Armée Thailandaise/Royal Thai Armed Forces

Citation :

4th Army helicopter crashes in Yala


A helicopter from the 4th Army crashed in Muang district of Yala province on Sunday afternoon while on patrol to help people hit by floods, injuring four people including the two pilots, Lt Gen Prakarn...

The incident occurred at about 1.30pm while the helicopter was flying in heavy rain. Lt Gen Prakarn said the helicopter crashed at Ban Poye in tambon Lammai in Muang district of Yala. The aircraft...

http://www.bangkokpost.com

Citation :

Italy's Alenia Aermacchi offers M-346 trainer

Italian aerospace company Alenia Aermacchi again has offered its M-346 Master advanced jet trainer aircraft to Thailand as the air force looks at aircraft from as many as six countries to replace its ageing fleet of Czech-made L-39 Albatros jets.

According to a report in HIS Jane's Defence Weekly, the offer was made following last week's announcement by the air force it would purchase four new fighter planes as part of its Advanced Jet Trainer/Light Attack Aircraft programme.

The air force currently operates 36 L-39ZA/ART aircraft from Aero Vodochody of the Czech Republic, which last week told Jane's that it offered the Thai military either its L-159 ALCA or L-39NG as replacements the older aircraft. Thailand calls the aircraft - which it purchased in the 1990s - the B.KhF1 and modernised them with Israeli avionics and the ability to fire Raytheon AIM-9 Sidewinder missiles.

The air force, the magazine said, has allocated 3.5 billion baht for the four new planes. In addition to the Alenia Aermacchi and Aero Vodochody bids, offers are expected from China, Russia, South Korea and the United Kingdom.

China likely would offer its GAIC FTC-2000 (JL-9 Shanying) or HAIG L-15 Lieying; Russia its Yakovlev Yak-130 'Mitten'; South Korea its the KAI F/A-50 Fighting Hawk; and the United Kingdom would counter with the BAE Systems Hawk.

A decision on the procurement is expected in 2015.

Alenia Aermacchi's offer marks its second attempt to get the Thailand to purchase the M-346. In February the company planned to bid on a proposal for up to 10 jets. However that plan was scuttled after the May 22 coup.

The tandem twin-seat, twin-engine M-346 can operate both as a trainer and a light-attack craft. It is rated at a top speed of 1,093 km/h and a 45,000-foot service ceiling. Each jet has an estimated unit price of $35 million and is used by Singapore, Italy, Israel, and Poland.

http://www.bangkokpost.com

Citation :

Raytheon awarded $491 million contract for AMRAAM®

TUCSON, Ariz., Dec. 23, 2014 /PRNewswire/ -- Raytheon Company (NYSE: RTN) is being awarded a fixed-price contract $491,478,068 for the Advanced Medium Range Air to Air Missile. The contract is for the production of the AMRAAM® missile and other AMRAAM system items, including the captive air training missile, common munitions bit/reprogramming equipment and non-developmental item airborne instrumentation unit.

The contract includes foreign military sales to Korea, Oman, Singapore and Thailand.

Work will be performed in Tucson and is expected to be completed by February 2017.

http://raytheon.mediaroom.comRaytheon awarded $491 million contract for AMRAAM®

Citation :

China pitches S-26T submarine for Royal Thai Navy contract


The state-run China Shipbuilding Industry Corporation officially introduced its S-26T submarine to the defense ministry of Thailand on Jan. 12 to strengthen the military-to-military relationship between Beijing and Bangkok, according to Duowei News, an outlet operated by overseas Chinese.

After the decommissioning of the Royal Thai Navy's four Matchanu-class submarines, the nation has not operated submarines for more than 60 years. Now, however, some officials in the country's military government believe submarines are needed to defend the nation's freedom of navigation in the Gulf of Thailand. To rebuild its submarine fleet, the government decided to buy two or three submarines in Fiscal year 2016. China is the third nation to demonstrate interest in selling submarines to Thailand, after France and South Korea.

By selling submarines to Thailand, China aims to gain a potential political and defense partner in South China Sea disputes with its neighbors at a time when Vietnam is also purchasing Kilo-class submarines from Russia.

Over the past 20 years, Thailand had signed contracts with Germany and South Korea to buy new submarines and considered buying S-20 submarines from China. These plans all fell through however due to repeated economic and political crises. As tensions escalate between rival claimants in the disputed South China Sea, Thailand has begun to feel that submarines are once again important to defend its national security, even though the country itself does not make territorial claims in the sea.

