TheRoyal Thai Air Force (RTAF) (Thai:กองทัพอากาศไทย;RTGS: Kong Thap Akat Thai) is theair force ofThailand. Since its establishment in 1913 as one of the earliest air forces of Asia, the Royal Thai Air Force has engaged in numerous major and minor conflicts. During theVietnam War era, the RTAF was supplied withUSAF-aid equipment.
Belgian pilot Charles Van Den Born performed a flying demonstration overBangkok in January 1911, greatly impressing PrinceChakrabongse Bhuvanath, brother of KingVajiravudh, and he even accepted an invitation for a flight. Chakrabongse sent three army officers to France, who began flight training atVélizy-Villacoublay in July 1912. The officers became qualified aviators a year later. Soon after,Sra Pathum airfield was established along with a temporary hangar to house planes and also host flight training. In late 1913, the three new aviators returned home after arranging for the purchase of fourNieuport monoplanes and aBréguet biplane. The aviation section put on a demonstration in January 1914, gaining the support of the King and a permanent aviation group was established and an air base atDon Muang was assigned, as theRoyal Aeronautical Service, under Army control.[2][3][4]
Siam enteredWorld War I with theAllies in July 1917, and aSiamese Expeditionary Force of around 1,200 men was sent to France, arriving in June 1918. Among them were 370 pilots andgroundcrew, including more than 100 officers who were sent to flight school first at Istres and Avord, and then atIstres,Le Crotoy,La Chapelle-la-Reine,Biscarosse and Piox. Eventually, The 95 pilots who qualified as military aviators flew a few operationalsorties in the closing weeks of the war but suffered no casualties, nor scored any kills. Their training did mean that Siam entered the post-World War I period with one of the best equipped and trained air forces in Asia.[5][6]
In the 1930s the Royal Aeronautical Service began to replace French aircraft with American designs, purchasing more than 95 aircraft, including theBoeing P-12E,Curtiss Hawks, andVought Corsairs. The air force was formally separated into its own branch, theRoyal Siamese Air Force, in April 1937 and five operational wings were established. In 1939, when Siam became Thailand, the service was renamed theRoyal Thai Air Force.[3] At the end of 1940, the RTAF once again saw combat, this time in theFranco-Thai War, a border conflict againstFrench Indochina. The RTAF operated in theMekong Delta, attacking ground forces andgunboats and defending against French bombing raids, until a ceasefire was arranged in January 1941. Later that year, on 7 December, Thailand was invaded by Japan. The RTAF took an active role in the resistance. Combat Wings 1 and 5 engaged significantly more advanced Japanese aircraft over Thailand's eastern border, but suffered heavy losses, including almost 30 percent of Wing 5, before a cease-fire took effect the following day.[7]
The Air Force is commanded by theCommander of the Royal Thai Air Force (ผู้บัญชาการทหารอากาศไทย). The Royal Thai Air Force Headquarters is located in Don Muang Airbase,Bangkok,Thailand.
The RTAF consists of headquarters and five groups: command, combat, support, education and training, and special services.[8]
The Royal Thai Air Force Combat Group is divided into 11 combat wings, 1 forward operating base wing, plus a flight training school and a few direct-reporting units.[8]
| Wing | Role | Province | Base | Notes |
| Directorate of Air Operations Control | ||||
| Security Force Command | ||||
| Space Operation Center | ||||
| Royal Thai Air Force Academy | Training | Saraburi | Muak Lek | |
| Flying Training School | Training | Nakhon Pathom | Kamphang Saen | Composed of 1st, 2nd and 3rd Flying Training Squadrons |
| Wing 1 | Interceptor/fighter | Nakhon Ratchasima | Korat | |
| Wing 2 | Helicopter transport/SAR | Lopburi | Khok Kathiam | |
| Wing 3 | Unmanned aerial vehicle | Sa Kaeo | Watthana Nakhon | |
| Wing 4 | Light attack/interceptor | Nakhon Sawan | Takhli | |
| Wing 5 | Transport/special mission | Prachuap Khiri Khan | Prachuap Khiri Khan | |
| Wing 6 | Non-combat multi-role | Bangkok | Don Muang | Provides transport, mapping, communications, surveying |
