Royal Thai Air Force

The Royal Thai Air Force or RTAF (กองทัพอากาศไทย, RTGS: Kong Thab 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 center 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, 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 but the takeover of the country by the Thai ethnic group meant that name would only be used until 1939, when it 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
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. The Royal Thai Air Force Headquarters is located in Don Muang Airbase, Bangkok, Thailand.


 * Commander-in-Chief: Air Chief Marshal Prajin Jantong
 * Deputy Commander-in-Chief: Air Chief Marshal Permkiat Lavanaman
 * Assistant Commander-in-Chief: Air Chief Marshal Songtham Chokkanapitak
 * Assistant Commander-in-Chief: Air Chief Marshal Chanat Rattanaubol
 * Chief of Staff of the Air Force: Air Chief Marshal Araya Ngampramual

Organization


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.

Wings
The Royal Thai Air Force Combat Group is divided into 11 wings plus a training school, plus a few direct-reporting units.
 * Directorate of Air Operations Control, RTAF
 * RTAF Security Force Command
 * Flying Training School
 * composed of 1st, 2nd and 3rd Flying Training Squadrons. Based at RTAFB Kamphang Saen in Nakhon Pathom Province


 * Wing 1
 * attack wing based at RTAFB Korat in Nakhon Ratchasima Province.


 * Wing 2
 * helicopter wing providing utility/transport and search and rescue. Normally based at RTAFB Lop Buri in Lop Buri Province


 * Wing 4
 * light attack / fighter wing based at RTAFB Takhli in Nakhon Sawan Province.


 * Wing 5
 * transport/observation wing based at RTAFB Prachuap Khiri Khan in Prachuap Khiri Khan Province.


 * Wing 6
 * multi-role non-combat wing providing transport, mapping, communications and surveying. Based at RTAFB Don Muang/Bangkok.


 * Wing 7
 * interceptor and attack wing based at RTAFB Surat Thani in Surat Thani Province.


 * Wing 21
 * attack wing based at RTAFB Ubon Ratchathani in Ubon Ratchathani Province.


 * Wing 23
 * light 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
 * currently forming at RTAFB Hatyai in Songkhla Province.

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

Royal Thai Air Force Commando Company
Main Article 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.

Recent Purchases
New fighter procurement program - or the RTAF 20th fighter program, RTAF studied three new fighters to replace its Northrop F-5s. Requirements were for twelve aircraft with an expected delivery date in 2011. Fighters examined for the purchase were the American F-16C/D block 50/52, the Russian Sukhoi Su-30MKIT, and the Swedish Saab JAS 39 Gripen. The purchase of six JAS 39 Gripen (version C/D), with an option for six more, was announced on 17 October. Twelve JAS 39 Gripen, two Saab 340 Erieye AEW&C, one Saab 340, training, technology transfer, and RBS-15 anti-ship missiles will be delivered. Six JAS 39 Gripen and one Saab 340 Erieye are to be delivered by 2012 in phase one and six JAS 39 Gripen, one Saab 340 Erieye, and the Saab 340 to be delivered between 2013 and 2017.

Cabinet approved the first phase for 19 billion Baht on 8 Jan 2008, for six JAS 39 Gripen of which two are single-seat C models and four dual-seat D model with support, training, and spares. The offset includes one Saab 340 Erieye, one Saab 340, Datalink system, and 92 Master-degrees scholarships for Thai students to study in Sweden. Three aircraft were delivered in January 2011 and three in March 2011. Saab 340 and Saab 340 Erieye were delivered in 2010. The Gripen agreement was signed on 11 February 2008, marking the start of the first batch.

Indigenous trainer - A new 30-million-Baht trainer project was announced on 5 Nov 2007 to be developed by the RTAF. The B.ThO.2 is a licensed Aermacchi SF.260MT. This will be used for research for the RTAF-6 primary trainer for the RTAF and civilian training.

Multi-engine trainer - RTAF is buying 6 Diamond DA42 Twin Stars to meet twin-engine training requirements.

F-16 upgrade the RTAF requested mid-life upgrades for 18 F-16A/B OCU Block 15 on October 2010, which should cost around $700 million divided into 3 phases. 6 aircraft are to be upgraded during each phase over three years, with a one year overlap between phases, starting at the end of 2011.

C-130 upgrade - Rockwell Collins is upgrading six Royal Thai Air Force Lockheed C-130 Hercules transports with Thai Aviation Industry following upgrades to a previous batch of 6.

Future developments

 * RTAF-6 – The Trainer aircraft by Thai Aviation Industry.
 * Tigershark II – The Unmanned aerial vehicle by G-Force Composite.
 * Under the Air-to-air missile plan by Defense Technology Institute.
 * Under the Cruise missile ground attack and anti-ship plan by Defense Technology Institute.

Historic Aircraft
Historic and notable 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). Missing designation numbers are for aircraft still in service.

Incidents

 * October 18, 2010, One F-16A Block 15 crashed on Tak Province. One pilot was killed. This is the first F-16 crash in 22 years on duty.
 * February 14, 2011, Two F-16ADF mid air collision while formation BVR tactic ACMI at Chaiyaphum Province, two pilots survived.