While the S-20 is the export version of the Type 039A Yuan-class diesel-electric submarine, the full details of the S-26T remain mysterious but its main competitor for the Royal Thai Navy's contract will be South Korea's Chang Bogo-class submarine.

http://www.wantchinatimes.com

Citation :

29 Januari 2015

BTR-3E1 with 90mm CMI CSE90LP has been Tested in Thailand


BTR-3E1 with 90mm CMI CSE90LP (photos : CMI. Thai Defense)

The new ukrainian wheeled tank destroyer BTR-3E1 with 90mm CMI CSE90LP has been tested in Thailand for for mechanized infantry regiment (MGS) , reported defence-blog.com. CMI Defence and Ukroboroprom integrate the Cockerill CSE 90LP turret with the BTR- 3E 8×8 vehicle. The resulting system offers robust organic direct firesupport to current and future BTR-3 users.



The Cockerill CSE 90LP is a low-weight two-person turret. Featuring the proven Cockerill 90mm low pressure gun (of which some 2,500 units have been sold) the turret provides a range of highly effective fires from HE to APFSDS-T and Canister. These fires are accurately delivered around the clock using electrically-powered gun drives and a night/day digital fire control system. The low weight of the Cockerill CSE 90LP turret permits the high mobility of the Ukroboronservice BTR-3E chassis to be fully utilized. Despite its high capability and advanced design, the Cockerill CSE 90LP turret is simple to use and ruggedly reliable in the field; a real soldier’s tool.



The BTR-3E1 project fulfilled the wish of highly mobile infantry with reasonable firepower but there are some missing puzzles ,the MGS ,which will provide the heavy punches for this (these) regiment(s), IMO, this 90 mm is more than enough firepower to support the infantry (but 105 should do some jobs better,i.e. tank hunting).


http://defense-studies.blogspot.fr/2015/01/btr-3e1-with-90mm-cmi-cse90lp-has-been.html

Citation :

Soltam ATMOS 52 Caliber Howitzer Delivered to Thailand

02 Februari 2015



So;tam ATMOS 52 howitzer (photo : Natphat Poolsuan)

Finally ATMOS has just came to Thailand. It seems to have 52 caliber rather than normal (and in service) 39 caliber Soltam howitzer.



There are some rumours that the collaboration between RTA and Elbit does not happen. IMO If the rumour is real, this will be
a great loss to Thai's weapon industry !



Another rumour said "18 systems will be shipped to Thailand" and "the assembly will be done in the Army Weapon factory".
I hope that the collaboration will be continued and Thai's version of ATMOS will be manufactured in large numbers.


http://defense-studies.blogspot.fr/2015/02/soltam-atmos-52-caliber-howitzer.html

Citation :

RTAF Received First EC725 Helicopters


19 Februari 2015


RTAF plans to purchase 16 EC-725 Combat SAR helicopter (all photos : RTAF)

During 8 -15 February 2015 at the French, RTAF Board of the Technical Committee to inspect the project to supply unit # 1 EC725 medium
helicopters for search and rescue in the battle area (Phase 1),  manufactured by Airbus Helicopters.



In the RTAF, EC925 will replace UH-1 Huey for Combat SAR (photo : RTAF)

The supply of medium combat search and rescue helicopters is to provide medium helicopter to find and as a lifesaver. Replacement helicopter
search and rescue mission today to keep its air force and the ability to search and rescue for military and civilians.




Details of RTAF EC725 helicopter (photo : RTAF)

As the main unit of the Air Force, Medium Helicopter's Project (Phase 1) to provide an EC725 helicopter is scheduled for delivery 4 units for
RTAF on August 2015.


http://defense-studies.blogspot.fr/2015/02/rtaf-received-first-ec725-helicopters.html

Citation :

Thai air force F-16A crashes during drill, killing pilot

BANGKOK — A Thai air force F-16A fighter jet crashed Friday during a drill in central Thailand, killing the pilot, an air force spokesman said.

The single-seat jet crashed at the air force's training ground in Lopburi province during a weapon-training flight, Air Vice Marshal Montol Suchookorn said.

He said the body of the 30-year-old pilot was found in the wreckage and air force officers were investigating the cause of the crash.