| Wing 7 | Interceptor/fighter | Surat Thani | Surat Thani | Nicknamed "Ferocious Shark of the Andaman" and "House of Gripen" as they flyGripen aircraft.[9][10] |
| Wing 21 | Interceptor | Ubon Ratchathani | Ubon Ratchathani | |
| Wing 23 | Attack | Udon Thani | Udon | |
| Wing 41 | Light attack | Chiang Mai | Chiang Mai | |
| Wing 46 | Transport/rainmaking | Phitsanulok | Phitsanulok | |
| Wing 56 | Forward operating base | Songkhla | Hat Yai |
The following squadrons are currently active with the Royal Thai Air Force.[8]
| Squadron | Equipment | Wing | RTAF Base | Notes |
| 101st Fighter Squadron | - | Wing 1 | Korat | |
| 102nd Fighter Squadron | F16A/B Block 15 ADF | Wing 1 | Korat | |
| 103rd Fighter Squadron | F-16A/B Block 15 OCU | Wing 1 | Korat | |
| 201 Helicopter Squadron | S-70i,S-92 | Wing 2 | Khok Ka Thiam | Former Royal Guard |
| 202 Helicopter Squadron | Bell 412/SP/HP/EP | Wing 2 | Khok Ka Thiam | |
| 203 Helicopter Squadron | EC 725 | Wing 2 | Khok Ka Thiam | SAR detachments at many locations. UH-1H replaced byEC 725[11] |
| 301 UAV Squadron | Aerostar BP,RTAF U-1 | Wing 3 | Watthana Nakhon | |
| 302 UAV Squadron | Aerostar BP,RTAF U-1 | Wing 3 | Watthana Nakhon | |
| 303 UAV Squadron | Aerostar BP,RTAF U-1 | Wing 3 | Watthana Nakhon | |
| 401 Light Attack Squadron | T-50TH | Wing 4 | Takhli | |
| 402 Elint Reconnaissance Squadron | P.180 Avanti | Wing 4 | Takhli | |
| 403 Fighter Squadron | F-16AM/BM Block 20 MLU | Wing 4 | Takhli | |
| 501 Light Attack Squadron | Fairchild AU-23 | Wing 5 | Prachuap Khiri Khan | |
| 601 Transport Squadron | C-130H/H-30 | Wing 6 | Don Muang | |
| 602 Royal Flight Squadron | A319CJ,A320CJ,A340-500 | Wing 6 | Don Muang | Former Royal Guard |
| 603 Transport Squadron | ATR72-600,SSJ100-95LR | Wing 6 | Don Muang | |
| 604 Civil Pilot Training Squadron | PAC CT-4A, T-41D, Diamond DA42 | Wing 6 | Don Muang | |
| Dechochai 3 Flight Unit | B737-400,B737-800 | Wing 6 | Don Muang | Royal Flight Unit |
| 701 Fighter Squadron | JAS-39 C/D | Wing 7 | Surat Thani | Total 12 Gripens delivered (4 Gripen D and 8 Gripen C),[12] replacing F-5E/F.[13][14] |
| 702 Air Control Squadron | Saab 340, S-100B Argus | Wing 7 | Surat Thani | Saab 340 70201 andS-100B Argus AEW 70202[15] |
| 211 Fighter Squadron | F-5TH Super Tigris | Wing 21 | Ubon | |
| 231 Attack Squadron | Alpha Jet A | Wing 23 | Udorn | |
| 411 Fighter Squadron | AT-6TH | Wing 41 | Chiang Mai | |
| 461 Transport Squadron | Basler BT-67 | Wing 46 | Phitsanulok | Also conducts rainmaking flights. |
| 561 Fighter Squadron | - | Wing 56 | Hat Yai | Forward operating base for 701 Fighter Sqn. |
| 904 Aggressor Squadron | F-5E | - | Don Muang | Former unit of King Vajiralongkorn Mahidol. |
| 1st Flying Training Squadron | PAC CT/4E | Flying Training School | Kamphang Saen | Primary flight training. |
| 2nd Flying Training Squadron | Pilatus PC-9M | Flying Training School | Kamphang Saen | Basic flight training. |
| 3rd Flying Training Squadron | Eurocopter EC135T3H | Flying Training School | Kamphang Saen | Helicopter training. |
First set up in 1913 in the same year as the Air Force, providing nursing services only, and over the years has gradually expanded. It operatesBhumibol Adulyadej Hospital andRoyal Thai Air Force Hospital in Bangkok, as well as smaller hospitals at each wing. The directorate has made a teaching agreement with theFaculty of Medicine, Chulalongkorn University to train students at Bhumibol Adulyadej Hospital, accepting about 30 students per academic year.
The Chief of the Air Force has envisioned and identified weaknesses inprocurement software, which include limitations regarding copyright usage, maintenance, envisioning obstacles, and expanding usage to cover and cater to the needs of the Air Force. Consequently, there has been an initiation to ethicallysoftware development, independently, for the first time. This encompasses care fromartificial intelligence systems,Big Data,Avionics software,strategic planning software, and support technology for the future, leading to theISO 29110 software development standard. This initiative has also propelled the consideration to establish a comprehensive software-focused unit within the Air Force.
