Current
Armament
The following is a list of aircraft of the Royal Thai Air Force , past, present, and future.
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 |
The Northrop F-5 is a family of supersonic light fighter aircraft initially designed as a privately funded project in the late 1950s by Northrop Corporation. There are two main models: the original F-5A and F-5B Freedom Fighter variants, and the extensively updated F-5E and F-5F Tiger II variants. The design team wrapped a small, highly aerodynamic fighter around two compact and high-thrust General Electric J85 engines, focusing on performance and a low cost of maintenance. Smaller and simpler than contemporaries such as the McDonnell Douglas F-4 Phantom II, the F-5 costs less to procure and operate, making it a popular export aircraft. Though primarily designed for a day air superiority role, the aircraft is also a capable ground-attack platform. The F-5A entered service in the early 1960s. During the Cold War, over 800 were produced through 1972 for US allies. Despite the United States Air Force (USAF) not needing a light fighter at the time, it did procure approximately 1,200 Northrop T-38 Talon trainer aircraft, which were based on Northrop's N-156 fighter design.
The Saab JAS 39 Gripen is a light single-engine supersonic multirole fighter aircraft manufactured by the Swedish aerospace and defence company Saab AB. The Gripen has a delta wing and canard configuration with relaxed stability design and fly-by-wire flight controls. Later aircraft are fully NATO interoperable. As of 2020, more than 271 Gripens of all models, A–F, have been delivered.
The Swedish Air Force is the air force branch of the Swedish Armed Forces.
The McDonnell Douglas CF-18 Hornet is a Royal Canadian Air Force (RCAF) variant of the American McDonnell Douglas F/A-18 Hornet fighter aircraft. In 1980, the F/A-18 was selected as the winner of the New Fighter Aircraft Project competition to replace CF-104 Starfighter, CF-101 Voodoo and the CF-116 Freedom Fighter. Deliveries of the CF-18 to the Canadian Armed Forces began in 1982. CF-18s have supported North American Aerospace Defense Command (NORAD) air sovereignty patrols and participated in combat during the Gulf War in 1991, the Kosovo War in the late 1990s, and as part of the Canadian contribution to the international Libyan no-fly zone in 2011. CF-18s were also part of the Canadian contribution to the military intervention against ISIL, Operation Impact. A procurement process to replace the CF-18 with the Lockheed Martin F-35 Lightning II has been ongoing since 1997.
The Swiss Air Force is the air component of the Swiss Armed Forces, established on 31 July 1914, three days after the outbreak of World War I, as a part of the army and in October 1936 as an independent service.
Surat Thani International Airport is an international airport in Hua Toei subdistrict, Phunphin district, Surat Thani province in Southern Thailand. The airport, 21 kilometres west of downtown Surat Thani, is also home to the Royal Thai Air Force (RTAF) squadrons. It has a single paved runway and is the tenth-busiest airport in Thailand in terms of passengers, handling more than two million passengers annually.
The AN/AAQ-28 Litening targeting pod is an advanced precision targeting pod system currently operational with a wide variety of aircraft worldwide. The research and development of the Litening was first undertaken by Rafael Advanced Defense Systems' Missiles Division in Israel, with subsequent completion of Litening I for use in the Israeli Air Force.
The United States Air Force (USAF), four of its NATO partners, and the Pakistan Air Force (PAF), a major non-NATO US ally, are the primary operators of General Dynamics F-16 Fighting Falcon. With the evolution of sales under Foreign Military Sales (FMS) contracts, many other air forces have also acquired F-16s. Most nations that have bought F-16s continue to use them as of 2010.
The Royal Thai Air Force (RTAF) (Thai: กองทัพอากาศไทย; RTGS: Kong Thap Akat Thai) is the air force of the Kingdom of Thailand. 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 the Vietnam War era, the RTAF was supplied with USAF-aid equipment.
The Hungarian Air Force, is the air force branch of the Hungarian Defence Forces.
