Showing posts with label Royal Thai Navy. Show all posts
Showing posts with label Royal Thai Navy. Show all posts
January 23, 2018
January 9, 2018
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.
December 1, 2017
August 3, 2017
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.
September 18, 2016
July 22, 2016
July 17, 2016
Royal Thai Air Force takes delivery of first Sukhoi Superjet 100
The Royal Thai Air Force has taken delivery of the first of two Sukhoi Superjet 100 VVIP aircraft in Russia.
June 13, 2016
Chinese and Thai Marines ended the Blue Strike 2016 joint military training
hinese and Thai Marines ended the bilateral Exercise Blue Strike at Royal Thai Navy Tactical Training Center Ban Chan Krem, Chantaburi, Thailand on Jun. 7.
Wang Hai, head of the Chinese delegation and deputy commander of the Chinese Navy, and Naris Prathumsuwan, head of the Thai delegation and Royal Thai Navy Fleet Commander, attended and addressed the closing ceremony.
Wang Hai pointed out that the joint training is the third joint training activity between the Marine Corps of the two countries and this time, they have achieved greater progress. The two sides completed the training content very well, demonstrated their high combat spirit and excellent military qualities and showcased fruitful results of this joint training.
He said the joint training has promoted pragmatic exchanges and cooperation between the two navies and elevated the friendly relations between the two navies to a new height.
Prathumsuwan expressed his heartfelt thanks for efficient command of commanding officers and hard training of officers and soldiers of the two sides. He said that different units of the two sides worked together and achieved great success.
The joint training is not only a bilateral exchange of experience and skills, it also further promoted the friendly relations between the two navies and the two peoples, Prathumsuwan added.
Elites from both countries have formed a command team which is responsible for planning, organization, implementation, coordination and support works for the drill. They have completed tasks including coordinative communication, ship maneuver, mixed training of 15 subjects and communication and discussion of 4 subjects.
March 28, 2016
New SOC-R Boats for Thai Navy
The Royal Thai Navy (RTN) received six Special Operations Craft - Riverine (SOC-R) on 18 March to replace aging Patrol Boat Riverine (PBR).
These 10m-long SOC-R boats were built by Marsun, the Thai dockyard that also built the first three M10 Mk I SOC-Rs in 2012. These latest M10 Mk II boats are designed to operate along inland waterways and in coastal areas, chiefly to support special operations.
Propulsion comes from two 420hp engines with waterjets offering maximum speeds of 40+kt. They carry five crewmen and eight troops. The heaviest possible armament consists of three .50-cal machine guns.
These new SOC-Rs of the Riverine Squadron will operate in inland and boundary waterways like the Mekong River and Golden Triangle.
Their missions are to keep the peace, prevent illegal immigration, human trafficking, drug smuggling or any actions that harm homeland security. The SOC-Rs also provide fire support in combat situations.
Additionally, the boats will be used in humanitarian relief missions and to protect the royal family and VIPs.
The RTN needs more than 40 SOC-Rs to replace the Riverine Squadron’s 39 aging PBRs, some of which are more than 30 years old. All will be locally built.
February 23, 2016
Thailand is under Discussions to Order Third Batch of Gripen
Saab's Next-Gen Gripen Fighter Jets Ready in May
Saab’s next-generation Gripen E combat jet will be rolled out of the assembly site at Linkopping, Sweden, on May 18, the company announced during a briefing with reporters at the Singapore Airshow.Three aircraft are planned for the test phase of the new aircraft E/F variant, which has been purchased by Swedish and Brazilian air forces.
No timing has been given for the first flight of the jet, which incorporates a raft of improvements over the earlier C/D version, most notably the addition of an active electronically scanned radar.
Slovakia, Czech, Hungarian, Croatia and Bulgaria
During the briefing, Saab officials confirmed that they expect to add Slovakia to the list of Gripen export fighter customers at some stage after the general election timed for next month.
The Slovakians are currently in negotiation with Saab to acquire 8 new C/D variant aircraft, said Richard Smith, the head of Gripen sales, on Feb 18.
“Negotations are ongoing as they head into an election and most likely the contract will be signed after the election is over ,” said Smith.The Gripen sales boss said the deal would be a purchase and not a lease.
The Czech and Hungarian air forces already operate the C/D version under lease arrangements. Saab also listed Croatia and Bulgaria as other potential customers for the fighter.Saab will continue to produce and develop the C/D version alongside the new E/F variant into the future.
Brazil, Colombia and Thailand
Smith said he believes Saab will secure around 300 Gripen sales over the coming years. A number of those could involve additional orders from existing customers.
The 36 Gripen E’s ordered by Brazil are just an initial order, the executive believes. An assembly line is being established in Brazil to build 15 of the aircraft.
Smith said a second country in Latin America was in dialogue with them to acquire the Gripen but he declined to name the air force in question.
One possibility is Colombia; it has a requirement and a budget to acquire a combat jet.
Discussions are under way with Thailand to acquire further C/D aircraft to add to the 12 they have already purchased in two batches of six.
A company officials said he was convinced there would be a third batch and the total order could eventually grow to two full squadrons of aircraft, a total of 36 machines.
February 20, 2016
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