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  Air Tactical Operations Evaluation 2025
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Text:

Michael E. Fader

Pictures:

Chakrit Samithinan & Saichol Kraiamat


 

 

Chandy Range (Picture courtesy Chakrit Samithinan)

(Picture courtesy Michael E. Fader)

   

The former Air Tactical Operations Competition of the Royal Thai Air Force (RTAF) is now called Air Tactical Operations Evaluation. The 2025 edition took place on 12 December 2024 and, as in previous years, was held at the Chandy Weapons Range in Chaibadan, Lopburi Province. The setting was also the same, the event is open to RTAF staff, representatives of the press and some local school classes. The public or even spotters are not allowed.

The event was attended by the Commander of the Royal Thai Air Force, Air Chief Marshal Chainat Phonkit, who is now serving a second term of office. This is quite unusual, as it has become customary in recent years for a commander of the RTAF to only serve for one year. It is to be hoped that this will restore continuity.

Air Chief Marshal Chainat Phonkit arrived like last year in a convoy of Sikorsky S-92 & Sikorsky S-70 helicopters and was received by the commanders of the individual wings at the Chandy Weapons Station.

   

(Picture courtesy Chakrit Samithinan)

(Picture courtesy Saichol Kraiamat)

(Picture courtesy Chakrit Samithinan)

(Picture courtesy Chakrit Samithinan)

(Picture courtesy Michael E. Fader)

   
(Picture courtesy Michael E. Fader) (Picture courtesy Michael E. Fader) (Picture courtesy Michael E. Fader) (Picture courtesy Michael E. Fader) Links Air Chief Marschall Punpakdee Pattanakul und rechts Chainat Phonkit. (Picture courtesy Michael E. Fader)
       
       

Flying programme

   

The flying start was a little different this year. A Saab Gripen of 701 Squadron from RTAFB Surat Thani made the quick flyover after the speech. Usually one of the General Dynamics F-16 Falcons does this. However, the reaction of the air defence was the same. They shot at the Gripen with their four .50 cal machine guns.

This was followed by an overflight of two very different Diamond DA-42s, one of which was a DA-42 Dominator drone. This aircraft is quite new in the inventory of the RTAF and is based in Watthana Nakhon (Sa Kaeo province) at Wing 3 (Unmanned aerial vehicle). The second Diamond DA-42 Twin Star "40220" piloted by one pilot was from Squadron 402 of the nearby base RTAFB Thakli (Nakhon Sawan province)

Then two JAS-39 Gripen and two Northrop F-5TH Super Tigris (211 Squadron from Udon Thani) simulated a dogfight, which was quite difficult to photograph. Not only the backlight caused problems, but also the speed and agility of the fighters. It was absolutely impossible to get both aircraft in one picture.

The effects of the weapons were then demonstrated. From a distance of around 18,000 feet, one of the two Saab Gripen aircraft then dropped a laser-guided bomb on the target area. The illumination team was responsible for target acquisition in addition to the observation platform. As the aircraft was neither visible nor audible, the speaker provided the necessary information for the spectators. Finally, a countdown was made so that the impact of the bomb could be better observed.

   

(Picture courtesy Saichol Kraiamat)

(Picture courtesy Saichol Kraiamat)

(Picture courtesy Chakrit Samithinan)

(Picture courtesy Chakrit Samithinan)

(Picture courtesy Chakrit Samithinan)

   

(Picture courtesy Chakrit Samithinan)

(Picture courtesy Saichol Kraiamat)

(Picture courtesy Chakrit Samithinan)

(Picture courtesy Chakrit Samithinan)

(Picture courtesy Michael E. Fader)

F-16A and T.50

   

The General Dynamis F-16A Falcons of squadrons 103 and 403 were then deployed. These dropped accurate Mk. 82 (241 kg) bombs on the target slope in several approaches. Later, some KAI T.50s Golden Eagle took part in the exercises. The accuracy of the attacks was remarkable, as all bombs landed in the target area.

Then the KAI T.50 Golden Eagles of 401 Squadron from RTAFB Thakli made attacks with the 20 mm cannons. Unfortunately, this was not as spectacular as in previous years with the Aero L-39ZA Albatross, because the cannon is mounted on the left side of the T.50 and so the muzzle flash was not visible.

