Armée Thailandaise/Royal Thai Armed Forces

Citation :

Thai army receives new utility helicopters


AgustaWestland has delivered a pair of AW139 utility helicopters to the Royal Thai Army, just over one year after securing the deal.



Pictured also carrying a pre-delivery Italian registration, aircraft 31525 was accompanied by another, which Flightglobal’s Ascend Fleets database records as being tail number 31520.

Bangkok ordered the two AW139s in October 2012, with its deal with AgustaWestland also including the provision of personnel training and maintenance support services.

With a maximum take-off weight of around 6.4t and powered by a pair of Pratt & Whitney PT6C-67C engines, the AW139 is capable of operating with two pilots and up to 15

pasengers.

http://www.flightglobal.com

Citation :

Elbit Systems Debut with a New Variant of ATMOS

A new version of Elbit Systems’ Autonomous Truck Mounted howitzer System (ATMOS) 155 mm/39-calibre SP artillery system was developed for the Royal Thai Army (RTA), in cooperation with Thailand’s military industrial complex. A first unit comprising six CAESAR 155mm/52 caliber guns is currently in service. The ATMOS platform is designed to operate the 155mm/52 caliber tube, but in Thailand the Army opted for the 155mm/39 caliber howitzer using a 6×6 truck. The ATMOS has already been demonstrated implemented on 8×8 trucks, carrying 54 caliber guns.


The new 6×6 configuration of the ATMOS was designed to address the Thai Army requirements. Photo: Elbit Systems

The RTA is expected to field a second battery of truck-mounted howitzers. It is designed with a low silhouette making the camouflaged vehicle indistinctive on road travel. Many of the gun’s systems are automated, enabling operation by a crew of three personnel. The ATMOS system is fully integrated with Elbit Systems’ command and control and various systems enabling to reduce the workload the crew is faced with.

The prototype development has recently been completed in Israel and was demonstrated in firing series prior to delivery to the customer. Follow-on production systems will be built in Thailand. The current requirement is for six systems. The development has been underway since 2012.

The RTA currently operates a battery of six Nexter Systems CAESAR 155 mm/52-calibre (6×6) SP artillery systems and it had been expected that additional systems would be ordered to form a complete regiment of 18 weapons.

According to Jane’s Defense Weekly, the SPGs will be produced at the Thai Army Artillery and Mortar Production Division of the Royal Thai Army’s (RTA’s) Weapon Production Centre (WPC). The locally produced guns are expected to be delivered by the military factory in 2015.

http://defense-update.com/20140206_elbit-systems-debut-new-variant-atmos.html  

Exercice entre l'armée Thailandaise et l'US Army , US Air Force 

[size=12.727272033691406]Les FAR devrait demander au US de faire ce genre d'exercice , qui sont quand même plus poussés que nos AL  [/size][size=12.727272033691406]  On peut voir des bombardements de F-18 US , tir de ATGM , manoeuvre de chars et shoot sur champs de bataille ... sa c'est de l'exercice . [/size]

il n´est pas plus poussé que AL,il est seulement plus mediatisé free ce qui n´est pas le cas avec nos dinosaures  
chez nous y´a eu aussi des Abrams,bradley,ATGM et AAV en exercices,en plus des F16 en exercise ME

Yakuza a écrit:

il n´est pas plus poussé que AL,il est seulement plus mediatisé free ce qui n´est pas le cas avec nos dinosaures  
chez nous y´a eu aussi des Abrams,bradley,ATGM et AAV en exercices,en plus des F16 en exercise ME

c'est ce que j'allais dire

Moi ce que j'aime bien dans cette armée est le treillis et l'équipement du soldat moyen ils sont assez classe leurs soldats   

Citation :

Bangkok Dock Company Launches Oiler Vessel

28 Februari 2014


HTMS Matra oiler vessel of the Royal Thai Navy (all photos : HTMS Matra)

Yesterday (27 February 2557) at 14:39 a.m. Admiral Narong Pipattana denizen naval commander presided over the release of oiler vessel into the water as the boat building Bangkok Dock Company Ltd at Samut Prakan Province. Mrs.Ajchara Pipattana wife denizen naval commander, lady at the ceremony to release oiler vessel into the water.



Fleet approval for the construction of oiler vessel 1 kiloliter of oil, 1,200 DWT ships built by Bangkok Dock Company. By ships, oil tankers with a mission to support the fuel to the Navy.
Vessels operating in the sea from a boat down the River Gate. Support, logistics, and doctors returning calls. Supports transporting fuel by sea in helping people along a path. Taskforce offshore marine support vessels Government Initiative project. People of the islands and coastline and support the practice of various units in and out of the Navy.



