List of aircraft of the Royal Thai Air Force explained

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

Current

Aircraft	Origin	Role	Designation	Type	In Service	Total	Notes
Combat Aircraft
Dornier Alpha Jet	Germany	Light attack	B.J7	Alpha Jet A	18	18^[1]	14 planned to upgrade to Alpha Jet TH standards^[2] All expect to retire within 2031
Beechcraft AT-6 Wolverine	United States	Light attack	B.J8	AT-6TH	2	2^[3]	Six on order
Northrop F-5	United States	Multirole fighter	B.Kh18	F-5E / TH 1-seat----F-5F / TH 2-seat	30 3	33	13 from 33 of F-5E/F upgraded to F-5TH Super Tigris standards which had avionics and weapons upgrades, becoming functionally equivalent to fourth generation fighter. One F-5TH 2-seat (21105) crashed during training on 3 December 2021.^[4] ^[5] All expect to retire within 2031.
General Dynamics F-16 Fighting Falcon	United States	Multirole fighter	B.Kh19	F-16A Block 15 ADF F-16A Block 15 OCU F-16AM Block 20 MLU F-16B Block 15 ADF F-16B Block 15 OCU F-16BM Block 20 MLU	12 13 12 1 7 6	51	3 F-16A-15OCU and 4 F-16B-15OCU received from the RSAF. Block 15 ADF and Block 15 OCU are expect to retire within 2031
	Sweden	Multirole fighter	B.Kh20		7 4	11	All received MS20 upgrade. 14 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	B.K1	S100B Argus	2	2	Aircraft mounted with an Erieye radar.
Reconnaissance
Fairchild AU-23 Peacemaker	Switzerland	Reconnaissance	B.JT2		15	15	mounted with EO/IR
Piaggio P.180 Avanti	Italy	Reconnaissance	B.TL20	Avanti II EVO	1	1
Diamond DA42	Austria	Reconnaissance	B.TF20	DA42MPP	11	11	mounted with EO/IR
Transport
Lockheed C-130 Hercules	United States	Tactical airlift	B.L8	C-130H C-130H-30	7 5	12	10 Being upgraded
Basler BT-67	United States	Transport	B.L2		7	7	A modified Douglas DC-3 with P&W PT6A Turboprop engines. Used for firefighting/seeding. One lost in 2006.
Boeing 737	United States	VIP	B.L11	737-4Z6 BBJ 737-8Z6 BBJ	2 2	4^[6]
Airbus A319	Germany	VIP/Transport	B.L15	A319-115CJ	1	1^[7]
Airbus A320	France	VIP/Transport	B.L15	A320-200ACJ	2	2
	France	VIP/Transport	B.L16	ATR-72-500 ATR-72-600	3 6	3 6
	Sweden	Transport	B.L17	340B	5	5
Sukhoi Superjet 100		VIP/Transport	B.L18	SSJ100-95LR	3	3^[8]
Airbus A340	France	VIP/Transport	B.L19	A340-541	1	1^[9]	Former Thai Airways aircraft
Helicopter
Bell 412	United States	VIP/Utility	H.6		6	6	2 retired in Oct 2021.^[10]
Sikorsky S-92 Superhawk	United States	VIP/Med Evac	H.10		5	5
	France	CSAR/Utility	H.11		12	12	.^[11]
Sikorsky S-70	United States	VIP/Utility	H.12		5	5^[12]
	France	Utility	H.13	H135	6	6^[13]
Trainer aircraft
KAI T-50 Golden Eagle		Light attack/Lead-in fighter trainer	B.KhF2	T-50TH	14	14	2 on order. 14 T-50THs ordered in total. First 4 aircraft delivered in April 2018.^[14]
Cessna T-41	United States	Trainer aircraft	B.F14	T-41D	6	6
PAC CT/4		Trainer aircraft	B.F16	CT-4A/E	24	24
Diamond DA42	Austria	Trainer aircraft	B.F20	DA42	18	18
Diamond DA40	Austria	Trainer aircraft	B.F21	DA40NG	8	8
Beechcraft T-6 Texan II	United States	Trainer aircraft	B.F22	T-6TH	12	12
RTAF-6	Thailand	Trainer aircraft	B.TO6	RTAF6	3	3^[15]	25 planned
UAV
Aeronautics Defense Dominator	Israel	Reconnaissance		Dominator-2	(3)	(3)	Three on order.
RTAF U-1	Thailand	Reconnaissance	BR.TF1	RTAF U-1	17	17	mounted with EO/IR
Aerostar Tactical UAS	Israel	Reconnaissance	BR.T1	Aerostar BP	4	4	mounted with EO/IR
Sapura Cybereye		Reconnaissance	Cybereye II	Sapura Secured Technologies	3	3 ^[16]	mounted with EO/IR
Earth observation satellite
NAPA-1	Thailand	Reconnaissance	RTAF-SAT-1		1	1	Thai Earth observation satellite. It is the first satellite of the Royal Thai Air Force.^[17] ^[18] The satellite was built by Dutch firm Innovative Solutions In Space (ISISpace).^[19] After being delayed several times partially due to the COVID-19 pandemic, the satellite was launched on 3 September 2020, on Arianespace Vega rocket's flight VV16.^[20]
NAPA-2	Thailand	Reconnaissance	RTAF-SAT-2		1	1