Thailand's air force has about 50 active F-16s in three fleets. The crashed jet was first used in 1988 and has undergone regular maintenance, Montol told The Associated Press.

In 2010, another F-16A crashed near the Thai-Myanmar border during a training flight, killing the pilot. A year later, two F-16 planes taking part in a joint military exercise with the U.S. crashed in northeastern Thailand but the pilots safely ejected.

Read more here: http://www.newsobserver.com/2015/02/20/4569554_thai-fighter-jet-crashes-during.html?rh=1#storylink=cpy

Citation :

Thai M-163 VADS Get an Upgrade

23 Februari 2015


RTA M163-Vulcan Air Defense System (VADS) (photos : Huy Truong Vu, 5th Anti Aircraft Gun Battalion)

The venerable M163-VADS of the Royal Thai Army will get an upgrade from IMI .  The upgrade will consist of laser
rangefinder to replace AN/VPS-2 , video feed , thermal imaging sight (uncooled) and some new functions , e.g.
remote operation, all weather engagement capability or even automatic target tracking .



The M163 Vulcan Air Defense System (VADS) is a self-propelled anti-aircraft gun (SPAAG).   The M168 gun is a variant of the General Dynamics
20 mm M61 Vulcan rotary cannon , the weapon is mounted on a modified M113 vehicle.  The M163s uses a small, range-only radar, the AN/VPS-2,
and an M61 optical lead-calculating sight. The system is suitable for night operations with the use of AN/PVS series night vision sights that can
be mounted to the right side of the primary sight.



The M168 20mm gatling autocannon rotary gun fires at 3,000 rounds per minute in short bursts of 10, 30, 60, or 100 rounds or it can fire in
continuous fire mode at a rate of 1,000 rounds per minute. A linkless feed system is used.

http://defense-studies.blogspot.fr/2015/02/thai-m-163-vads-get-upgrade.html

Citation :

The Royal Thai Army acquires six Airbus Helicopters EC145 T2

Marignane, France, 23 February 2015

A further addition to the Royal Thai Army’s rotorcraft fleet has been committed with the acquisition of six Airbus Helicopters light-utility EC145 T2, which is the newest and most powerful model in Airbus Helicopters’ proven EC145 light twin-engine helicopter family.

The Royal Thai Army signed for six EC145 T2s with a VIP installation, under the Light Utility Helicopter Type II requirement, to be deployed principally on official passenger transport duties, with deliveries scheduled to begin in 2016.

“By acquiring the EC145 T2, the Royal Thai Army again demonstrates its confidence in Airbus Helicopters’ products and services, following the successful entry into service of the AS550 C3e Armed Reconnaissance Helicopters in 2014 and the imminent delivery of the UH-72A Lakota Light Utility Helicopters from the United States,” said Philippe Monteux, Airbus Helicopters’ Head of Region South East Asia & Pacific.


(© Airbus Helicopters)

The EC145 T2 features a modern digital cockpit and a 4-axis autopilot. With a maximum take-off weight of 3.65 tons, the helicopter is powered by Turbomeca Arriel 2E powerplants equipped with dual-channel full authority digital engine controls (FADEC). Operational safety is enhanced by Airbus Helicopters’ Fenestron® shrouded tail rotor, particularly for landings and takeoffs in confined landing sites, as well as during loading/unloading on the ground while the rotor is turning.

The UH-72A is a version of the EC145 type produced by Airbus Helicopters’ plant in Columbus, Mississippi for the United States Army and Navy. Six units were acquired by the Royal Thai Army in December 2013 from the United States Army under the Foreign Military Sales program.

http://www.airbushelicopters.com

Citation :

First Royal Thai Army Pilots, Maintenance Technicians Complete Training Course to Operate UH-72A Lakotas for Thailand



GRAND PRAIRIE, Texas (Feb. 27, 2015) – Six pilots and 10 maintenance technicians from
the Royal Thai Army have successfully completed training to fly and maintain the UH-72A
Lakota, the initial group of Thai pilots and aircraft maintenance technicians that will be trained
to operate Lakotas for Thailand.

The Thai pilots and technicians were honored Friday in a graduation ceremony at Airbus
Helicopters Inc. in Grand Prairie, where they underwent several weeks of comprehensive
classroom and simulator instruction as well as flight training in the UH-72A. A second group
of Thai pilots is now on site undergoing flight training in the Lakota.

