List of aircraft of the Royal Thai Air Force

The following is a list of aircraft of the Royal Thai Air Force, past, present, and future.

Current
Aircraft Origin Role Type In Service Total Notes
Combat Aircraft
Dornier Alpha Jet  Germany Light attack Alpha Jet A 19 19[1] 14 being upgraded
Northrop F-5  United States Multirole fighter F-5E
F-5F		 30
4		 34[1] 14 F-5E/F Super Tigris which had avionics and weapons upgrades, becoming functionally equivalent to fourth generation fighter
General Dynamics F-16 Fighting Falcon  United States Multirole fighter F-16A
F-16B		 38
15		 53[1] 13A and 1B ADF; 13A and 8B OCU; 12AM and 6 BM MLU, becoming functionally equivalent to Block 52+.In early 2005, the RTAF received 3 F-16A-15OCU and 4 F-16B-15OCU from the RSAF
Saab JAS 39 Gripen  Sweden Multirole fighter JAS-39C
JAS-39D		 7
4		 11[1] 18 planned. One JAS 39 Gripen C (701108) crashed during an air show on 14 January 2017
AEW&C
Saab 340 AEW&C  Sweden AEW&C S100B Argus 2 2[1] Aircraft mounted with an Erieye radar.
Reconnaissance
Piaggio P.180 Avanti  Italy Reconnaissance Avanti II EVO 1 1[1]
Diamond DA42  Austria Reconnaissance DA42MPP 2 2[1] mounted with EO/IR
Pilatus PC-6 Porter   Switzerland Reconnaissance AU-23A 14 14 [2] mounted with EO/IR
Transport
Boeing 737  United States VIP 737-8Z6 BBJ 2 2
Airbus A319  Germany VIP/Transport A319-115CJ 1 1[3]
Airbus A320  France VIP/Transport A320-200ACJ 1 1
Airbus A340  France VIP/Transport A340-541 1 1
ATR 72  France VIP/Transport ATR-72-500 3 3
Lockheed C-130 Hercules  United States Tactical airlift C-130H
C-130H-30		 7
5		 12[1] 10 Being upgraded
Super King Air  United States Transport B200 1 1
Basler BT-67  United States Transport PT6A-67R 8 8[1] A modified Douglas DC-3 with P&W PT6A Turboprop engines. Used for firefighting/seeding. One lost in 2006.
Sukhoi Superjet 100  Russia VIP/Transport LR100 3 3[4][5][6]
Saab 340  Sweden Transport 340B 4 4[1]
Helicopter
Sikorsky S-92 Superhawk  United States VIP/Med Evac S-92A 5 5[1]
Bell 412  United States VIP/Utility 412
412SP
412EP		 8 8[1]
Bell UH-1H Iroquois  United States SAR/Utility UH-1H mod 16 16[1]
Eurocopter EC725  France CSAR/Utility EC725
H225M		 8 8[1] Four more on order.[1]
Eurocopter EC135  France Utility H135 (6) (6) Six on order.
Trainer aircraft
KAI T-50 Golden Eagle  South Korea Light attack/Lead-in fighter trainer T-50TH 4 4[1] 8 on order.[1] 12 T-50THs ordered in total. First 4 aircraft delivered in April 2018.[7]
Aero L-39 Albatros  Czech Republic Trainer aircraft L-39ZA/ART 33 33[1]
Diamond DA42  Austria Trainer aircraft DA42 10 10[1]
Cessna T-41  United States Trainer aircraft T-41D 36 36[1]
PAC CT/4  New Zealand Trainer aircraft CT-4A/E 50 50[1]
Pilatus PC-9   Switzerland Trainer aircraft PC-9 22 22[1]
Beechcraft T-6 Texan II  United States Trainer aircraft T-6TH (12) (12)[8] Delivery scheduled for 2022-2023.[9]
RTAF-6  Thailand Trainer aircraft RTAF6 3 3[10] 25 planned
UAV
Aeronautics Defense Dominator  Israel Reconnaissance Dominator-2 (3) (3) Three on order.
RTAF U-1  Thailand Reconnaissance RTAF U-1 17 17 mounted with EO/IR
Aerostar Tactical UAS  Israel Reconnaissance Aerostar BP 4 4 mounted with EO/IR

Armament
Illustration of an AGM -65 Maverick
Name Origin Type Notes
Air-to-air missile
Python 4/3  Israel beyond-visual-range missile 120 obtained[11]
AIM-120C AMRAAM  United States beyond-visual-range missile initial 50 missiles[11]
AIM-9E/J/P Sidewinder  United States short range infrared homing missile 600 missiles obtained[11]
IRIS-T  Germany short range infrared homing missile 40 units – employs a thrust vector control motor[11]
Meteor  Germany short range infrared homing missile Future operators
Air-to-surface missile
RBS-15F  Sweden anti-ship missile 25 missiles obtained[11]
AGM-65D/G Maverick  United States infrared imaging AGM 200 missiles obtained[11]
GBU-10 Paveway II  United States Laser-guided bomb
GBU-12 Paveway II  United States Laser-guided bomb
GBU-16 Paveway II  United States Laser-guided bomb
GBU-24 Paveway III  United States Laser-guided bomb
Mark 81 bomb  United States Low-drag general-purpose bomb
Mark 82 bomb  United States Low-drag general-purpose bomb
Mark 83 bomb  United States Low-drag general-purpose bomb
Mark 84 bomb  United States Low-drag general-purpose bomb
GBU-54 Laser JDAM  United States Unguided bomb
GBU-31 or GBU-38  United States Unguided bomb

