By Thai Newsroom Reporters
THE THAI AIR FORCE’S F-16AM/BM Fighting Falcon jets have been conducting several rounds of air patrols daily in Thai airspace over a northwestern border area in the wake of escalated fighting inside Myanmar, according to an air force source.
The General Dynamics F-16AM/BM fighters have scrambled from Wing 4 in Takhli to the Thai airspace over Mae Sarieng district of Mae Hong Son, across the Thai-Myanmar border from Hpapon township in Karen State, following escalated fighting between Myanmar government troops and Karen National Liberation Army rebels.
The Thai air force’s patrols are conducted in the daytime and nighttime to ensure no territorial infringement might possibly occur by any armed units from inside the Myanmar border areas.
The Myanmar air force had launched air attacks on KNLA units after some 40 Myanmar government troops had been reportedly killed and many others injured.
The bombardments by the Myanmar air force have taken place in Karen State, Karenni State and Shan State whilst a large number of Myanmar government troops had deserted their bases in and around Hpapon township in the wake of the escalated fighting with the Karen rebels.
In 2022, one of the Myanmar air force’s MiG-29 Fulcrum fighters had strayed into Thai airspace over Popphra district of Tak, prompting a couple of the Thai air force’s F-16As to scramble from Wing 4 with a mission to intercept the identified intruder from across the Thai-Myanmar border.
However, the MiG-29 jet on a purported mission to attack Karen rebel units along the shared border had flown back across the border into Myanmar airspace well before the F-16s arrived at the scene.
CAPTION:
One of the Thai air force’s F-16AM/BM fighter jets flying high at the border area, above, and other in the hangar, Front Page. Photos: PPTV HD 36
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