By Thai Newsroom Reporters JAS 39 GRIPEN fighter jets engaged in real combat for the first time ever on Friday during the Thai air force’s air strike missions against invading Cambodian forces in Thailand’s disputed border areas. Since the first Gripen jet was manufactured by SAAB in Sweden in 1987, the aircraft has never
Tag: Force
Thai Gripen jets join F-16s in bombarding Khmer forces
By Thai Newsroom Reporters A MINI-SQUADRON of the Thai air force’s JAS 39 Gripen fighter jets yesterday (July 25) flew their first sortie to join F-16 Fighting Falcon jets in crushing Cambodian forces around disputed border areas in a lower northeastern province of Thailand. The Gripen jets, based at Wing 7 in Surat Thani,
Read moreMyanmar military junta fighter jet shot down near Mandalay, rebel group claims
By AP and published by Euronews A MYANMAR junta fighter jet crashed and burned in Myanmar on Tuesday (June 10) in an area that has seen intense fighting during the civil war, with one rebel group claiming to have shot it down while state-run media said it had suffered a mechanical failure. The aircraft
Read moreSenior air force officer shunted out over charges of using conscripts as riders
A DEPUTY BATTALION commander has been immediately transferred after complaints surfaced that he has been using conscripts to work as riders and pocketing all the money they earned, Amarin TV said this evening (May 14). ACM Prapass Sonjai, the spokesman of the air force, said the unidentified deputy battalion commander of Wing 23 in
Read moreAir Force C-130 aircraft skids off Samui Airport apron
AN AIR FORCE C-130 transport aircraft skidded off Samui Airport’s apron this afternoon (May 2) after its brake system malfunctioned but all eight officers and 54 passengers, a total of 62, are safe, Thai Rath newspaper said this evening. ACM Prapas Sonjai, the Air Force spokesperson, said at approximately 2.30 p.m. this transport aircraft,
Read moreCouple of F-16 jets join 4 others in patrolling Thai-Myanmar border
By Thai Newsroom Reporters A COUPLE OF THE THAI AIR FORCE’S F-16 Fighting Falcon jets today (Apr. 19) joined four others of the same type in conducting regular air patrols over Thai territory across the border from the war-torn Myanmar. Both General Dynamics F-16A/B fighter jets from Wing 1 in Nakhon Ratchasima are operating
Read moreCouple of US air force F-35A fighters briefly visit Brunei
By Thai Newsroom Reporters IN WHAT WAS SEEN AS a rare event in the Indo-Pacific region, a couple of the United States air force’s F-35A Lightning II stealth fighters recently paid a brief visit to Brunei. The two Lockheed Martin F-35As flew from Eielson air force base in Alaska to Rimba air force base
Read moreThailand, Myanmar to form aid task force as border unrest intensifies
By Reuters and published by CNA THAILAND and conflict-torn Myanmar will create a task force to boost humanitarian assistance to people displaced by fighting and could expand that to include other aid agencies, Thailand’s Foreign Ministry said today (Dec. 8). Thailand hopes the plan will lead to constructive engagement between military-ruled Myanmar, the Association
Read moreAir force calls up reservists, THAI pilots in starting evacuation flights tonight
THE THAI air force has summoned reservists with experience in flying Airbus A340 aircraft as well as roped in Thai Airways International pilots with similar experience in preparing to launch flights to evacuate Thais from Israel starting tonight (Oct. 14), Naewna newspaper said this afternoon. As more than 7,000 Thais in Israel have said
Read morePrawit airs dissent to use of force against lone woman in Prayut’s presence
By Thai Newsroom Reporters IN A RARE COMMENT on government action, Palang Pracharath leader Prawit Wongsuwan today (Mar.15) expressed his dissent to a use of force by police against an elderly woman in the presence of Prime Minister Prayut Chan-o-cha. That referred to Monday’s event in which the lone woman, namely Wanthana Othong, 62,
Read moreThai F-16 fighters in recon mission along border with Myanmar