“Our team is honored to have the opportunity to train the Royal Thai Army pilots and
technicians to operate the Lakota and perform important missions for their country,” said
Marc Paganini, President and CEO of Airbus Helicopters Inc.

Airbus Helicopters has produced six UH-72As for the Royal Thai Army. Those helicopters
have been delivered to the U.S. Army, which will later this year transfer the Lakotas to
Thailand. The six Lakotas were ordered from Airbus Group by Thailand through the U.S.
Army in April 2014, the first foreign military sale of the UH-72A. The U.S. government has
offered Thailand the opportunity to purchase an additional nine Lakotas.

“These first deliveries mark the beginning of a long-term partnership in support of this
important U.S. ally and our own government,” said Allan McArtor, Chairman and CEO of
Airbus Group Inc. “The same flexibility, reliability and cost-effectiveness that prompted the
U.S. Army to select the Lakota for so many of its missions makes this aircraft a very
compelling offering for many of America’s strategic partners around the world.”

The Lakota was competitively selected in 2006 to fill a wide variety of missions for the U.S.
Army and National Guard, including training, search and rescue, medical evacuation, border
security, command and control, VIP transport and general utility. The Lakota is also operated
in a training role by the U.S. Naval Test Pilot School. The Army, as part of its Aviation
Restructuring Initiative, has selected the Lakota as its Initial Entry Rotary Wing Training
program at Fort Rucker.

A modern, twin-engine aircraft, the UH-72A is a highly versatile helicopter capable of many
missions. As a trainer it is a stable but powerful aircraft that optimally prepares pilots for the
cockpit operating environment they will fly in throughout their careers. The Lakota’s glass
cockpit is compatible with night vision goggles, and the aircraft is single-pilot Instrument
Flight Rules certified. The Lakota continues to have the lowest cost to buy, own and operate
of any U.S. military helicopter in production.

Since 2006, Airbus Helicopters has delivered more than 330 Lakotas from the company’s
assembly plant in Columbus, Miss. All were produced on time and on budget, enabling
Airbus Group to meet all of its commitments to the U.S. government.

About Airbus Group, Inc.
Airbus Group, Inc. is the U.S.-based operation of Airbus Group, a global leader in
aeronautics, space and related services. Airbus Group – comprising Airbus, Airbus Defense
and Space and Airbus Helicopters – contributes more than $15 billion to the U.S. economy
annually and supports over 245,000 American jobs through its network of suppliers. Airbus
Group, Inc., headquartered in Herndon, Va., offers a broad array of advanced solutions to
meet U.S. military and commercial requirements, including fixed- and rotary-wing aircraft,
homeland security systems, public safety communications, defense electronics and avionics,
and threat detection systems.

About Airbus Helicopters Inc.
Airbus Helicopters Inc. is the U.S. affiliate of Airbus Helicopters, the largest helicopter manufacturer
in the world, and a subsidiary of the Airbus Group. Airbus Helicopters Inc. is a manufacturer,
markets, sells and supports the broadest range of civil and parapublic helicopters offered in the
U.S. The product line represents the industry’s most cost-effective, technologically-advanced
helicopters serving all markets and missions. The company’s headquarters and main facility are in
Grand Prairie, Texas with a large manufacturing and production facility in Columbus, Miss.

http://www.aviationpros.com

Citation :

UH-60 pilots to train in US

The nation is to send 32 pilot-instructors to the US for flight training on UH-60 Black Hawk helicopters later this year as part of a bilateral arms purchase agreement, but legislators continue to question the government’s decision to allocate some of the new choppers to rescue and disaster-relief missions.

Minister of the Interior Chen Wei-zen (陳威仁) said the pilot-instructor groups are to head to the US in July for the five-month training program and return to Taiwan at the end of the year, accompanying the delivery of another new batch of the helicopters.

At the meeting of the legislature’s Internal Administration Committee, Chen said US training of Taiwan’s aviation personnel on flying UH-60s was included in the terms of the government’s US$3.1 billion procurement of 60 Black Hawk helicopters, with final delivery expected by the end of 2018.

However, some legislators criticized the government’s overall policy on the program, citing the decision to incorporate 15 Black Hawks into the National Airborne Service Corps (NASC) under the Ministry of the Interior for rescue and disaster relief missions.