Armament

Name	Origin	Type	Notes
Air-to-air missile
Python 4/3	Israel	short range infrared homing missile	120 obtained
AIM-120C AMRAAM	United States	beyond-visual-range missile	initial 50 missiles^[21]
AIM-9E/J/P Sidewinder	United States		600 missiles obtained
IRIS-T	Germany		40 units – employs a thrust vector control motor
Meteor	Germany		Future operators
Air-to-surface missile
	Sweden	anti-ship missile	25 missiles obtained
	United States	infrared imaging AGM	200 missiles obtained
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

• Additional Saab JAS 39C/D Gripen fighters procurement – RTAF plans to purchase 3 additional Saab JAS 39C/D Gripen fighters.^[22]
• Additional KAI T-50TH Golden Eagle Lead-in fighter training procurement – RTAF plans to purchase 2 additional KAI T-50TH Golden Eagle which will increase the fleet size of this type from 12 to 14.^[23]
• New Multirole combat aircraft procurement - As a fleet of General Dynamics F-16A/B Fighting Falcon Block 15 ADF and Block 15 OCU are expected to retire within 2031.,^[24] RTAF plans for a replacement aircraft which will be deployed in 103 Squadron at Korat Royal Thai Air Force Base. In the beginning, RTAF has made an intention to purchase the Lockheed Martin F-35A Lightning II.^[25] However, United States has denied a request and offer Lockheed Martin F-16 Fighting Falcon Block 70/72 and Boeing F-15EX Eagle II instead.,^[26] causing the process to return to considering the selection of aircraft model again. After that, Saab also joined the competition by offering the latest JAS 39E/F Gripen^[27] while KAI offers KF-21 Boramae and FA-50 Fighting Eagle^[28]
  
  As of July 2024, RTAF has decided to choose Saab JAS 39E/F Gripen for the procurement, only waiting for final decision from the government^[29]

Upgrade Programme

• Northrop F-5TH Super Tigris upgrade – Royal Thai Air Force (RTAF) has signed the contract with Elbit Systems, currently upgrading Northrop F-5E/F Tiger II which had avionics and weapons upgrades, becoming functionally equivalent to fourth generation fighter, it is equipped with new glass cockpit with Head-up display, EL/M-2032, tactical datalink, Sky Shield jamming pod and are capable of firing the beyond visual range air-to-air Derby missile. At first, RTAF has plan to upgrade 14 aircraft^[2] However, One upgraded F-5THF two-seat version crashed during training on 3 December 2021, resulting in final number reduced to 13.^{[4] [5]}
• Dornier Alpha Jet TH upgrade – Royal Thai Air Force (RTAF) has signed the contract with RV Connex, currently upgrading Dornier Alpha Jet A to equipped a new glass cockpit with Head-up display, new HOTAS controller and avionics upgrade from CMC Electronics with 14 aircraft planned.

Indigenous Programme

• RTAF-6 – Royal Thai Air Force (RTAF) plans to produce 25 planes.

