Royal Thai Air Force

กองทัพอากาศไทย (RTGS: Kong Thab Akat Thai)
Emblem of the Royal Thai Air Force
Founded	2 November 1913
Country	Thailand
Type	Air Force
Size	315 aircraft of which 184 are combat aircraft
Part of	Royal Thai Armed Forces
HQ	Don Muang Air Base, Bangkok
March	มาร์ชกองทัพอากาศ (Royal Thai Air Force March)
Anniversaries	9 April 1937
Engagements	World War I French-Thai War Greater East Asia War Korean War Vietnam War
Commanders
Commander-in-Chief	Air Chief Marshal Itthaporn Subhawong
Insignia
Royal Thai Air Force Flag
Unit Colour
Roundel
Aircraft flown
Attack	L-39, Alpha Jet, AU-23
Fighter	Gripen, F-16, F-5
Helicopter	UH-1, Bell 412, S-92
Reconnaissance	Lear 35A, Arava, Saab 340 AEW&C
Trainer	Airtrainer, PC-9, DA42
Transport	C-130, BT-67, Nomad, G222, Avro 748, ATR-72, 737-400/800, A319, A310

Aircraft inventory

Aircraft	Origin	Role	Versions	In service	On order	Note
Trainer Aircraft
Pacific Aerospace CT/4	New Zealand	basic prop trainer	CT-4A/E	20		24 were purchased, at least 3 crashed.
Cessna T-41D Mescalero	United States	basic prop trainer	T-41D	6		For civil training. Due to be replaced.
Pilatus PC-9	Switzerland	advanced prop trainer	PC-9M	23		Cockpit and avionic were upgraded by Thai Aviation Industry.
Diamond DA42	Austria	advanced prop trainer	DA42	6		Delivery in mid 2009.
Combat Aircraft
Saab JAS 39 Gripen	Sweden	multirole fighter	JAS 39C JAS 39D	0	8 4	First 6 Gripens will be delivered in 2011. Another 6 Gripens will be delivered around 2012-2013.
Lockheed Martin F-16 Fighting Falcon	United States	multirole fighter	F-16A Block 10OCU F-16A Block 15OCU F-16A Block 15ADF F-16B Block 15OCU/15ADF	2 28 15 15		Two additional F-16 Block 10OCU for spare parts reclamation. Undergo structural upgrade to extended flight hours in Falcon UP programme by Thai Aviation Industry. 18 F-16s from 403rd Squadron will be upgraded with MLU programme to extend service life to 2025. Ex-USAF, ADF variant of F-16A Block 15, only RTAF fighters at this time which armed with BVR air-to-air missiles (AIM-120 AMRAAM). Dual-seat trainers. Includes 1 dual-seat ADF version.
Northrop F-5	United States	fighter-bomber	F-5T Tigris F-5E Tiger II F-5F Tiger II	14 ~5 ~10		Upgraded by Israel, armed with Python 4 missile and DASH Helmet. To be replaced by new JAS 39C Gripen in 2011. Dual-seat training version of Northrop F-5. To be replaced by JAS 39D Gripen.
Aero L-39 Albatros	Czechoslovakia	light strike aircraft/trainer	L-39ZA/ART	36		Westernized version of the Aero L-39 Albatros, equipped with Israeli avionics and AIM-9P.
Dassault-Breguet/Dornier Alpha Jet	Germany	light strike aircraft/trainer	Alpha Jet A	19		Ex-Luftwaffe. Five airframe use for spare. One aircraft crashed.
Pilatus AU-23A Peacemaker	Switzerland	light strike aircraft/utility aircraft	AU-23A	~20		Armed version of the Pilatus PC-6. EX-USAF
Reconnaissance
GAF Nomad	Australia	surveillance and patrol aircraft	Nomad N.22B	19		More than 10 completed service-life extension by Thai Aviation Industry.
Learjet 35	United States	patrol aircraft	Learjet 35A	2		1 crash during training.
Israel Aircraft Industries Arava	Israel	patrol aircraft	IAI 201	3		1 airframe stored.
Saab 340	Sweden	AEW&C	S-100B Argus	0	3	First Saab 340 and S-100B Argus will be delivered in 2010. Another Argus will be delivered in 2013. Equipped with Erieye radar.
Transport aircraft
Lockheed C-130 Hercules	United States	tactical transport	C-130H C-130H-30	6 6		Underwent avionic and structural upgrade by Thai Aviation Industry.
Basler BT-67	United States	tactical transport	BT-67	8		Re-built version of Douglas DC-3 Dakota. used for aerial firefighting and cloud seeding. one written in a crash in August 2006.
Alenia G.222	Italy	tactical transport	G.222	3		3 additional airframes stored at Don Mueang RTAFB, used by 603 Sqn. Alenia has demonstrated its latest version of the G.222, the Alenia C-27J recently to the Thai military.
Avro 748	United Kingdom	short range transport	748 Series-2	4		One airframe stricken from fleet after a wheels up landing in 2005, used by 603 Sqn. To be replaced by ATR-72.
ATR-72	France	transport	ATR-72-500	4		Delivered.
Boeing 737	United States	main royal family carrier	B737-8Z6 (B737-800)	1
Boeing 737	United States	royal family carrier	B737-4Z6 (B737-400)	1
Airbus A310	France	royal family carrier	A310-300	1		Mainly used by military officer.
Airbus A320	Germany	royal family carrier	A-319-115X CJ	1		Mainly used by Government officer.
Helicopter
Bell UH-1 Iroquois	United States	utility helicopter/CSAR	UH-1H	20		Soon to be replaced.
Sikorsky S-92 Superhawk	United States	royal family carrier	S-92	0	3	Delivery in 2010.
Bell 412	Canada	royal family carrier and VIP/VVIP transport	412EP/SP	8