TheRTAF Security Force Command (Thai: หน่วยบัญชาการอากาศโยธิน) is a Division size unit in the Royal Thai Air Force. It has been in existence since 1937. They are based near Don Mueang International Airport. The RTAF Security Force Command is the main air force ground forces and special forces which providing light infantry for anti-hijacking capabilities, protecting air bases and high value assets, protecting international airport in insurgent areas. It also serves as theRoyal Thai Air Force Special Operations Regiment (RTAF SOR) which consists of various units such as Combat Control Team (CCT), Pararescue Jumpers (PJs), Tactical Air Control Party (TACP).[16] Royal Thai Air Force Security Force Command consist of 3 main regiments and multiple support units. Additionally, one separated air base protection battalions and one separated anti-aircraft battalions are station in each air 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 the RTAF took over the installations atTakhli andNakhon Ratchasima (Korat). In the late 1980s, these bases andDon Muang Air Base outsideBangkok, which the air force shares with civil aviation, remain the primary operational installations.
Maintenance of base facilities abandoned by the United States (Ubon, Udorn) proved costly and exceeded Thai needs; they were turned over to the Department of Civil Aviation for civil use. 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 toDon Mueang International Airport. The RTAF also had large air fields and facilities at Nakon RatchasimaUbon Ratchathani, andTakhli.
| Aircraft | Origin | Type | Variant | On order | Notes | |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Combat aircraft | ||||||
| JAS 39 Gripen | Sweden | Multirole combat aircraft | JAS 39E/F | (+12) | 12 Gripen E/F's have been selected to replace the F-16s of 102 Squadron, Wing 1, Korat Royal Thai Air Force Base[17] | |
| F-5 or Alpha Jet replacement | Unknown | Multirole combat aircraft | Unknown | Unknown | Set to begin with FY2031 budget. | |
| 403 Squadron F-16 replacement | Unknown | Multirole combat aircraft | Unknown | Unknown | Set to begin with FY2036 budget. Will be aFifth-generation fighter. | |
| Transport aircraft | ||||||
| Airbus A330 MRTT | Europe | Transport /Tanker | Airbus A330 MRTT+ | 0(+1) | Set to replace theAirbus A340-500. Contract is expected to be signed by the end of 2025 with delivery commencing in 2028-2029.[18] | |
| Basler BT-67 replacement | Unknown | Transport | Unknown | Unknown | Set to begin with FY2031 budget. | |
| ATR 72-500 replacement | Unknown | Transport | Unknown | Unknown | Set to begin with FY2031 budget. | |
| Helicopter | ||||||
| Medium Sized VIP Helicopter with Utility/CSAR capability. | Europe | VIP / utility /CSAR | Unknown | 0(+2) | Medium Sized VIP Helicopter with utility and CSAR capabilities fromAirbus Helicopters. Set to begin with FY2025 budget. | |
RTAF budgets are shown below byfiscal year (FY):[19]
| FY | Million (baht) | % GDP |
|---|---|---|
| 2018 | 39,931 | 0.243% |
| 2019 | 41,609 | 0.237% |
| 2020 | 42,539 | 0.240% |
| 2021 | 40,081[20] |
| Rank group | General/flag officers | Senior officers | Junior officers | |||||||||||||||||||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
 Royal Thai Air Force[21] | .svg) | .svg) | .svg) | .svg) | .svg) | .svg) | .svg) | .svg) | .svg) | .svg) | ||||||||||||||
| จอมพลอากาศ Chom phon akat | พลอากาศเอก Phon akat ek | พลอากาศโท Phon akat tho | พลอากาศตรี Phon akat tri | นาวาอากาศเอก Nawa akat ek | นาวาอากาศโท Nawa akat tho | นาวาอากาศตรี Nawa akat tri | เรืออากาศเอก Ruea akat ek | เรืออากาศโท Ruea akat tho | เรืออากาศตรี Ruea akat tri | |||||||||||||||
| Rank group | Senior NCOs | Junior NCOs | Enlisted | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Royal Thai Air Force[21] | .svg) | .svg) | .svg) | .svg) | .svg) | .svg) | No insignia | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| พันจ่าอากาศเอก Phan cha akat ek | พันจ่าอากาศโท Phan cha akat tho | พันจ่าอากาศตรี Phan cha akat tri | จ่าอากาศเอก Cha akat ek | จ่าอากาศโท Cha akat tho | จ่าอากาศตรี Cha akat tri | พลทหาร Phon thahan | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
 | .svg) | .svg) |
|---|---|---|
| 1919 — 1940 1945 — present | 1940 — 1941 | 1941 — 1945 |
 | .svg) |
|---|---|
| 1919 — 1941 1945 — present | 1941 — 1945 |
TheSiam Cup BJJ (Brazilian jiu-jitsu) International tournament was held at the Show DC stadium inBangkok from 2017 in cooperation with the Arete BJJdōjō, hosted by the Royal Thai Air Force.[22][23][24][25][26] Each year, the tournament brings together more than 400 fighters from more than 50 countries to compete.[27][28][29] The Siam Cup BJJ 2021 was scheduled to take place on May 8, but due to restrictions imposed forCOVID-19 during thecoronavirus pandemic, the Thai government temporarily postponed all sporting events.[30]
Notes
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