Oiler vessel has length overall 63.50 m, width 12.00 m, depth amidships 5.10 m, depth of water 3.92 m, capacity of 2,200 kL tank vessel oil fuel tank capacity of 90,000 liters capacity fuel tank and fuel tank capacity of 8,000 liters of fresh water 100 tons.



Carrying capacity of oil, maximum speed of not less than 12 knots continuously secrete fully liable. Operating distance of not less than 4,000 nautical miles at economical speed (10 knots) that secrete fully liable. Can operate at sea continuously for not less than 12 days without a resupply.  



With the ability to send oil while the vessel is in the aft section of NATO and oil while ships at the same two points is port side and starboard can get - a helicopter weight. less than 6 tons, the number one handset can be compared to the ship's size not less than 500 tons of 2 aircraft while the ship was anchored. And mission in the sea when the maximum tonnage of not less than Sea State 5.

http://defense-studies.blogspot.fr/2014/02/bangkok-dock-company-launches-oiler.html

Citation :

CSTC Showcases the future Thai Navy LPD models at DSA 2014



CSTC is also showing at DSA its design proposal for the Royal Thai Navy future RFI for an LPD.
The LPD design (no project name was given to us) may accomodate 360 embarked troops in adition to its crew of 130 sailors (plus 15 for the aviation detachement). The LPD's endurance is in excess of 45 days. Two S-70 type helicopters can fit in the hangar while the deck may accept one CH-47 Chinook helicopter. The CSTC representatives could not give us the overall length of this LPD project but gave us a displacement of 22,000 tons.
http://www.navyrecognition.com

Citation :

Thai success prompts SAAB To Focus on Integrated Air Defence System

Success with the Gripen integrated air defence system (GIADS) in Thailand has prompted SAAB to offer an air, sea and ground networked air defence system for the Asian and world markets.

The JAS 39 Gripen fighter, the Erieye airborne early warning and control (AEW&C) aircraft, and ship combat management systems (CMC) form the three principal elements of the system.

In an exclusive chat with Defenseworld.net Dan-Ake Endtedt, President and CEO of Saab Asia Pacific Co. Ltd. said that the GIADS had proved to be a huge success for the Thai military in the way they manage their air defence. Saab has delivered F-12 fighters and two Erieye 340 AEW&C, radars, command and control and networking systems. The system was declared operational by the Thai military during September 2013.

Being perhaps the only fighter aircraft manufacturer in the world which offers an integrated system, Saab sees a great future for this approach to air defence rather than the mix-and-match systems from competing manufacturers which currently comprise the bulk of fighter and surveillance procurement programs.

http://www.defenseworld.net

Citation :