The original intent of the procurement was to put the helicopters into military service under the Ministry of National Defense (MND) because the Black Hawks are sophisticated attack helicopters armed with advanced weapons and are primarily designed for combat.

“The plan is for this NASC helicopter squadron to be based in Taichung. They will be dispatched for civilian rescues and other emergency missions in support of MOI agencies, including the Coast Guard Administration (CGA) and the National Fire Agency,” Chen said.

Democratic Progressive Legislator Chuang Ruei-hsiung (莊瑞雄) said the interior ministry’s plan is flawed because the Black Hawks cannot land on CGA boats or other small ships used by the navy to patrol the nation’s nearshore waters.

“The deck area on these patrol ships is too small for these helicopters to land. So it is impossible for the Black Hawks to engage in search-and-rescue and other disaster-relief missions at sea. This is a wrong-headed policy and is a total waste of taxpayers’ money,” Chuang said.

NASC Director-General Tung Chian-cheng (董劍城) responded by saying the NASC is currently training for seaborne missions with the existing AS365 Dauphin 2 squadron, which are made by the Eurocopter consortium.

Tung admitted that the inadequate deck space on these ships for UH-60 helicopters to land is a big problem, and no solution has been found yet.

However, Tung said the Black Hawks can fly longer distances than the Dauphin 2s and he said he is confident the new helicopters could carry out most seaborne rescue and relief missions from their airport base.

Tung added that plans can be adjusted and revised when the pilot-instructors return back to Taiwan at the end of the year with the new helicopter delivery, as the NASC will conduct more joint exercises at sea with CGA patrol boats.

http://www.taipeitimes.com

Citation :

Nacelle « Sniper » pour les F-16 thaïlandais !  




Lockheed-Martin va intégrer sa nacelle  de type « Sniper ATP » sur les avions Lockheed-martin F-16 a/B «  Fighting Falcon » de la Royal Thaï Air Force (RTAF).

Les premières livraison de nacelles ont débuté cette année dans le cadre d’une modernisation de la flotte de F-16 de la RTAF. Le "Sniper ATP fournira une capacité de ciblage de précision pour localiser des cibles à l'aide de l'imagerie haute résolution et permettra également d’améliorer les capacité de reconnaissance aérienne. Le « pod » détecte, identifie automatiquement les cibles, puis le laser permet de désigner les  cibles tactiques à longue portée et permet  l'emploi des armes par guidage laser et guidage GPS contre des cibles multiples et mobiles.



Modernisation par étape :

L’arrivée des nacelles « Sniper » est la dernière phase d’un modernisation des F-16 A/B Block 15 en service en Thaïlande depuis 1987, au nombre de 55 appareils standard Block 55. Northrop-Grumman a reçu un contrat pour la modernisation avec un nouveau radar, soit l’ APG-38(V)9 en remplacement de l’APG-66. Ce nouveau radar bien que doté d’une antenne classique à balayage mécanique offre 33% de capacité de détection en plus, que l’ancienne version en mode air-air et air-sol. Il dispose d’un mode d’ouverture synthétique et permet une cartographie plus efficace. Ce nouveau radar est également plus léger et dispose d’une meilleure capacité de refroidissement. Les coûts de maintenance sont également plus faible à hauteur de 45%.

Autres améliorations, les F-16 thaï sont dotés d’un nouvel interrogateur IFF AN/APX-113 de BAE Systems avec un nouveau transpondeur. La protection des appareils n’a pas été oubliée, ils sont doté du distributeur de leurres AN/ALE-47,  ainsi que du système de gestion de guerre électronique AN/ALQ-213 de Terma System.


Photos : 1 & 3 Lockheed-Martin F-16 RTAF @ Tei 2 Pod SNIPER @ Lockheed-Martin

http://psk.blog.24heures.ch/archive/2015/05/17/nacelle-sniper-pour-les-f-16-thailandais-858873.html

Citation :

La Thaïlande va acheter trois sous-marins chinois


Le Comité des achats auprès de la Marine royale thaïlandaise a voté à la majorité des voies en faveur de l’achat de 3 sous-marins chinois, leur prix est de 355 millions de dollars chacun.