Future aircraft

Purchase Programme

Upgrade Programme
  • upgrade of F-16 – Royal Thai Air Force (RTAF) plans to upgrade 18 F-16A/B Block 15 aircraft with the Mid-Life Upgrade (MLU) and associated parts, equipment, and logistical support for a complete package worth approximately $700 million.[15]

Indigenous Programme

Historic aircraft

Aircraft of the Royal Thai Air Force and its precursors, the Siamese Flying Corps (1914–1919), Royal Siamese Air Service (RSAS) (1919–1937) and Royal Siamese Air Force (RSAF) (1937–1939).[16][17][18]

Aircraft typeOriginDesignationRoleService period# usedNotes
Aeritalia G.222ItalyB.L14transport1995–201263 traded for Saab 340B
Aermacchi SF.260ItalyB.F15trainer1973–199918locally built
Aero Commander 690USB.PhTh4reconnaissance1982–19881
Avro 504NUKB.F4trainer1930–194870+50+ built locally
Beechcraft BonanzaUSB.S5transport1951–19623Ex-Royal Thai Navy
Beechcraft C-45B/FUSB.L1transport1947–19717First transport
Beechcraft King AirUSB.PhTh3reconnaissance1982–19891
Beechcraft Queen AirUSB.PhTh2reconnaissance1971–19893
Bell 47/OH-13HUSB.H7helicopter1972–19739
Bell 212/UH-1NUSB.H6helicopter1976–19992
Bell 206B Jet RangerUSB.H8/B.HPhT1helicopter1982–200671 ex-Thai Army
Boeing 100EUSB.Kh7fighter1931–19492comparison testing
Breguet IIIFrancen/atrainer1913–?5
Breguet 14FranceB.Th1bomber1919–193740+built locally
Bristol BulldogUKB.Kh6fighter1930–19402comparison testing
BoripatraSiamB.Th2bomber1927–19404+local design
Cessna 150USB.Ph1trainer1971–20046
Cessna 170BUSB.S7transport1954–19599
Cessna 411USB.PhTh1reconnaissance1982–19892
Cessna A-37USB.J6attack1972–199420
Cessna O-1 Bird DogUSB.T2reconnaissance1967–199054
Cessna T-37B/C TweetUSB.F12trainer1961–199622
Consolidated PT-1USB.F3trainer1928–19394
Curtiss Hawk IIUSB.Kh9fighter1934–194912
Curtiss Hawk IIIUSB.Kh10fighter1935–194974+
Curtiss Hawk 75NUSB.Kh11fighter1939–194912ordered 25, received 12
Curtiss SB2C-5 HelldiverUSB.J3attack1951–19556Ex-Royal Thai Navy
de Havilland Canada DHC-1 ChipmunkCanadaB.F9trainer1950–198966
de Havilland DH.82A Tiger MothUKB.F10trainer1951–196134
Douglas C-47 & EC-47DUSB.L2transport1947–199755B.L2k still in service
Douglas C-54/DC-4USB.L3transport1959–19662
Douglas DC-8-62AFUSB.L10transport1979–19893
Eurocopter AS332L-2 Super PumaFranceB.H9helicopter1996–20023
Fairchild 24USB.S1transport1938–195013 ca.
Fairchild C-123B/KUSB.L4transport1964–199546
Fairey Firefly FR.1 & T.2UKB.J4attack1951–195512later target tug
GAF N.22B NomadAustraliaB.L9transport/reconnaissance1982–201522[19]
Grob G 109GermanyB.R2trainer1989–19942motor glider
Grumman F8F-1 BearcatUSB.Kh15fighter1951–1963207
Grumman WidgeonUSB.S6transport1951–19565
Heinkel HD 43GermanyB.Kh8fighter1930–19402comparison testing
Helio CourierUSB.Th1transport1963–198620
Hiller 360/UH-12USB.H2helicopter1950–19525
Hoffman H-36 DimonaAustriaB.R1trainer1983–199410 ca.motor glider
Kaman HH-43 HuskieUSB.H5helicopter1962–19704
Kawasaki KH-4JapanB.HPhT2reconnaissance helicopter1982–19851ex-Thai Army
Lockheed T-33A/RT-33AUSB.F11trainer1955–199654
Martin 139WSM & 166USB.Th3bomber1937–1949159 ex-Dutch 166s via Japan
Miles MagisterUKB.F7trainer1947–195220
Mitsubishi Ki-21JapanB.Th4bomber1940–19499
Mitsubishi Ki-30JapanB.J2attack1940–195125
Nakajima Ki-27bJapanB.Kh12fighter1942–194512
Nakajima Ki-43JapanB.Kh13fighter1943–194924
Nieuport II & IVFrancen/atrainer1913–?4
Nieuport 17 & 21FranceB.Kh1fighter1918–19274+
Nieuport 24bisFranceB.Kh2fighter1918–193212+
Nieuport 80FranceB.F1trainer1918–193512 ca.
Nieuport 83FranceB.F2trainer1918–193512 ca.
Nieuport-Delage NiD 29FranceB.Kh4fighter1923–193612+built locally
North American F-86F/L SabreUSB.Kh17fighter1961–197274
North American T-6 TexanUSB.F8trainer1948–1974220
North American T-28DUSB.F13trainer1962–1988120
Northrop F-5A/B/C & RF-5AUSB.Kh18fighter1967–200029Variants in service.
PAC CT/4 AirtrainerNew ZealandB.F16trainer1999–201824
Percival PrinceUKB.T1reconnaissance1952–19621
Piper L-4 Cub/Piper PA-11USB.S3transport1947–196244
PrajadhipokSiamB.Kh5fighter1929–?1local design
Rearwin 9000USB.S2transport1938–19472
Republic F-84G ThunderjetUSB.Kh16fighter1956–196334
RFB Fantrainer 400 & 600GermanyB.F18trainer1988–199426
Rockwell OV-10C BroncoUSB.J5attack1971–200432to Philippine AF
RTAF-4ThailandB.F17trainer1974–198913 ca.locally built
Sikorsky H-5/S-51USB.H1helicopter1950–19544
Sikorsky S-55/H-19USB.H3helicopter1954–196511
Sikorsky S-58/S-58T/H-34USB.H4helicopter1962–200365
SPAD VII & SPAD XIIIFranceB.Kh3fighter1919–193132+
Stinson L-5 & L-5BUSB.S4transport1947–195910
Supermarine Spitfire FR.14/PR.19UKB.Kh14fighter1951–195534
Tachikawa Ki-36JapanB.F6trainer1942–195024
Vought V-93S CorsairUSB.J1/B.F5attack/trainer1934–195084+Locally built/modified

