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). [32] [33] [34]
| 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 UH-1 Iroquois | US | B.H6 | helicopter | 1968–2021 | 31 | Received 31, 18 lost |
| Bell 212/UH-1N | US | B.H6k | helicopter | 1976–1999 | 2 | |
| Bell 206B Jet Ranger | US | B.H8/B.HPhT1 | helicopter | 1982–2006 | 7 | 1 ex-Thai Army |
| Boeing 100E | US | B.Kh7 | fighter | 1931–1949 | 2 | comparison testing |
| Breguet III | France | n/a | trainer | 1913–? | 5 | |
| Breguet 14 | France | B.Th1 | bomber | 1919–1937 | 40+ | built locally |
| Bristol Bulldog | UK | B.Kh6 | fighter | 1930–1940 | 2 | comparison testing |
| Boripatra | Siam | B.Th2 | bomber | 1927–1940 | 4+ | local design |
| 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 II | US | B.Kh9 | fighter | 1934–1949 | 12 | |
| Curtiss Hawk III | US | B.Kh10 | fighter | 1935–1949 | 74+ | |
| Curtiss Hawk 75N | US | B.Kh11 | fighter | 1939–1949 | 12 | ordered 25, received 12 |
| 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 | [35] |
| 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-27b | Japan | B.Kh12 | fighter | 1942–1945 | 12 | |
| Nakajima Ki-43 | Japan | B.Kh13 | fighter | 1943–1949 | 24 | |
| Nieuport II & IV | France | n/a | trainer | 1913–? | 4 | |
| 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-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 H-5/S-51 | 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 & SPAD 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 cost 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. Though at the time the United States Air Force (USAF) did not have a need for a light fighter, it did procure approximately 1,200 Northrop T-38 Talon trainer aircraft, which was 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 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 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. Surat Thani International Airport has a single paved runway. It is the tenth-busiest airport in Thailand in terms of passengers, handling more than two million passengers annually.
The Royal Malaysian Air Force was formed on 2 June 1958 as the Royal Federation of Malaya Air Force. However, its roots can be traced back to the Malayan Auxiliary Air Force formations of the British Royal Air Force in then-colonial British Malaya. The Royal Malaysian Air Force operates a mix of modern American, European and Russian-made aircraft.
The AN/AAQ-28(V) 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 Croatian Air Force is a branch of the Croatian Armed Forces whose primary task is to ensure the sovereignty of the airspace of the Republic of Croatia and to provide aviation support to other branches in the implementation of their tasks in joint operations. Until the decision of the Croatian Parliament in 2018, HRZ was the holder and organizer of the integrated air defense system of the Republic of Croatia. Then the Air Defense (PZO) was separated into the Croatian Army.
The Patrouille Suisse is an aerobatic team of the Swiss Air Force. The team flies six Northrop F-5E Tiger II fighter jets.
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 Royal Air Force of Oman is the air arm of the Armed Forces of Oman.
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$6.9 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.
Hungary–Sweden relations are foreign relations between Hungary and Sweden. Sweden has an embassy in Budapest. Diplomatic relations between the two countries started on 28 December 1945. These relations developed to a higher ambassador level. In Stockholm there is a Hungarian embassy. Both countries are members of the Council of Europe, European Union and Organization for Security and Co-operation in Europe.
The Saab 340 AEW&C is a Swedish airborne early warning and control (AEW&C) aircraft; a variant of the Saab 340 aircraft is designated S 100B Argus by the Swedish Air Force.
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 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.
The Brazilian Air Force has a large number of active and planned projects, under the modernization plans of the Brazilian Armed Forces, defined in the National Defense White Paper. From 2010, Brazil started a radical change in its military policy, aiming to consolidate itself as the major power of Latin America.
Media related to Aircraft of the Royal Thai Air Force at Wikimedia Commons
| |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