D’après le Bangkok Post se référant à une source au sein de la Marine royale, le choix a été motivé par “le rapport qualité-prix” des sous-marins chinois. La presse ne donne aucune précision sur le modèle des navires, mais le portail chinois Sina avait écrit que le ministre thaïlandais de la Défense, Prawit Wongsuwan, lors de sa visite en Chine, a apprécié l’une des nouveautés – le sous-marin S-20 (Type 041, classe Yuan, d’après la classification de l’OTAN).

La Thaïlande était privée de sous-marins depuis 1951. A partir de 1990, la Marine royale a relancé des négociations sur l’achat de navires avec plusieurs pays: l’Allemagne, la Suède, la Corée du Sud et la Russie. Mais aucun contrat n’a été signé. En 2012, pour des raisons financières, l'achat de 2 sous-marins Type 206 de la marine allemande pour 220 millions de dollars américains a dû être annulé.

Si cette longue histoire d’achat arrive à se concrétiser enfin avec le contrat signé entre la Thaïlande et la Chine, cela permettra au Royaume de poursuivre la collaboration avec son vieil allié. Ces derniers temps, la Thaïlande accorde de plus en plus de préférence aux relations avec ses voisins asiatiques plutôt qu’avec les États-Unis. Rappelons qu’en février, les États-Unis ont réduit leur participation au plus grand exercice militaire multinational de la zone Asie-Pacifique, le Cobra Gold. En mai 2015, la Thaïlande a demandé aux États-Unis de retirer leurs avions et leurs soldats de l'île de Phuket


http://fr.sputniknews.com/actualite/20150626/1016737782.html#ixzz3eGYEIvED

Citation :

Royal Thai Air Force plans to create two squadrons of unmanned aerial vehicles

The Royal Thai Air Force (RTAF) plans to create two squadrons of unmanned aerial vehicles (UAV), the first of their kind in Thailand, pending budget approval, unveiled the Bangkok Post on Saturday, August 1st. Royal thai Air Force Commander Air Chief Marshal Tritos Sonchaeng said the squadrons will be based at Wing 4 in Nakhon Sawan, which is currently made up of four squadrons of Lead-in jet fighters, F-16 fighter jets, and Arava patrol aircraft.


The proposal comes amid reports the air force is about to decommission the fleet of three Arava patrol aircraft purchased from Israel 36 years ago.
Typically the Arava planes need to be upgraded every three years. Speaking on the Arava patrol aircraft, ACM Tritos said they have served the air force well.

RTAF Squadron 402 and 404 of the wing will be turned into squadrons for the UAVs.

An air force source said the UAV units will be deployed once the Arava planes have been removed.

According to the source, the RTAF currently has some UAVs in service but the exact number is unknown. Some of the UAVs were purchased from abroad and some were developed locally by the air force.

Meanwhile, the RTAF has received permission from the cabinet to proceed with the modernisation, known as mid-life update (MLU), of the last batch of F-16 aircraft worth 9 billion baht ($353.2 million). So far six F-16 jets have been upgraded and six are still being upgraded.




The MLU scheme is designed to increase the jets’ life span for 20 more years and is scheduled to be completed in 2017. The RTAF has 18 F-16 jets. ACM Tritos said the RTAF has asked the air force-sponsored Thai Aviation Industries Co, and Lockheed Martin to undertake the modernisation of the F-16 jets.



http://www.airrecognition.com/index.php/archive-world-worldwide-news-air-force-aviation-aerospace-air-military-defence-industry/global-news-2015/august/1977-royal-thai-air-force-plans-to-create-two-squadrons-of-unmanned-aerial-vehicles-.html

Citation :

Thailand receives four EC725 helos

Gareth Jennings, London - IHS Jane's Defence Weekly
24 August 2015

he Royal Thai Air Force (Kongtap Agard Thai - RTAF) has received into service four Airbus Helicopters EC725 utility helicopters it ordered in 2012, the company announced on 25 August.


Two of the Royal Thai Air Force's first batch of four EC725 helicopters that have now been delivered. The service is to receive another two in 2016. (Airbus Helicopters)


The medium-lift helicopters will be used for search-and-rescue and troop transport duties from September. The helicopters will be fielded by the 203 Helicopter Squadron based at Lop Buri in central Thailand.

Once operational, these helicopters will enable the RTAF to begin the retirement process for the 18 Bell UH-1H 'Huey' helicopters that have been in service since 1968.

With delivery of the first batch of four EC725 helicopters now complete, the RTAF will receive next year a further two that were ordered in 2014.