Thai Navy May Build Second Patrol Boat Under BAE License




KUALA LUMPUR — Thailand may build a second offshore patrol vessel under a license granted by BAE Systems and is also starting to think about exporting the ship to other navies in the region, according to a senior executive at the British-based defense contractor.
Discussions are underway for construction of a second warship after a technology transfer deal between BAE and the state-owned shipyard Bangkok Dock resulted in the first of class, HTMS Krabi, being commissioned into the Royal Thai Navy in August 2013, said Alistair Castle, BAE’s Southeast Asia regional vice president.
“We are actively discussing a second of class as the customer wants to capitalize on the knowledge and skills already gained by Bangkok Dock,” said Castle during an interview at the Defence Services Asia show here this week.
The executive declined to discuss timescales but said that with the Thai Navy going through a modernization, the company was “trying to be responsive to their needs and requirements while ensuring the shipbuilding knowledge is not lost, that’s the key.”
The ship, a derivative of the smaller Royal Navy River-class vessel, is 90 meters long, armed with a 76mm Oto Melara gun and has a helicopter flight deck able to operate a machine the size of the AgustaWestland A139 Lynx.
Castle said sovereignty questions, sensitivity around the economic exclusion zone and other issues were driving growing opportunities in the region for selling and supporting naval platforms and systems.
The possible exporting of Thai-built OPVs would be subject to separate negotiation but the prospect had already sparked discussion. One possibility would be the re-export of the design to other nations in the region, he said.
“Something like that would play to efforts by the ASEAN nations towards greater collaboration,” Castle said.
Aside from license-build of further OPVs, Castle said he sees modernization and support of BAE-built warships, guns and other systems as a potentially big opportunity.
Two Lekiu-class light frigates commissioned in the mid-1990s for the Royal Malaysian Navy could soon need upgrades and the executive sees opportunities for insertion of missile, radar and other technologies being developed for the Royal Navy’s Type 26 frigate program.
Much of that technology is being incorporated in a Type 23 frigate upgrade program for the Royal Navy in advance of the Type 26 program getting underway.
Weighing in at around 6,000 tons, the Type 26 is probably too big and too sophisticated for all but a handful of nations but the systems being developed for the warship, such as the MBDA Sea Ceptor air defense missile and BAE’s Artisan radar, are more likely to find an export customer.
New Zealand became the first overseas customer for Sea Ceptor with an order that will see the missile installed as part of a frigate upgrade program.
Castle said he expects progress on the Malaysian upgrades either as one program or through a series of improvements during the next five-year defense plan, starting in 2016.
Other BAE executives at the show said a new OPV program for Malaysia was also likely on the horizon, although timelines were uncertain at this stage.
By a somewhat circuitous route, BAE has also found itself the supplier of warships to the Indonesian Navy and is starting discussions with Jakarta over how they could provide support.
It’s a long and tangled story but BAE’s Scottish shipyards built three corvettes for Brunei at the start of the decade. Brunei claimed the vessels didn’t meet the required specifications and refused to accept handover. The dispute eventually went to arbitration which found in favor of BAE.
Now the unused vessels have been sold to Indonesia by the German shipyard Lurssen acting on behalf of Brunei and delivery is expected this year.
BAE remains the design authority and is talking to potential local partners and others to try and secure the support and any eventual upgrade work.
Castle said that with the Bofor’s arm of BAE having a large installed base of naval guns in Indonesia, a strong dialogue was underway locally about building a maintenance repair and supply business in-country.
“The key to these initiatives in Indonesia is finding a partner and building a long-term sustainable business locally,” said the BAE executive.

http://www.defensenews.com/article/20140417/DEFREG03/304170021/Thai-Navy-May-Build-Second-Patrol-Boat-Under-BAE-License

Citation :

Thailand to receive first UH-72A in April 2015



Airbus has produced the first of six UH-72A light utility helicopters for the Royal Thai Army (RTA), officials at the company's production facility in Columbus, Mississippi, said on 14 May.

The aircraft will be delivered in December to the US Army, which will transfer it to the RTA, according to a company spokesman. The remaining five aircraft will be built in 2015.

Thailand requested six UH-72As through the Foreign Military Sales (FMS) process in 2013. The contract is worth USD77 million and would be the first international sale of the aircraft, a variant of the EC145 civil helicopter.

Thailand is recapitalising its rotary wing fleet. In February 2011 it acquired three Mil Mi-17V-5 multimission helicopters from Russia, with three further helicopters ordered. In October 2012 the RTA signed a contract for two AgustaWestland AW139s for transport and utility missions with delivery set for this year.

In August 2009 the Defense Security Co-operation Agency announced an FMS of three UH-60L aircraft, while in March 2010 the Thai government approved a proposal to purchase three UH-60Ms. In October 2011, the Thai Cabinet approved a USD90 million plan to procure two further Black Hawks.

http://www.janes.com

Citation :

Supply of Ukrainian BTR-3E1 to Thailand Suspended

16 Juni 2014


BTR-3E1 of the Thailand Army (photo : ThaiFighterClub)

As reported by the chief editor of Ukrainian web-resource Tsenzor.Net Yuri Butusov, "for three weeks more than 30 new Ukrainian BTR-3E near Kiev are not in motion. These armored vehicles were built by order of Thailand, but due to the war, delivery was suspended."

Based on available information, it is a part of 32 series machines BTR-3E1 for Thailand of SE "Kiev armored plant" has passed the preliminary acceptance of the spring of 2014. Reminding that the contracts in 2007 and 2011 to be delivered to Thailand total 233 BTR-3E1 and machines based on them, of which in 2010-2013 were shipped, according to different sources, from 142 to 153 units.

(BMPD)  

http://defense-studies.blogspot.fr/2014/06/supply-of-ukrainian-btr-3e1-to-thailand.html

Citation :

Navy launches new submarine squadron

The Royal Thai Navy's Submarine Squadron will be officially unveiled today in a move that underscores the navy's push to have submarines added to the naval fleet.

