News Forum - Royal Thai Air Force signs US$143 million contract for US-made aircraft

[Thaiger]

The Royal Thai Air Force signed a contract on Sunday to buy a new fleet of aircraft. These will come from Textron Aviation Defense, an American aircraft manufacturer that builds planes for the US military. The US$143 million, or about 4.86 billion baht, deal was made on the first day of the Dubai Airshow. The RTAF is set to purchase 8 Beechcraft AT-6 Wolverine light aircraft from the American defense manufacturer. It will also include supporting equipment and necessary spare parts. These light aircraft are meant for the RTAF 41st Wing light attack operations unit, which is based in Chiang […]

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[Dedinbed]

12 minutes ago, Thaiger said:

The RTAF is set to purchase 8 Beechcraft AT-6 Wolverine light aircraft from the American defense manufacturer.

These are light ground attack planes .. those pesky illegals crossing the hallowed borders from Myanmar better watch out .. 

[Jason]

Hmmmm.....well it's cheaper than the submarines....

[AussieBob]

Interesting. Is the Junta trying to curry favour with USA after buying so many other things from China. Thailand in the past always played with 'both sides'. I suspect the planes will not be delivered with any 'smart mission critical' software or any 'special bits' that the USA does not want to fall into China's hands.  

[El_Trauco]

59 minutes ago, Dedinbed said:

These are light ground attack planes .. those pesky illegals crossing the hallowed borders from Myanmar better watch out .. 

 

[ThaiEyes]

1 hour ago, AussieBob said:

Interesting. Is the Junta trying to curry favour with USA after buying so many other things from China. Thailand in the past always played with 'both sides'. I suspect the planes will not be delivered with any 'smart mission critical' software or any 'special bits' that the USA does not want to fall into China's hands.  

Yes doesn’t Keeway make a plane like that? I bet the Chinese are boiling over this.

[PBS]

The dollar value of the deal is peanuts in the scheme of defence expenditure. Guess members of Thai security forces better be more careful when assisting human and drug traffickers - lol

[Jason]

Looking at the aircraft, it looks like something you would buy in a toy shop! Like a spitfire with missiles... boys and their toys. Maybe a veiled thank you to the US for the vaccines????

[Cathat]

Those aircraft are based on the pilatus pc-9 primary trainer.they most certainly are not toys and are well respected by airforces worldwide.the ground attack version is very effective at what it is designed to do.

Who they may have in mind to be on the receiving end of such leathal firepower is another matter.

[Fanta]

20% of the population on welfare. I wonder how many court cases it will take to get paid? On the bright side it’s not a submarine or an aircraft carrier… 

[AlexPTY]

did Air Chief Marshal Fufu just left Thailand? Who's gonna fly this one?

[gummy]

1 minute ago, AlexPTY said:

did Air Chief Marshal Fufu just left Thailand? Who's gonna fly this one?

Didn't he pass away ? 

[AlexPTY]

1 minute ago, gummy said:

Didn't he pass away ? 

you right RIP 2015. i am sure there is a FuFu the Second

[gummy]

4 minutes ago, AlexPTY said:

you right RIP 2015. i am sure there is a FuFu the Second

Other news sources this week say an entire "Wing" of them very recently flew away. Possibly a joint exercise with the German Shephard dog air force 

[steve860]

27 minutes ago, gummy said:

Other news sources this week say an entire "Wing" of them very recently flew away. Possibly a joint exercise with the German Shephard dog air force 

They'll be a 'dog fight' for sure.