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).^{[30] [31] [32]}

Aircraft type	Origin	Designation	Role	Service period	used	Notes
Aeritalia G.222	Italy	B.L14	transport	1995–2012	6	3 traded for Saab 340B
Aermacchi SF.260	Italy	B.F15	trainer	1973–1999	18	locally built
Aero Commander 690	US	B.PhTh4	reconnaissance	1982–1988	1
Aero L-39ZA/ART Albatros	Czechoslovakia	B.KhF1	trainer	1994–2021	37
Airbus A310-324	France	B.L13	transport	1991–2016	1
Avro 504N	UK	B.F4	trainer	1930–1948	70+	50+ built locally
Beechcraft Bonanza	US	B.S5	transport	1951–1962	3	Ex-Royal Thai Navy
Beechcraft C-45B/F	US	B.L1	transport	1947–1971	7	First transport
Beechcraft King Air	US	B.PhTh3	reconnaissance	1982–1989	1
Beechcraft Queen Air	US	B.PhTh2	reconnaissance	1971–1989	3
Bell 47/OH-13H	US	B.H7	helicopter	1972–1973	9
Bell 206B Jet Ranger	US	B.H8/B.HPhT1	helicopter	1982–2006	7	1 ex-Thai Army
Bell 212/UH-1N	US	B.H6k	helicopter	1976–1999	2
Bell UH-1 Iroquois	US	B.H6	helicopter	1968–2021	31	Received 31, 18 lost
Boeing 100E	US	B.Kh7	fighter	1931–1949	2	comparison testing
Boripatra	Siam	B.Th2	bomber	1927–1940	4+	local design
Breguet 14	France	B.Th1	bomber	1919–1937	40+	built locally
Breguet III	France	n/a	trainer	1913–?	5
Bristol Bulldog	UK	B.Kh6	fighter	1930–1940	2	comparison testing
Cessna 150	US	B.Ph1	trainer	1971–2004	6
Cessna 170B	US	B.S7	transport	1954–1959	9
Cessna 411	US	B.PhTh1	reconnaissance	1982–1989	2
Cessna A-37	US	B.J6	attack	1972–1994	20
Cessna O-1 Bird Dog	US	B.T2	reconnaissance	1967–1990	54
Cessna T-37B/C Tweet	US	B.F12	trainer	1961–1996	22
Consolidated PT-1	US	B.F3	trainer	1928–1939	4
Curtiss Hawk 75N	US	B.Kh11	fighter	1939–1949	12	ordered 25, received 12
Curtiss Hawk II	US	B.Kh9	fighter	1934–1949	12
Curtiss Hawk III	US	B.Kh10	fighter	1935–1949	74+
Curtiss SB2C-5 Helldiver	US	B.J3	attack	1951–1955	6	Ex-Royal Thai Navy
de Havilland Canada DHC-1 Chipmunk	Canada	B.F9	trainer	1950–1989	66
de Havilland DH.82A Tiger Moth	UK	B.F10	trainer	1951–1961	34
Douglas C-47 & EC-47D	US	B.L2	transport	1947–1997	55	B.L2k still in service
Douglas C-54/DC-4	US	B.L3	transport	1959–1966	2
Douglas DC-8-62AF	US	B.L10	transport	1979–1989	3
Eurocopter AS332L-2 Super Puma	France	B.H9	helicopter	1996–2002	3
Fairchild 24	US	B.S1	transport	1938–1950	13 ca.
Fairchild C-123B/K	US	B.L4	transport	1964–1995	46
Fairey Firefly FR.1 & T.2	UK	B.J4	attack	1951–1955	12	later target tug
GAF N.22B Nomad	Australia	B.L9	transport/reconnaissance	1982–2015	22	^[33]