The squadron and training centre will be opened by navy chief ADM Narong Pipattanasai at the Sattahip naval base in Chon Buri province, the unit said on its Facebook page

The unit commanded by Panu Punyavirocha is equipped with everything including a German-made submarine simulator except one thing: Real submarines.
The construction cost of the office and equipment was estimated at 740 million baht, Rear ADM Panu said in October. The navy has over the years pushed the government to buy submarines to help navy ships protect the Gulf of Thailand.

The navy initiated the idea to set up the unit in 2011 with the hope it could get second-hand submarines from Germany, but this has so far failed to come about. Thailand has not had any submarines since its fleet of four Japanese-made vessels were retired in 1952 after 13 years in service.

"Although the navy has not had any submarines for 62 years, submarines are still important as a strategic and irreplaceable tool for the state to make up for the geographical limitations of Thailand,''...

The promotion of the new office on Facebook received some encouragement from internet users.

"Be patient,'' wrote Noppawit Suwanacheep on Facebook. "Submarines will eventually come.''

"Be patient,'' wrote Noppawit Suwanacheep on Facebook. "Submarines will eventually come.'' Another comment by Pongsakon ZakuKyon said the upcoming office launch signals the imminent arrival of submarines. "Having read that, I think we will have subs soon,'' he said.

Although we don't have tens of billions of baht to spend on submarines, the navy must be prepared for when we will have them in the near future,'' said ADM Narong in October last year when he ordered the navy to set up the squadron.

http://www.bangkokpost.com

Citation :

19/08/2014

Gripen thaïlandais déployés à Pitch Black!



Darwin, Australie, pour la première fois, la Royal Thai Air Force (RTAF) a déployé ses avions de combat Saab JAS-39C/D Gripen, lors de l’exercice aérien «Pitch Black» (PB14) organisé par la Royal Australian Air Force (RAAF).  

Exercice «Pitch Black» :

L’exercice «Pitch Black» est un exercice de guerre aérienne organisé par la Royal Australian Air Force (RAAF). L'exercice se tient dans le Nord de l'Australie, principalement au sein des bases de la RAAF de Darwin et de Tindal. Le but de l'exercice est de pratiquer   des offensives aériennes face à un dispositif aérien défensif. Deux équipes une «rouge» et une «bleue» se face.

Les forces aériennes internationales ayant des liens de défense avec l'Australie sont invitées à cet exercice. On retrouve généralement : la Royal Malaysian Air Force, la République de Singapour Air Force; la Force aérienne royale thaïlandaise; la Royal Air Force aérienne de Nouvelle-Zélande, L’US Air Force ainsi que la Royal Thaï Air Force.



Une première pour les Gripen :

La RTAF avait jusqu’ici envoyé ses avions de combat Lockheed-Martin F-16C/D lors des éditions précédentes de «Pitch Black». Cette année ce sont les Saab JAS-39 C/D Gripen basés à Surat Thani dans le sud de la Thaïlande qui ont eu l’honneur de participer à l’exercice.

Le détachement thaïlandais comprend 15 pilotes, dont seulement cinq d'entre eux ayant déjà participé à un événement «Pitch Black». «Un de nos principaux objectifs est de donner aux pilotes un large apprentissage de lutte avec le Gripen et ceci en lien avec les forces internationales dans le cadre de cet exercice», explique le Cmdt du détachement thaïlandais Watanasrimongkol.

«Le Gripen C/D se montre favorablement supérieur à nos F-16, en terme de performance, ils sont très semblables, mais l’avionique du Gripen est très différente" dit-il. "Ce sont des avions de génération différente: le Gripen offre une bien meilleure interface homme-machine et avec le double système de liaison de données, augmente la conscience de la situation des pilotes».



Le six Gripen de la RTAF ont volé sans aucun soutien pétrolier durant l'exercice. Les Gripen thaï ont utilisés trois réservoirs auxiliaires pour leurs missions quotidiennes afin de pouvoir voler jusqu'à 2,5 heures au-dessus de la grande plage du sud de Darwin.



Photos :  1 Gripen C RTAF@ Andrew McLaughlin 2 Participants à Pitch Black 2014 @ David Gibbs RAAF 3 JAS-39 C/D RTAF @David Said RAAF

http://psk.blog.24heures.ch/

Citation :

Royal Thai Navy Buys Five EC645s

17 September 2014


EC-645 is another version of UH-72A Lakota with fenestron tailt rotor (photo : aermech)

The Royal Thai Navy (RTN) has signed a contract with Airbus Helicopters for the acquisition of five EC645 T2 utility helicopters, it has emerged. RTN representatives signed the contract in Bangkok on 2 September in a deal believed to be worth around 2.5 billion Baht (PS50 million).

