Royal Thai Army Aviation Center
![]() | This article needs additional citations for verification. (March 2019) |
Royal Thai Army Aviation Center | |
---|---|
ศูนย์การบินทหารบก | |
Founded | 25 June 1935-Present |
Country | Thailand |
Branch | Royal Thai Army |
Type | Army aviation |
Garrison/HQ | Fort Princess Srinagarindra, Mueang Lopburi, Lopburi |
Website | aavnc |
Insignia | |
Aircraft symbol | ![]() |
Aircraft flown | |
Attack helicopter | Bell AH-1F Huey Cobra Boeing AH-6 Eurocopter Fennec AS550 C3 |
Cargo helicopter | CH-47 Mil Mi-17-V5 |
Multirole helicopter | AgustaWestland AW149 Bell UH-1H Iroquois Eurocopter UH-72A Lakota |
Trainer helicopter | Enstrom 480, |
Utility helicopter | UH-60 Bell UH-1H Iroquois Eurocopter UH-72A Lakota |
The Royal Thai Army Aviation Center (Thai: ศูนย์การบินทหารบก) is the administrative organization in the Royal Thai Army responsible for doctrine, personnel, and configuration of all army aviation units. It is based at Fort Princess Srinagarindra, in Mueang Lopburi District.
![](http://upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/thumb/3/38/Thaiarmy_UH60L.jpg/220px-Thaiarmy_UH60L.jpg)
![](http://upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/thumb/2/23/Thaiarmy_UH60L_engineoff.jpg/220px-Thaiarmy_UH60L_engineoff.jpg)
History[]
Thai military aviation began in 1911 when three Siamese army officers were sent to France to learn to pilot aircraft. They returned to Siam in 1913 with four Nieuport monoplanes and four Breguet biplanes. An aerodrome constructed at Don Mueang and the army aviation units moved there on 17 March 1914. On 27 March 1914 the unit became the Army Air Corps. Since then, 27 March has been observed as the birthday of the Royal Thai Air Force.[1]
In 1918, the Army Air Corps gained the status of a division consisting of three wings. It remained under the army until December 1921 when it was renamed the Air Division and was placed directly under the Ministry of War. The Air Division's name changed again in 1935 to the Air Force Division. In 1937 it was proclaimed the Royal Thai Air Force.[1] In 1967 the Army Aviation School was founded, and the Army Aviation Center was created on 20 September 1977.
Mission[]
- Planning, directing, and practicing And study about Operation of the Royal Thai Army.
- Conduct research Develop, define principles and make texts in science associated.
- Ruling the military units that the Ministry of Defense requires The commander of the Army Aviation Center is responsible for.
Organization[]
- Royal Thai Army Aviation Center Headquarters
- Royal Thai Army Aviation Regiment
- Light Aviation Company
- 1st Air Mobility Company
- 2nd Air Mobility Company
- 3rd Air Mobility Company
- 9th Air Mobility Company
- 21st Aviation Battlion
- 41st Aviation Battlion
- Science Division
- Service Division
- Airport Division
- Aviation Communications Division
- Aviation Safety Division
- Disease examination unit
- Army Aviation School
- Department of Aviation
- Aviation Base Defense Battalion
- Aviation Communication Support Division
- Royal Thai Army Aviation Regiment
Aircraft[]
The Royal Thai Army is known to operate the following aircraft types:
Photo | Model | Type | Origin | Quantity | Notes | |
---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
Helicopters | ||||||
![]() |
Bell AH-1F Huey Cobra | Attack helicopter | ![]() |
7[2] | Will replace by Boeing AH-6. Four were ordered in 1988 and another four were ordered in 2005.[3][4] One was lost in 2001 crash. Three in storage for spare parts. | |
Boeing AH-6 | Light Attack helicopter | ![]() |
0+(8)[5] | 8 on order.[6] | ||
![]() |
Eurocopter Fennec AS550 C3 | Light Attack helicopter | ![]() |
8[2] | ||
![]() |
Sikorsky UH-60L/M/A Blackhawk | Utility helicopter | ![]() |
15[7] | UH-60Ls.[8] One was lost in 2011 crash. UH-60Ms.[9][10] | |
![]() |
Bell 212 | Utility helicopter | ![]() |
51[2] | 48 units undergoing upgrade to tactical helicopter. | |
![]() |
AgustaWestland AW149 | Utility helicopter | ![]() |
5[7] | [11] | |
![]() |
Bell 206 Jet Ranger | Utility helicopter | ![]() |
20[2] | Both the Bell 206A and Bell 206B are in use. | |
![]() |
Eurocopter UH-72A Lakota | Utility helicopter | ![]() |
5[12] | One lost in 2016 crash.[13] | |
![]() |
Kamov Ka-32A1 | Utility helicopter | ![]() |