Grob G 109	Germany	B.R2	trainer	1989–1994	2	motor glider
Grumman F8F-1 Bearcat	US	B.Kh15	fighter	1951–1963	207
Grumman Widgeon	US	B.S6	transport	1951–1956	5
Heinkel HD 43	Germany	B.Kh8	fighter	1930–1940	2	comparison testing
Helio Courier	US	B.Th1	transport	1963–1986	20
Hiller 360/UH-12	US	B.H2	helicopter	1950–1952	5
Hoffman H-36 Dimona	Austria	B.R1	trainer	1983–1994	10 ca.	motor glider
Kaman HH-43 Huskie	US	B.H5	helicopter	1962–1970	4
Kawasaki KH-4	Japan	B.HPhT2	reconnaissance helicopter	1982–1985	1	ex-Thai Army
Lockheed T-33A/RT-33A	US	B.F11	trainer	1955–1996	54
Martin 139WSM & 166	US	B.Th3	bomber	1937–1949	15	9 ex-Dutch 166s via Japan
Miles Magister	UK	B.F7	trainer	1947–1952	20
Mitsubishi Ki-21	Japan	B.Th4	bomber	1940–1949	9
Mitsubishi Ki-30	Japan	B.J2	attack	1940–1951	25
Nakajima Ki-27	Japan	B.Kh12	fighter	1942–1945	12
Nakajima Ki-43	Japan	B.Kh13	fighter	1943–1949	24
Nieuport 17 & 21	France	B.Kh1	fighter	1918–1927	4+
Nieuport 24bis	France	B.Kh2	fighter	1918–1932	12+
Nieuport 80	France	B.F1	trainer	1918–1935	12 ca.
Nieuport 83	France	B.F2	trainer	1918–1935	12 ca.
Nieuport II & IV	France	n/a	trainer	1913–?	4
Nieuport-Delage NiD 29	France	B.Kh4	fighter	1923–1936	12+	built locally
North American F-86F/L Sabre	US	B.Kh17	fighter	1961–1972	74
North American T-6 Texan	US	B.F8	trainer	1948–1974	220
North American T-28D	US	B.F13	trainer	1962–1988	120
Northrop F-5A/B/C & RF-5A Freedom Fighter	US	B.Kh18	fighter	1967–2000	29	Variants in service.
PAC CT/4 Airtrainer	New Zealand	B.F16	trainer	1999–2018	24
Percival Prince	UK	B.T1	reconnaissance	1952–1962	1
Pilatus PC-9	Switzerland	B.F19	trainer	1991-2023	22
Piper L-4 Cub/Piper PA-11	US	B.S3	transport	1947–1962	44
Prajadhipok	Siam	B.Kh5	fighter	1929–?	1	local design
Rearwin 9000	US	B.S2	transport	1938–1947	2
Republic F-84G Thunderjet	US	B.Kh16	fighter	1956–1963	34
RFB Fantrainer 400 & 600	Germany	B.F18	trainer	1988–1994	26
Rockwell OV-10C Bronco	US	B.J5	attack	1971–2004	32	to Philippine AF
RTAF-4	Thailand	B.F17	trainer	1974–1989	13 ca.	locally built
Sikorsky S-51/H-5	US	B.H1	helicopter	1950–1954	4
Sikorsky S-55/H-19	US	B.H3	helicopter	1954–1965	11
Sikorsky S-58/S-58T/H-34	US	B.H4	helicopter	1962–2003	65
SPAD VII & XIII	France	B.Kh3	fighter	1919–1931	32+
Stinson L-5 & L-5B	US	B.S4	transport	1947–1959	10
Supermarine Spitfire FR.14/PR.19	UK	B.Kh14	fighter	1951–1955	34
Tachikawa Ki-36	Japan	B.F6	trainer	1942–1950	24
Vought V-93S Corsair	US	B.J1/B.F5	attack/trainer	1934–1950	84+	Locally built/modified

