use. 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.

Support Group[]

• Directorate of Aeronautical Engineering
• Directorate of Communications and Electronics
• Directorate of Armament
• Directorate of Quartermaster
• Directorate of Civil Engineering
• Directorate of Transportation

Directorate of Medical Services[]

First set up in 1913 in the same year as the Air Force, providing nursing services only, and over the years has gradually expanded. It operates Bhumibol Adulyadej Hospital and in Bangkok, as well as smaller hospitals at each wing. The directorate has made a teaching agreement with the Faculty of Medicine, Chulalongkorn University to train students at Bhumibol Adulyadej Hospital, accepting about 30 students per academic year.

Education and Training Group[]

• Directorate of Education and Training
• Air War College
• Air Command and Staff College
• Senior Air Officer School
• Squadron Officer School
• Officer Training School
• Academy Instructor School
• Non-Commissioned Officer School
• Air Technical Training School
• RTAF Language Center
• Personal Testing Center
• Technical Service Division
• Chaplain Division
• Navaminda Kasatriyadhiraj Royal Thai Air Force Academy

Special Service Group[]

• Research and Development Center for Space and Aeronautical Science and Technology
• Directorate of Welfare
• Office of Don Mueang RTAF Base Commander
• Institute of Aviation Medicine

Aircraft[]

Current inventory[]

Aircraft	Origin	Type	Variant	In service	Notes
Combat Aircraft
Alpha Jet	France / Germany	light attack		18[12]
Northrop F-5	United States	Light fighter	F-5E	30[12]
F-16 Fighting Falcon	United States	multirole	A OCU / ADF	37[12]	One F-16 A Block 15 decommissioned in 2021.[13]
JAS 39 Gripen	Sweden	multirole	JAS 39C	7[12]
AEW&C
Saab 340 AEW&C	Sweden	early warning and control	S 100B	2[12]	Aircraft mounted with an ERIEYE radar.
Transport
Saab 340	Sweden	transport		5[12]
Boeing 737	United States	VIP		1[14]
Airbus A319	Germany	VIP	A319CJ	1[15]
Airbus A320	France	VIP	A320CJ	2[16]
Airbus A340	France	VIP	A345	1[17]
Sukhoi Superjet 100	Russia	VIP	SSJ100-95VIP	3[18]
Basler BT-67	United States	transport		7[12]	Modified DC-3 with P&W PT6A Turboprop engines.
Piaggio P.180	Italy	transport / reconn		1[12]
Diamond DA42	Austria	transport / reconn		8	1 on order[12]
Pilatus PC-6	Switzerland	transport		15[12]
C-130 Hercules	United States	transport	C-130H	12[12]
Helicopters
Bell 412	United States	utility		8[12]
Bell UH-1	United States	SAR / utility	UH-1H	16[12]
Sikorsky S-92	United States	VIP / Med Evac		2[12]
Eurocopter EC 725	France	CSAR / utility		8	4 on order.[12]
Trainer Aircraft
KAI T-50	Republic of Korea	LIFT	T-50TH	8	4 on order.[19][12]
Aero L-39	Czech Republic	trainer		28[12]	Five L-39 decommissioned in 2021.[13]
Northrop F-5	United States	conversion trainer	F-5B/F	4[12]
Pilatus PC-9	Switzerland	trainer		22[12]
Beechcraft T-6TH Texan II	USA	trainer		12[10]	Delivery scheduled for 2022–2023.
Diamond DA42	Austria	multi engine trainer		10[12]
JAS 39 Gripen	Sweden	conversion trainer	JAS 39D	4[12]
Eurocopter EC135	France	training helicopter		-	6 on order[12]
F-16 Fighting Falcon	United States	conversion trainer	F-16B	14[12]	One F-16 B Block 15 decommissioned in 2021.[13]
UAV
Aerostar Tactical UAS	Israel	Reconnaissance	Aerostar BP	4	mounted with EO/IR
RTAF U-1	Thailand	Reconnaissance	RTAF U-1	17	mounted with EO/IR

Armament[]

Name	Origin	Type	Notes
Air-to-air missile
Python 4/3	Israel	short range infrared homing missile	120 obtained[20]
AIM-120C AMRAAM	United States	beyond-visual-range missile	initial 50 missiles[20]
AIM-9E/J/P/L/M Sidewinder	United States	short range infrared homing missile	600 missiles obtained[20]
IRIS-T	Germany	short range infrared homing missile	40 units – employs a thrust vector control motor[20]
Meteor	France	beyond-visual-range missile	Future operators
Air-to-surface missile
RBS-15F	Sweden	anti-ship missile	25 missiles obtained[20]
AGM-65D/G Maverick	United States	infrared imaging AGM	200 missiles obtained[20]
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

Budget[]

RTAF budgets are shown below by fiscal year (FY):^[21]

FY	Million (baht)	% GDP
2018	39,931	0.243%
2019	41,609	0.237%
2020	42,539	0.240%
2021	40,081[22]

Rank structure[]

NOTE:Rank on paper, not actually used in the Royal Thai Air Force.

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
	Marshal of the Air Force	Air Chief Marshal	Air Marshal	Air Vice Marshal	Air Commodore	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
	Flight Sergeant 1st Class	Flight Sergeant 1st Class	Flight Sergeant 2nd Class	Flight Sergeant 3rd Class	Sergeant	Corporal	Leading Aircraftman	Leading Aircraftman	Airman

Aircraft insignia[]

Roundels[]

1919 — 1940 1945 — present	1940 — 1941	1941 — 1945

Tail markings[]

1919 — 1941 1945 — present	1941 — 1945

Sport activity[]

Brazilian jiu-jitsu[]

The Siam Cup BJJ (Brazilian jiu-jitsu) International tournament will be held at the Show DC stadium in Bangkok from 2017 in cooperation with the Arete BJJ dōjō, hosted by the Royal Thai Air Force.^{[23][24][25][26][27]} Each year, the tournament brings together more than 400 fighters from more than 50 countries to compete.^[28][29][30] The Siam Cup BJJ 2021 was scheduled to take place on May 8, but due to restrictions imposed for Covid-19 during the coronavirus pandemic, the Thai government temporarily postponed all sporting events.^[31]

See also[]

• Royal Thai Air Force Museum
• Royal Thai Armed Forces Headquarters
• Military of Thailand
• Royal Thai Army
• Royal Thai Navy
• Royal Thai Police
• Napa-1

References[]

Notes

Comments

Bibliography

External links[]

• Media related to Royal Thai Air Force at Wikimedia Commons
• RTAF Official website (English version)
• Royal Thai Air Force Whitebook on Gripen program (Thai)
• Royal Thai Air Force Press Release on Gripen program (Eng)^{[permanent dead link]}
• Royal Thai Air Force VDO on Gripen program (Thai)
• Royal Thai Air Force Museum Many Historical Aircraft Here (English Page available)
• Reports with drawings and pictures about the Royal Thai Air Force
• Globalsecurity.org
• Early history of the Airports of Thailand Authority
• Japanese Aircraft In Royal Thai Air Force and Royal Thai Navy Service During WWII at j-aircraft.com