The Medium Multi-Role Combat Aircraft (MMRCA) competition in India, also known as the MRCA tender, was a competition to supply 126 multi-role combat aircraft to the Indian Air Force (IAF). The Defence Ministry had allocated ₹55,000 crore (US$6.6 billion) at 2008 prices for the purchase of these aircraft, making it India's single largest defence deal. The MMRCA tender was floated with the idea of filling the gap between its future Light Combat Aircraft and its in-service Sukhoi Su-30MKI air superiority fighter.
The JAS 39 Gripen is a fighter aircraft manufactured by the Swedish aerospace company Saab.
The PS-05/A is a pulse-doppler radar currently used by the JAS 39 Gripen fighter aircraft. It weighs 156 kg and was developed by Ericsson in collaboration with GEC-Marconi, sharing some technology with the latter's Blue Vixen radar for the Sea Harrier.
The National Aviation Museum of the Royal Thai Air Force is located in Don Mueang District, Bangkok, Thailand. It is located on the Phahonyothin Road just to the south of Wing 6 of the domestic terminal of the Don Mueang Airport. It has been served by the Royal Thai Air Force Museum BTS station since 16 December 2020.
HTMS Naresuan (FFG-421), commissioned in 1995, is a modified version of the Chinese-made Type 053 frigate, corporately designed between Royal Thai Navy and China but built by the China State Shipbuilding Corporation in Shanghai. Her sister ship, HTMS Taksin was delivered in November 1995. The ships cost 2 billion baht each.
HTMS Taksin (FFG-422), hull number 622, commissioned in 1995, is a modified version of the Chinese-made Type 053 frigate, designed and built by the China State Shipbuilding Corporation in Shanghai. Her sister ship, HTMS Naresuan was delivered in November 1995. The ships came at 2 billion baht each, less than the 8 billion baht claimed price tag for Western-built frigates.
The RTAF Security Force Command 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 the Royal Thai Air Force Special Operations Regiment which consists of various units such as Combat Control Team (CCT), Pararescue Jumpers (PJs), Tactical Air Control Party (TACP). Ground forces in this unit use textbooks similar to those used by Royal Thai Army infantrymen, whether it is in terms of first aid, forward observer, hand and arm signals, hand-to-hand combat, jungle warfare, light and heavy weapons, living off the jungle, radio communications, raiding and reconnaissance tactics, use a map and compass, and other knowledge related to infantry. But with the fact that they are an air force ground force, they have received additional training with an emphasis on protection air base and airport in response to the mission of the agency. Therefore, they received additional training about CBRN defense, combat and patrolling in urban areas, counter-sabotage air base and airport, CQB and CQC, crowd control when chaos near air base and airport, inspection and interception techniques before entering the air base and airport, defense reconnaissance in air base and airport areas, respond to anti-hijacking capabilities, using advanced technology to against aircraft threats and support air operations, and other skills related to self-defense on the battlefield if the fire base is attacked or attacked while moving.
The Flygsystem 2020 is an ongoing project by the Swedish Air Force to develop a fifth-generation low-observable fighter jet by 2035. Little public information exists about the project; there are no official statements about the current stage of development, although a video claims to show a miniature prototype test. In 2012, Lieutenant Colonel Lars Helmrich of the Swedish Air Force asked members of the Riksdag to consider the development of a new jet fighter or to upgrade all present JAS 39 multirole fighters to the NG model, claiming the early versions of the aircraft will be obsolete by 2020.
Eurofighter Typhoon procurement is the planned selection and purchase of the Eurofighter Typhoon jet fighter by various countries.
Napa-1, also known as RTAF-SAT-1, is a Thai Earth observation satellite. It is the first satellite of the Royal Thai Air Force. The satellite was built by Dutch firm Innovative Solutions In Space (ISISpace). 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.
Media related to Aircraft of the Royal Thai Air Force at Wikimedia Commons
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