See also

References
Notes
  1. "World Air Forces 2018". Flightglobal Insight. 2018. Archived from the original on 6 February 2018. Retrieved 18 May 2018.
  2. "PILATUS PORTER CURRENT STATUS". PC-6.com by Markus Herzig. 2019. Archived from the original on June 2019. Retrieved 1 October 2019.
  3. "A319 for VIPs". flightglobal.com. Retrieved 20 June 2015.
  4. "Sukhoi Civil Aircraft to Deliver the Third SBJ to the Royal Thai Air Force". superjetinternational. Archived from the original on 6 October 2018. Retrieved 15 December 2016.
  5. "Archived copy". Archived from the original on 6 October 2018. Retrieved 6 October 2018.CS1 maint: archived copy as title (link)
  6. "Archived copy". Archived from the original on 6 October 2018. Retrieved 6 October 2018.CS1 maint: archived copy as title (link)
  7. "Thailand's Air Force Commissions First Four T-50TH Supersonic Advanced Trainers". Defense World. 4 April 2018.
  8. "Textron Aviation place son T-6C Texan II en Thaïlande". 29 September 2020.
  9. Releases, DP Press. "Royal Thai Air Force Awards Textron Contract For 12 Beechcraft T-6C Texan II Aircraft". DefPost.
  10. https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=uNRI4lx3yzk
  11. Trade Registers. Armstrade.sipri.org. Retrieved on 2015-05-18.
  12. Greg Waldron (12 February 2014). "SINGAPORE: Saab looks for additional Thai Gripen sale". Flightglobal. Archived from the original on 22 February 2014. Retrieved 17 November 2016.
  13. John Grevatt (22 January 2014). "Thailand to launch lead-in fighter programme after new government forms". IHS Jane’s 360. Archived from the original on 27 January 2014. Retrieved 17 November 2016.
  15. "Thailand – F-16 Mid-Life Upgrade". Defense Security Cooperation Agency. 30 September 2010. Archived from the original on 7 April 2014. Retrieved 17 November 2016.
  16. "Historic Painting". Royal Thai Air Force Museum. Archived from the original on 21 March 2007. Retrieved 17 November 2016.
  17. Small Air Force Observer magazine, author unknown, No. 47 July 1988 & No. 50 April 1989
  18. "Royal Thai Air Force" (PDF). Thai Aviation. 2 September 2016. Archived from the original (PDF) on 4 November 2016. Retrieved 17 November 2016.
  19. AirForces Monthly. Stamford, Lincolnshire, England: Key Publishing Ltd. March 2016. p. 27.
Comments
    Bibliography
    • Wieliczko, Leszek A. and Zygmunt Szeremeta. Nakajima Ki 27 Nate (bilingual Polish/English). Lublin, Poland: Kagero, 2004. ISBN 83-89088-51-7.
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