Gallery

See also

• Royal Thai Air Force Museum
• Military of Thailand
• Royal Thai Army
• Royal Thai Navy

References

Notes

Comments

Bibliography

• Wieliczko, Leszek A. and Zygmunt Szeremeta. Nakajima Ki 27 Nate (bilingual Polish/English). Lublin, Poland: Kagero, 2004. .

External links

• • RTAF Official website (English version)
• Royal Thai Air Force Museum Many Historical Aircraft (English)
• Illustrated reports about the RTAF
• Globalsecurity.org

Notes and References

1. Web site: World Air Forces 2021. FlightGlobal . 4 December 2020 . 5 January 2021.
2. Web site: 3 December 2021. กองทัพอากาศไทย มีเครื่องบินรบกี่ลำ (ในปี 64-68). 17 Aug 2022. ThaiArmedForce.
3. Web site: Royal Thai Air Force Becomes International Launch Customer For U.S. Beechcraft AT-6 Wolverine - The Aviationist. 14 November 2021.
4. News: Carter. Ann. 6 December 2021. A bird strike may have caused Royal Thai Air Force F-5 fighter jet's recent crashing. The Thaiger. 6 December 2021.
5. Web site: 3 December 2021. F-5 ของกองทัพอากาศตกที่ชัยบาดาล นักบินดีดตัวสำเร็จ บาดเจ็บ. 6 December 2021. ThaiArmedForce.
6. Web site: Royal Thai Air Force B737 . airfleets.net . 20 June 2015.
7. Web site: A319 for VIPs. flightglobal.com . 20 June 2015.
8. Web site: Sukhoi Civil Aircraft to Deliver the Third SBJ to the Royal Thai Air Force. superjetinternational. 15 December 2016. https://web.archive.org/web/20181006035215/http://www.superjetinternational.com/media-center/sukhoi-civil-aircraft-to-deliver-the-third-sukhoi-business-jet-to-the-royal-thai-air-force/. 6 October 2018. live.
9. Web site: A340 for VIPs. airfleets.net . 12 April 2021.
10. Web site: Royal Thai Air Force retires five older Bell 412s . 21 October 2021 .
11. Web site: World Air Forces 2018. 2018. Flightglobal Insight. live. https://web.archive.org/web/20180206123925/https://www.flightglobal.com/asset/21905/waf/. 6 February 2018. 18 May 2018. dmy-all.
12. Web site: Thai Airforce list . 19 February 2023 .
13. Web site: Thai Airforce list . 19 February 2023 .
14. Web site: Thailand's Air Force Commissions First Four T-50TH Supersonic Advanced Trainers. Defense World. 4 April 2018.
15. Web site: กองทัพอากาศไทย สร้างเครื่องบินใช้เองมีใครรู้บ้างไหม บ.ทอ.6 (RTAF6) ROYAL THAI AIR FORCE. www.youtube.com.
16. Web site: UAV in Royal Thai Air Force.
17. Web site: The first Vega ride-share mission flight. Caramelli. F. Battie. F. Scaccia. A. PDF. Utah State University. 1 August 2019. 2020-09-22.
18. News: Nanuam . Wassana . June 16, 2020 . Napa-1 satellite finally readies for Friday launch . . 2020-09-22.
19. Web site: ISIS selected by the Royal Thai Air Force to realize a complete 6U mission for Earth Observation . September 7, 2018 . 2020-09-22.
20. News: Henry. Caleb. September 3, 2020. Arianespace launches Vega on return-to-flight mission with 53 smallsats. SpaceNews. 2020-09-22.
21. http://armstrade.sipri.org/armstrade/page/trade_register.php Trade Registers Armstrade.sipri.org. Retrieved on 2015-05-18.
22. Web site: RTAF plans to buy 3 fighter jets from Sweden. WASSANA NANUAM. Bangkok Post . 16 June 2023 . 20 June 2023.
23. Web site: 10 Sep 2022. Janes. Thailand confirms plan to buy additional T-50TH aircraft.
24. Web site: 10 Sep 2022. Bangkok Biz News. "โฆษก ทอ." แจงความจำเป็น ต้องได้งบฯ66 ซื้อ F-35A เพื่อเพิ่มประสิทธิภาพการรบ.
25. Web site: Mintra Adair. 18 January 2022. Thai PBS World. Cabinet approves Air Force's planned purchase of 4 fighter jets.
26. Web site: Thailand air force says U.S. has denied request to buy F-35 jets. Reuters. 25 May 2023 . 20 June 2023.
27. Web site: Saab Positions Gripen For Thai Fighter Requirement. Aviation Week. 7 Nov 2023.
28. Web site: 31 Mar 2024. Bangkok Post. Korea pitches fighter jets to defence minister Sutin.
29. Web site: 10 Jul 2024. Bangkok Post. Air force chooses Swedish jets over US F-16s.
30. Web site: Historic Painting . Royal Thai Air Force Museum . 17 November 2016 . https://web.archive.org/web/20070321213149/http://www.rtaf.mi.th/museum/PAINTS-2.HTM . 21 March 2007 . dead . dmy-all .
31. Small Air Force Observer magazine, author unknown, No. 47 July 1988 & No. 50 April 1989
32. Web site: Royal Thai Air Force . Thai Aviation . 2 September 2016 . 17 November 2016 . dead . https://web.archive.org/web/20161104191035/http://www.thai-aviation.net/files/Air_Force_Summary.pdf . 4 November 2016 . dmy-all .
33. Book: AirForces Monthly. March 2016. Key Publishing Ltd. Stamford, Lincolnshire, England. 27.