Infographics from Royal Thai Air Force shows the T-50TH acceptance test procedures

The Royal Thai Air Force put up a series of infographics on Apr. 3 showing the steps taken when it accepts a T-50TH advanced jet trainer from KAI.

Royal Thailand Army Day

Royal Thai Air Force (RTAF)’s first two T-50TH are on their way home, currently in Taiwan

The first two T-50TH jet trainers for the Royal Thai Air Force (RTAF) are on their way back home. Sources in Taiwan said the two jets arrived in Kaohsiung Siaogang Airport, Taiwan around 3pm local time on Jan. 8. They are expected to depart for Thailand after an overnight stay in Taiwan.

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Thai Army Chief Decommissioned Airship

Army commander-in-chief General Chalermchai Sitthisart said on Thursday a Bt350-million surveillance airship had been officially decommissioned after the airship reached its expiration date.

Army commander-in-chief General Chalermchai Sitthisart said on Thursday a Bt350-million surveillance airship had been officially decommissioned after the airship reached its expiration date. Chalermchai was replying to reporters at the Army’s Command and General Staff College after being asked to comment on criticism about alleged wasteful spending on Army procurements for equipment that proved to be of limited value. Chalermchai said the airship had reached the end of its term of operations because it was made of canvas, but the accompanying surveillance camera system could still be used. However, the Army did not plan to buy a new airship to replace the old one. The Army chief said the surveillance camera system would be dismounted from the airship and installed on another aircraft based on a decision by the forward command of the Internal Security Operations Command Area 4. The forward command was studying the issue in detail, Chalermchai said, adding that it would be unsafe to the airship at present. “Its usage will have to be modified because the expensive part was the camera system,” Chalermchai said.

“No new airship will be bought, but we will adjust the use of the camera system, as it is expensive and the brains of the surveillance system. Now we are testing it on another aircraft.” Asked whether decommissioning marked the end of the airship monitoring programme in the southern border provinces, Chalermchai replied: “Yes. But other parts can be used on another aircraft.” The Army chief added that the trailer truck that hauled the aircraft would be sold in an auction to be held by the Army Transport Department to benefit the Army. He said it would be a waste to leave the trailer unused. Asked whether the surveillance airship project had been a “complete waste”, Chalermchai said it had still been functioning when he carried operations in the deep South in 2011. Critics have said the airship was a graphic example of wasteful military procurement, exemplified by the purchase of handheld bomb detectors from Britain that proved to be useless. The airship project had a total budget of Bt350 million. The airship cost Bt260 million while the camera system, ground support equipment and other expenses cost Bt90 million.

The airship was commissioned in 2009 but it suffered a leak and was required to be refilled with expensive helium, so it was subsequently stored in a hangar at the 15th Infantry Division in Pattani’s Nong Chik district. When Prime Minister General Prayut Chan-o-cha was Army chief, the Army hired a firm to provide maintenance for the airship for Bt50 million a year, after which it was subsequently used sporadically.  However, there was additional criticism that the airship flew lower than was safe, making it an easy target, so it was eventually put in storage again until its term of operations expired.

Royal Thailand Air Force - T-50TH Made The First Flight

RTAF T-50TH made the first flight earlier this month at the KAI facility in South Korea.

Out of the requirement of 16 aircraf, RTAF order 4 T-50THs and the follow on order of 8 aircraft was confirmed in this fiscal year.

T-50TH is close to FA-50 in term of configuration with the BVR capability and datalink. RTAF will deploy the aircraft in the LIFT and attack mission.

At the factory of KAI manufacturer in South Korea The Royal Thai Air Force has provided four T-50THs in the first lot and added 8 more in the 2016 year with 16 requests to replace the L-39ZA/ART in the 401 Squadron. 

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First of two Thai T-50TH will be Delivered in November 2019

Thailand has bought eight additional T-50TH Golden Eagle advanced jet trainers from Korea Aerospace Industries (KAI), with an approximate $260 million government-to-government contract signed on 30 July.

The purchase had been earlier approved by the Thai cabinet on 11 July. KAI said the first two aircraft would be delivered in November 2019 and the remainder by May 2020.

AVM Pongsak Semachai revealed that the aircraft would be paid for over a three-year period.

The kingdom purchased four T-50 jets in a September 2015 deal worth $110 million. These are due to be delivered to the Royal Thai Air Force (RTAF) by mid-2018 and will be operated by Wing 4 based at Takhli Air Base in Nakhon Sawan. Six pilots are currently undergoing training on the new platform.

Specifications about the RTAF’s T-50s are scant, but they are expected to feature an Elbit Systems ELM-2032 fire control radar, the ability to carry armaments and future provision for a Link 16 data link.

T-50TH trainer jets will replace dwindling numbers of Aero Vodochody L-39ZA Albatros trainers that have been in service for training and combat roles since the early 1990s. They are becoming increasingly expensive to keep in service.

Furthermore, modern trainer jets are needed to help pilots transition to new fighters such as the Saab Gripen. Prime Minister Prayuth Chan-ocha said: ‘It will only bring more damage if we provide insufficient training.’

It is understood that the RTAF will acquire an additional four T-50THs in a third batch in order to fulfil its requirement for 16 such aircraft.

The acquisition of these aircraft will bring the total value of military hardware bought by the junta since the 2014 coup to about $2.19 billion.

Thailand has been increasingly turning to China’s embrace for defence equipment, but interestingly the T-50 won out over the Hongdu L-15 when a competition for the new trainer was originally held.

Prayuth argued that the choice of the T-50 proved that Thailand is open to doing business with any country, including the US.

In May, KAI completed delivery of the final FA-50PH light attack aircraft to the Philippines, which is now operating twelve airframes. Indonesia is another regional customer for the T-50.

KAI has sold 64 T-50 aircraft worldwide to date for a combined worth of $2.93 billion.

Indian Army and Royal Thailand Army jointly rehearsed Ambush and Cordon & Search Operation drills

Jt patrolling of Indian and Royal Thailand Armies on 2nd day of 14-day Jt Training Ex ‘Maitree’ at Bakloh, HP

adgpi: #RoyalThaiArmy troops trying their hands with weapons #IndianArmy #ExMaitree17 pic.twitter.com/e6Tx83W0dp

— INDIAN ARMY (@bravearmy) July 4, 2017

Royal Thai Air Force pilots begin KAI T-50 conversion course

Six Royal Thai Air Force pilots are now in South Korea for the conversion course to fly the KAI T-50