Chief of Naval Operations presided the signing of the contract to purchase of 5 helicopter with Mr.Kevin Dell Vice President Customer Representative of Airbus Helicopter.

Admiral Tanarat senior advisor of the Toyal Thai Navy and Mr.Scott Tumpak the Senior Manager of EC645 Airbus Helicopter  as a witness in the purchase of helicopter.

http://defense-studies.blogspot.fr/

Citation :

Thai air force to order reconnaissance-roled Avanti II


The Royal Thai Air Force’s deputy chief of air staff, Air Chief Marshal Sutthiphan Kritsanakhup and Piaggio Aero Industries’ government sales director Francescomaria Tuccillo on 29 September reached an agreement in Rome for the delivery of one P180 Avanti II in a new photographic reconnaissance configuration.

Reached in the presence of Italian air force chief of staff Gen Pasquale Preziosa, the agreement will lead to a contract signing on 30 September. This will coincide with a Royal Thai Air Force delegation visiting Piaggio Aero’s new main facility in Villanova d’Albenga, near Savona, north-west Italy.

The Thai officials have already visited the Italian air force's 14th Wing, which is equipped with Avanti IIs in transport and special mission configurations, and its multi-crew training centre at Pratica di Mare air base, to receive information on the training capabilities that the service could provide to its Thai counterpart.

http://www.flightglobal.com

Citation :

Thailand – UH-72A Lakota Helicopters


WASHINGTON, Sep 29, 2014 - The State Department has made a determination approving a possible Foreign Military Sale to Thailand for UH-72A Lakota Helicopters and associated equipment, parts, training and logistical support for an estimated cost of $89 million. The Defense Security Cooperation Agency delivered the required certification notifying Congress of this possible sale on September 26, 2014.

The Government of Thailand has requested a possible sale of 9 UH-72A Lakota Helicopters, warranty, spare and repair parts, support equipment, communication equipment, publications and technical documentation, Aviation Mission Planning Station, personnel training and training equipment, U.S. Government and contractor technical and logistics support services, and other related elements of logistics support. The estimated cost is $89 million.

This proposed sale will contribute to the foreign policy and national security of the United States, by helping to improve the security of a major non-NATO ally.

This proposed sale will contribute to Thailand’s goal of upgrading and modernizing its military forces with a new light utility helicopter capable of meeting requirements for rotary-wing transportation, while further enhancing interoperability between Thailand the U.S., and among other allies. Thailand will have no difficulty absorbing these helicopters into its armed forces.

The proposed sale of this equipment and support will not alter the basic military balance in the region.

The principal contractor will be EADS North America in Herndon, Virginia. There are no known offset agreements proposed in connection with this potential sale.

Implementation of this proposed sale will require ten contractor representatives to travel to Thailand for a period of five weeks for equipment deprocessing/fielding and system checkout.

There will be no adverse impact on the U.S. defense readiness as a result of this proposed sale.

This notice of a potential sale is required by law and does not mean the sale has been concluded.

All questions regarding this proposed Foreign Military Sale should be directed to the State Department's Bureau of Political Military Affairs, Office of Congressional and Public Affairs, pm-cpa@state.gov

Citation :

Thailand grows EC725 order, adds EC645 T2s

By: Dominic Perry London

Source: Flightglobal.com


Thailand has added to a recent planned acquisition of Airbus Helicopters UH-72A Lakotas with a separate deal for five light-utility EC645 T2s and two 11t EC725s.

To be operated by the Royal Thai Navy, the EC645 T2s are the latest version of the twin-engined type and the purchase is the first export order for the military variant. Deliveries are scheduled to begin in 2016.

So far only Germany has committed to the Turbomeca Arriel 2E-powered helicopter - the militarised version of the EC145 T2 - for use by its special forces.

The EC725s, meanwhile, are destined for the Royal Thai Air Force, which will utilise the Makila 2A-powered rotorcraft for search and rescue and combat search and rescue missions.

Deliveries are due to take place in 2017 and will join four other examples dating from a 2012 order which will be handed over from 2015.

Earlier this month Bangkok requested additional Lakotas – the military variant of the older EC145 – from Airbus Helicopters’ US subsidiary for its army.

http://www.flightglobal.com/news/articles/thailand-grows-ec725-order-adds-ec645-t2s-405108/

Citation :

Nine dead in Thai military helicopter crash

(Reuters) - A Thai military helicopter carrying nine army personnel has crashed in northern Thailand killing all on board, an army spokesman said on Monday.