By Thai Newsroom Reporters A COUPLE OF the Thai air force’s F-16 Fighting Falcon jets are currently exercising a reconnaissance mission over Thai airspace in northwestern border areas following Myanmar’s airborne attacks on a Kachin rebel base in northernmost Myanmar. Air force spokesman VM Prapat Sonjaidee confirmed today (Oct. 27) the F-16 fighters from Wing
Read moreProtest against plan to rent out historic air base for growing sugarcane
By Thai Newsroom Reporters VILLAGERS IN NAKHU district of Kalasin today (Sept. 18) gathered in protest of the air force’s plan to turn a parcel of land in the premises of a Free Thai Movement air base into a sugarcane plantation. The local villagers of Nakhu and nearby districts of the northeastern province peacefully demonstrated
Read moreChina sending fighter jets to Thailand for joint exercise
By AP and published by CBC THE Chinese air force is sending fighter jets and bombers to Thailand for a joint exercise with the Thai military today, August 14, 2022. The training will include air support, strikes on ground targets and small- and large-scale troop deployment, the Chinese Defence Ministry said in a statement
Read moreHouse budget committee okays planned purchase of 2 F-35A fighters
By Thai Newsroom Reporters THE HOUSE BUDGET COMMITTEE today (August 3) approved the air force’s planned purchase of a couple of Lockheed Martin F-35A Lightning II stealth fighters beginning with a down payment in the upcoming fiscal 2023. The House budget committee members voted 45:22 to endorse the planned purchase of the first batch of
Read moreAir Force repeats calls for procurement of F-35A fighters
By Thai Newsroom Reporters THE THAI AIR FORCE has repeatedly called for the planned purchase of a squadron of Lockheed Martin F-35A Lightning II stealth fighters to get on par with others deployed by neighbouring countries. Air force spokesman AM Prapat Sonjaidee insisted again today (July 31) that a dozen F-35A Lightning II stealth
Read moreUS air force team to evaluate preparations for deployment of F-35 fighters
By Thai Newsroom Reporters A UNITED STATES AIR FORCE team will visit Thailand later this year to evaluate the Thai air force’s preparations for future deployment of US-made F-35 Lightning II stealth fighters, an air force source said today (June 6). Though the Thai air force’s debatable plan to procure a startup couple of
Read moreAir force to arm F-35 fighters with its own weapon systems
By Thai Newsroom Reporters THE THAI AIR FORCE will manage to install its own weapon systems aboard US-made F-35 Lightning II stealth fighters which will be procured in the future, according to air force chief-of-staff ACM Panpakdee Pattanakul. The air force chief-of-staff has confirmed that the air force currently has airborne weapon systems at
Read moreOpposition bloc to hammer Air Force’s plan to purchase unarmed F-35 fighters
By Thai Newsroom Reporters THE AIR FORCE’S reported plan to purchase a startup batch of two F-35 Lightning II stealth fighters without weapon systems aboard will likely draw a stern disapproval at parliament, according to an opposition lawmaker. Pheu Thai MP Yutthapong Charatsathian said today (May 29) it will be “ultimately unusual” for the
Read moreEx-fighter pilot concerned about planned purchase of F-35 stealth fighters
By Thai Newsroom Reporters A PHEU THAI MP today (Jan. 10) expressed caution over the Thai air force’s planned purchase of some US-made F-35 Lightning II stealth fighters, given top-priority government projects to be carried out first. Fighter pilot-turned-MP Anudit Nakorntap advised that the air force take into account the country’s top-priority economic and
Read moreAnother 4 Airbus H225M multi-role utility choppers delivered
By Thai Newsroom Reporters ANOTHER FOUR AIRBUS H225M Caracal helicopters have been delivered to the Thai Air Force, making a fleet of 12 helicopters of this type, according to an Air Force source. The latest batch of four Airbus multi-role utility helicopters, earlier called Eurocopter EC725, is adding to eight others of the same
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