2 | Ka-32A11BC. Fire fighting helicopter equipped with a helicopter bucket.[14] | |
![]() |
Eurocopter EC145 | VIP transport helicopter | ![]() |
5[2] | 15 on order.[15] | |
![]() |
AgustaWestland AW139 | VIP transport/Utility helicopter | ![]() |
8[2] | 2 on order.[2] Uses for VIPs.[16][17] | |
Mil Mi-17-V5 | Transport helicopter | ![]() |
6[2] | 4 on order.[2] | ||
![]() |
Schweizer S-300C | Observation/Trainer helicopter | ![]() |
45[2] | For observation and training | |
![]() |
Enstrom 480B | Trainer helicopter | ![]() |
16[2] | For training | |
![]() |
Robinson R44 | Trainer helicopter | ![]() |
1[2] | For training | |
Fixed-wing aircraft | ||||||
![]() |
CASA C-295W | Transport aircraft | ![]() |
1[2] | The RTA ordered one C-295W.[18] | |
![]() |
CASA C-212-300 Aviocar | transport aircraft | ![]() |
2[2] | Serial numbers 446 and 447 based with the VIP squadron at Don Mueang Airport. | |
![]() |
Embraer ERJ-135LR | VIP transport aircraft | ![]() |
2 | Both aircraft delivered (serial numbers 1084/HS-AMP and 1124)[19][20] | |
![]() |
British Aerospace Jetstream 41 | VIP transport aircraft | ![]() |
2 | Serial numbers 41060 and 41094. Based with the VIP unit at Don Mueang Airport. | |
![]() |
Beechcraft 1900C-1 | VIP transport aircraft | ![]() |
2 | Serial numbers 0169 and 0170. Based with the VIP unit at Don Mueang Airport. | |
![]() |
Beechcraft Super King Air 200 | VIP transport aircraft | ![]() |
2[2] | Serial numbers 0342 and 1165. Based at the Lopburi army complex. | |
Sukhoi Superjet 100 | VIP transport aircraft | Russia | 3 | Serial numbers 95093, 95095 and 95132. Registration 60317, 60318, 60319. | ||
Unmanned aerial vehicles | ||||||
![]() |
Elbit Hermes 450 | UAV | ![]() |
4 | The UAVs are operated by the 21st Aviation Battalion at the Army Aviation Centre at Lopburi.[21] | |
![]() |
IAI Searcher | UAV | ![]() |
4 | ||
![]() |
AeroVironment RQ-11 Raven | UAV | ![]() |
Unknown |
References[]
- ^ Jump up to: a b "Royal Thai Air Force - Kong Thap Akat Thai". Scramble. Retrieved 14 February 2020.
- ^ Jump up to: a b c d e f g h i j k l m n o "World Air Forces 2018". Flightglobal Insight. 2018. Archived from the original on 6 February 2018. Retrieved 18 May 2018.
- ^ "Trade Registers". Armstrade.sipri.org. Retrieved 4 August 2014.
- ^ Paul Steven Ghiringhelli (21 October 2010). "AH-1 Cobra retirement". United States Army. Retrieved 4 August 2014.
- ^ online, thairath (26 September 2019). "DOS clears US$400 mn Thai attack chopper deal". www.asiatimes.com. Retrieved 3 October 2019.
- ^ CHAN, DM (26 September 2019). "DOS clears US$400 mn Thai attack chopper deal". www.thairath.co.th. Retrieved 1 November 2019.
- ^ Jump up to: a b https://dl.cypc.fr/Documents/Aviation/General/World%20Air%20Forces%202019.pdf
- ^ [1] Archived 16 May 2013 at the Wayback Machine
- ^ [2] Archived 21 March 2012 at the Wayback Machine
- ^ [3] Archived 23 July 2015 at the Wayback Machine
- ^ "Royal Thai Army buys AW149 and six AW139s". Jeremy Parkin. Helihub. 9 December 2016. Retrieved 25 April 2017.
- ^ รวมสุวรรณ, อาคม (4 August 2015). "เปิดสเปก เฮลิคอปเตอร์รุ่นใหม่ Airbus Helicopter UH-72 Lakota แทนปลดระวาง". Retrieved 3 November 2019.
- ^ "Thai Army UH-72 Lakota Crashes". militaryaviationreview.com. 15 August 2016. Retrieved 4 January 2017.
- ^ นาคพุ่ม, เอกพล (28 November 2018). "Russian Helicopters touts platforms to Thai military". aagth1.blogspot.com. Retrieved 29 November 2019.
- ^ "Thailand signs contract to buy six EC145 helicopters". janes.com. Retrieved 24 February 2015.
- ^ "Royal Thai Army Takes Delivery of Two AW139 Helicopters". Leonardocompany.com. Retrieved 20 July 2016.
- ^ "Thai Army Orders 8 AgustaWestland AW139 Helicopters". defenseworld.net. Retrieved 8 October 2015.
- ^ "Orders, Deliveries, In Operation Military aircraft by Country - Worldwide" (PDF). Airbus Defence & Space. Archived from the original (PDF) on 20 November 2015. Retrieved 18 June 2016.
- ^ Embraer Press Release Embraer sign contracts with the Royal Thai Army and the Royal Thai Navy Archived 29 July 2009 at the Wayback Machine
- ^ Flight International Thailand buys third ERJ-135
- ^ "Thailand expands ties with Israel through UAV acquisition". janes.com.
- Royal Thai Army
- Military units and formations of Thailand
- Military units and formations established in 1935