The two-blade, twin-engine Bell 212 helicopter crashed 10 minutes after it took off from an army camp in Phayao province, 590 km (370 miles) from the capital Bangkok, deputy Royal Thai Army spokeswoman, Colonel Sirijan Ngathong, said.

The helicopter was carrying nine officers including Major General Songphol Thongjeen, deputy Third Area Army commander overseeing Thailand's north.

The cause of the crash was not immediately clear, Royal Thai Army spokesman, Winthai Suvaree, said.

Thailand's military has a history of fatal helicopter crashes. Three in 2011, just days apart, left 17 people dead and forced the army to ground its fleet of Bell 212 helicopters.

Engine failure and poor visibility are often blamed for the crashes.

Citation :

Navy renews push for sub plan


The Royal Thai Navy will dust off a proposal to buy submarines after years of failed attempts to equip itself with the expensive underwater craft.

Navy chief Kraisorn Chansuwanich revealed the plan on Thursday, which marks Royal Thai Navy Day.

Adm Kraisorn said he had proposed the navy’s latest development plan, which includes the bid to procure submarines, to Deputy Prime Minister and Defence Minister Prawit Wongsuwon during his visit to navy headquarters on Monday.


Adm Kraisorn said Gen Prawit agreed with the planned procurement of submarines and instructed the navy to present detailed studies on the types of submarines it wanted and the cost to see if they are affordable.

The navy has pressed governments for years to buy submarines to help protect the Gulf of Thailand.

The bid to equip the navy with submarines began when Banharn Silpa-archa was prime minister in 1995. Back then, Kockums of Sweden were the prime target. But alleged corruption by politicians and middlemen who wanted to pocket money from the project led to the deal being sunk.

Ten years later, the navy renewed its efforts with a proposal to buy used submarines from China under the Thaksin Shinawatra administration. But the military coup on Sept 19, 2006 killed that bid.

In 2010, then navy commander Kamthorn Phumhiran approved a plan to set up a Submarine Squadron, with expectations of having six used German U206A submarines worth a total of 7.7 billion baht. But it was met with resistance and never passed the planning stage.

In 2012, then navy chief Surasak Rounroengrom approved guidelines to train navy personnel in submarine operations, which led to navy personnel studying submarines with the help of countries who have had them for a long time.

In July this year, the Royal Thai Navy’s Submarine Squadron was officially launched at Sattahip naval base in Chon Buri province. The navy has sent 18 officers to Germany for training in submarine technology and another 10 to South Korea to attend a training course on international diesel submarines.

http://www.bangkokpost.com

Citation :

China's L-15 Falcon makes Thailand procurement shortlist



China's Hongdu L-15 Falcon has made the shortlist of new advanced jet trainers and light attack aircraft to be acquired by the Royal Thai Air Force (RTAF), according to the London-based military news publication IHS Jane's.

The L-15 will be competing with America's Textron AirLand Scorpion, Russia's Yakovlev Yak-130, Italy's Alenia Aermacchi M-346 and Korea Aerospace Industries' TA-50 to become one of the four aircraft purchases approved by the Thai government to replace its ageing fleet of Aero L-39ZA Albatros aircraft.

RTAF chief Treetos Sonjaeng reportedly announced the 3.7 billion Thai baht (US$113 million) program on Dec. 13, adding that a decision on the procurement is expected next year.

The main reason for the program is said to be because Thailand lacks the spare parts to maintain its 40 or so L-39ZAs, originally acquired from the Czech Republic during the 1990s. The other factor is the need for a modern platform to expand the RTAF's fleet of 12 JAS-39 "Gripen" fighters delivered between 2011 and 2013, the report added.

Thailand does not have the ability to manufacture its own aircraft, but is hoping that a foreign manufacturer will be able to transfer the necessary technology and knowledge to allow it to maintain and repair the aircraft domestically.

In addition to advanced jet trainers and light attack aircraft, Thailand is also planning to acquire more Gripen fighters and Eurocopter EC725 Caracals, long-range tactical transport helicopters manufactured by Airbus, beginning next year. New fixed-wing and rotary-wing transport aircraft are also said to be needed to replace its old fleet of Lockheed C-130 Hercules and Boeing CH-47 Chinooks.

http://www.wantchinatimes.com