Citation :

hai Navy acquires four more M21-class patrol boats

Ridzwan Rahmat, Singapore - IHS Jane's Navy International
31 August 2015



The Royal Thai Navy (RTN) has procured four new M21-class patrol boats from local shipyard Marsun Company Limited, a company official confirmed on 1 September.

A contract for the vessels was signed on 14 July 2015 at the RTN head office in Bangkok, Marsun's head of marketing, Theerabhat Sroisena, said in response to queries from IHS Jane's . The RTN currently operates three M21-class patrol boats, which were delivered by Marsun in May 2013.

According to specifications provided by the shipyard, the M21 patrol boat is 21.4 m long, has a beam of 5.56 m, and a draught of 1.05 m. Powered by two MAN diesel engines driving two fixed pitch propellers, the vessel has top speeds in excess of 30 kt, a range of 350 n miles, and an endurance of 24 hours. It can accommodate nine crew and can carry 4,000 litres of fuel and 1,200 litres of water.

The aluminium-hulled platform is equipped with X-band radar, and has one bow-mounted Denel GI-2 20 mm gun as its main weapon. The vessel also carries a stern-facing 12.7 mm machine gun with a co-axial 81 mm grenade launcher. It also can embark one rigid hull inflatable boat.

Like the previous three vessels, the boats are likely to be deployed primarily for exclusive economic zone (EEZ) patrolling and other constabulary and protection duties with the RTN's Coast Guard Squadron.

Citation :

Thailand conducts first ESSM firing from Chinese-made frigate at 'CARAT' 2015

Ridzwan Rahmat, Singapore - IHS Jane's Navy International
04 September 2015



The Royal Thai Navy (RTN) Type 25T Naresuan-class guided-missile frigate HTMS Naresuan has successfully conducted its first live test-firing of the RIM-162 Evolved SeaSparrow Missile (ESSM), a US Navy (USN) public affairs officer confirmed to IHS Jane's on 3 September.

HTMS Naresuan (421) conducted the test firing on 30 August in the Gulf of Thailand as part of the annual 'Co-operation Afloat Readiness and Training' ('CARAT') exercise between the USN, the US Marine Corps, and the Royal Thai Armed Forces.

"CARAT this year marks a significant milestone for bilateral co-operation and interoperability between our navies with the Royal Thai Navy firing the ESSM for the first time," said Lieutenant Arlo Abrahamson, a USN public affairs officer with the navy's Task Force 73.

"The ESSM fired from HTMS Naresuan achieved a direct hit on a BQM-74E drone missile launched from the USN amphibious dock landing ship USS Germantown [LSD 42]," he told IHS Jane's .

Alongside the first launch, the live firing also marked the successful proving out of the ship's modernised combat system. Undertaken by Saab, upgrade work underpinning the use of the ESSM system introduced the company's 9LV Mk 4 combat management system, two Ceros 200 CWI fire-control systems, the Sea Giraffe AMB G-band air/surface surveillance radar, and new tactical datalinks.

The RTN's two Naresuan-class frigates, Naresuan and HTMS Taksin (422), were built by China State Shipbuilding Corporation at Zhonghua shipyard in Shanghai and commissioned in December 1994 and September 1995 respectively, according to IHS Jane's Fighting Ships . The ships are armed with a 127 mm main gun and eight (two quad) launchers for the McDonnell Douglas Harpoon surface-to-surface missile. The vessels are also equipped with six (two triple) 324 mm Mk 32 Mod 5 torpedo launchers for submarine prosecution.

The United States and Thailand announced in July 2013 that BAE Systems had been awarded a contract to provide the Mk 25 Mod 0 Quad Pack canisters used to launch ESSM as part of a combat systems upgrade on the Naresuan class. The contract announcement followed a notification by the US Defense Security Co-operation Agency in August 2012 that outlined a possible Foreign Military Sale (FMS) to Thailand of nine ESSM all-up rounds and associated equipment.

'CARAT' is a series of bilateral military exercises involving the United States and the armed forces of nine partner countries in South and Southeast Asia. The Thailand phase of 'CARAT' 2015 ran for eight days up to 2 September.

Citation :

Thailand launches navy's first M58 patrol boat

Ridzwan Rahmat, Singapore - IHS Jane's Navy International
06 September 2015

The Royal Thai Navy's (RTN's) first M58 patrol boat has been launched, Thai shipbuilder Marsun confirmed to IHS Jane's on 7 September.




