Special Operations Regiment (Thailand)

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Special Operations Regiment, Royal Thai Air Force Security Force Regiment
กรมปฏิบัติการพิเศษ หน่วยบัญชาการอากาศโยธิน
Unit insignia
Active	1976–present
Country	Thailand
Allegiance	HM The King of Thailand
Branch	Royal Thai Air Force
Type	Special forces
Role	Primary missions Air assault Airborne forces Airfield control and defense Close quarters combat Combat medic Combat search and rescue Counter-insurgency Counterintelligence Counter-terrorism Direct action Forward air control High-value target Hostage rescue HUMINT JTAC Jungle warfare Long-range penetration Personnel recovery Raiding Reconnaissance Special operations Special reconnaissance Unconventional warfare Other roles Close protection Disaster response Humanitarian aid Search and rescue
Size	3 Battalion
Part of	Royal Thai Air Force Security Force Regiment Counter Terrorist Operations Center Royal Thai Armed Forces Headquarters
Garrison/HQ	Don Muang Air Base, Bangkok
Nickname(s)	COMMANDO
Engagements	Cold War Communist insurgency in Thailand Communist insurgency in Malaysia Vietnamese border raids in Thailand Thai–Laotian Border War The Hijacking of Garuda Flight GA 206 (Woyla Operation) 1981 Southern Insurgency 2003 Phnom Penh riots Operation Pochentong
Website	https://sor.rtaf.mi.th/index.php/page-main(in Thai)

The Royal Thai Air Force Special Operations Regiment or Air Force Commando (Thai: กรมปฏิบัติการพิเศษ หน่วยบัญชาการอากาศโยธิน) is unit in the Royal Thai Air Force Security Force Regiment 's Special Combat Operations Squadron, has been in existence since the late 1976s. Part of Royal Thai Air Force, they are based near Don Mueang International Airport and provide anti-hijacking capabilities.^[1][2]

History[]

The Royal Thai Air Force has a combined SF unit within 201 Helicopter Squadron, 2 Wing, at Lopburi. The unit, numbering less than 100 men, is responsible for para-rescue, combat control missions, and anti-terrorist operations around airports. In early 1988 a heliborne detachment rescued a Thai fighter pilot shot down along the border during hostilities with Laos. During April-May 1988, 43 members from the unit held Badge Tram 88 field exercises in Thailand with a US Air Force Combat Team.

Organization[]

RTAF: Special Operation Regiment Command[]

• RTAF: Command Center
  • RTAF: 1st Special Operation Battalion ( Commando )
  • RTAF: 2nd Special Operation Battalion ( Pararescue Jumper )
  • RTAF: 3rd Special Operation Battalion ( Combat Control Team )
• RTAF: Aerial Support Company
• RTAF: Combat Search and Rescue Center (CSAR) ( Pararescuemen )

Land vehicles[]

References[]