The boat, Laemsing (561), was launched on 25 August at the RTN-owned Thonburi Naval Dockyard in Bangkok, Marsun's head of marketing Theerabhat Sroisena told IHS Jane's . The company first announced in December 2013 that it had been awarded the contract to build the 58 m vessel, which is the largest patrol boat the RTN has ordered from Marsun to date.

According to specifications provided by the company, Laemsing is fitted with a 76/62 main gun, one stern-facing 30 mm cannon, and two 12.7 mm machine guns.

Citation :

New Airbus ACJ 320 in Commission at Royal Thai Air Force


14 September 2015



RTAF ACJ 320 seat configuration consist of 75 seats (VVIP 4 seats, VIP 6 seats, the director of travel one seat, followed by eight seats, crew 2
seats. and 54 passengers seats) (photo : RTAF)

BANGKOK – The Royal Thai Air Force (RTAF) has held a delivery ceremony of a new military aircraft which will be used for non-war missions.

The delivery of Airbus ACJ 320 took place at Military Terminal 2 in Bangkok. Deputy PM and Defense Minister Gen Prawit Wongsuwan presided over the ceremony. The aircraft was purchased under the RTAF procurement project of a passenger plane for high-ranking and prominent persons.

Aside from transporting important persons, the airbus will be used for humanitarian missions such as evacuation of disaster-affected Thais living overseas and peace-keeping operations.

The ACJ320 boasts the most spacious cabin in the corporate jet market. The double engine airplane can seat up to 75 passengers and fly at a maximum distance of 5,900 kilometers or around seven hours when filled up.

The airbus is based at Royal Flight Squadron 602, Wing 6 in Bangkok.

http://defense-studies.blogspot.fr/2015/09/new-airbus-acj-320-in-commission-at.html

Citation :

First road test of new Thai DTI 8×8 wheeled Infantry fighting vehicle


By Dylan Vosman -  Sep 17, 2015



First road test of  new Thai  DTI 8×8  Armored Vehicle.

Defence Technology Institute  release photos of its 8×8 wheeled Infantry fighting vehicle  on the first road test.

www. thaiarmedforce.com




http://defence-blog.com/army/first-road-test-of-new-thai-dti-8x8-wheeled-infantry-fighting-vehicle.html

Citation :

DSEI 2015: Royal Thai Army orders additional Starstreak systems

Charles Forrester, London - IHS Jane's Defence Industry
17 September 2015





Thailand has signed a procurement deal for further Starstreak high velocity missile ground-based air-defence missile systems, Thales announced on 16 September.

Thales officials declined to comment on the value of the order, or if additional workshare would be passed on to Thai companies. However, the company did tell IHS Jane's that deliveries of the system are expected to take place later in 2016 or early 2017.

The systems are to be fielded by the RTA, with Thales signing the contract with Thai company DataGate to provide the missile systems, and covers additional missiles and launchers.

The contract is a follow-on from Thailand's prior acquisition of Starstreak in 2012, when the Royal Thai Army (RTA) first procured the system in a deal then worth then THB378 million (then USD12 million) for use by the RTA's 7th Anti-Aircraft Artillery Battalion based near Bangkok.

Citation :

Korea Aerospace signed a deal to export T-50TH trainer jets to the Thailand By Dylan Vosman - Sep 17, 2015



South Korea’s sole aircraft manufacturer, Korea Aerospace Industries Ltd., said Thursday that it signed a deal to export trainer jets to the Thai government for around $110 million. The deal inked in Seoul between leaders of the two sides called for KAI to deliver four units of the T-50TH to the Thai government within 30 months of the contract, the company said in an emailed press release. The T-50TH will likely replace the outdated L-39 model that the Thai air force has been using for training purposes, it added. The KAI expects that the latest deal will raise the ratio of exports to over 60 percent of its sales target of 3 trillion won set for this year. “The fact that the Thai air force with a long period of history chose the T-50TH as its multi-purpose high-level trainer jets helps strengthen the masterpiece image of the T-50 in the East Asia region,” it said. www.koreaherald.com

Read more at: http://defence-blog.com/news/korea-aerospace-signed-a-deal-to-export-t-50th-trainer-jets-to-the-thailand.html