   

(Picture courtesy Saichol Kraiamat)

(Picture courtesy Saichol Kraiamat)

(Picture courtesy Michael E. Fader)

(Picture courtesy Michael E. Fader)

(Picture courtesy Saichol Kraiamat)

   

General Dynamics F-16A Falcon (Picture courtesy Chakrit Samithinan)

Two Mk.82 Bombes (Picture courtesy Chakrit Samithinan)

Two Mk.82 Bombes (Picture courtesy Chakrit Samithinan)

Two Mk.82 Bombes (Picture courtesy Chakrit Samithinan)

Two Mk.82 Bombes (Picture courtesy Chakrit Samithinan)

   

(Picture courtesy Chakrit Samithinan)

(Picture courtesy Michael E. Fader)

(Picture courtesy Saichol Kraiamat)

(Picture courtesy Michael E. Fader)

(Picture courtesy Michael E. Fader)

   

Alpha Jet

   

The Dornier Alpha Jet TH offered the most impressive spectacle. These rather old aircraft have been extensively modernised in recent years. The modernisation was initiated in 2020 with the involvement of national companies and introduced a fully digital cockpit with multifunctional displays and a head-up display. As part of the modifications, the aircraft also received improved communication systems, the integration of the Link-T tactical data link and a partial integration of precision-guided munitions and air-to-ground missiles. However, the Alpha Jet TH has lost its internal cannon armament.

Four Dornier Alpha Jet TH of 231 Squadron from RTAFB Udon Thai engaged the targets in the target area with 70 mm Hydra rockets. In several approaches, salvos were fired from the rocket pods, which in turn found the targets.

   

(Picture courtesy Saichol Kraiamat)

(Picture courtesy Saichol Kraiamat)

(Picture courtesy Saichol Kraiamat)

(Picture courtesy Saichol Kraiamat)

(Picture courtesy Saichol Kraiamat)

   
   

(Picture courtesy Michael E. Fader)

(Picture courtesy Michael E. Fader)

(Picture courtesy Chakrit Samithinan)

(Picture courtesy Chakrit Samithinan)

(Picture courtesy Michael E. Fader)

   

Transport

   

The task of the transport aircraft is to show how precisely loads can be dropped from the air. A Lockheed C-130H Hercules of the 601 Squadron from RTAFB Don Mueang, which has been flown by the RTAF for 40 years this year, dropped some pallets without parachutes. As expected, the cargo burst on the target field. 

A Basler BT-67 from 461 Squadron in RTAFB Phitsanulok fought an imaginary fire. It should be mentioned here that the aircraft, former Douglas C-47 Skytrain, were built in 1945 and were rebuilt in 1998 and equipped with turboprop engines. The RTAF owns a total of nine of these Basel BT-67s.

   

(Picture courtesy Michael E. Fader)

(Picture courtesy Saichol Kraiamat)

(Picture courtesy Chakrit Samithinan)

(Picture courtesy Saichol Kraiamat)

Impact on the ground (Picture courtesy Michael E. Fader)

   

(Picture courtesy Chakrit Samithinan)

(Picture courtesy Michael E. Fader)

(Picture courtesy Michael E. Fader)

(Picture courtesy Saichol Kraiamat)

(Picture courtesy Michael E. Fader)

The first time in Chandy were two Beechcraft T-6TH Wolverine from RTAFB Chiang Mai belonging to the 411 squadron. Although they had cannon pods under the wing, they did not display any weaponry. The Wolverines were only delivered to the RTAF in July 2024, which now has the first five production aircraft at hand, with more to follow in the coming months. The RTAF has ordered a total of 8 aircraft. The very large roundel on the fuselage and wings is somewhat unusual for a combat aircraft.

   

(Picture courtesy Chakrit Samithinan)

(Picture courtesy Michael E. Fader)

(Picture courtesy Saichol Kraiamat)

(Picture courtesy Saichol Kraiamat)

(Picture courtesy Saichol Kraiamat)

   

Helicopter

   

Then the helicopters were deployed. There was a certain amount of time pressure here. The exercise consisted of setting up a field hospital, which was flown in by the Eurocopter EC-725 of 204 Squadron. The material was unloaded, but the field hospital was already set up and therefore did not need to be set up again. Afterwards, two rescue soldiers were shown being lowered on the long line. A Bell 412EF flew over the Eurocopter EC-725 the whole time as a backup, and the last item on the programme was the carrying of an injured man on a stretcher to the field hospital.

   
 

(Picture courtesy Chakrit Samithinan)

(Picture courtesy Chakrit Samithinan)

(Picture courtesy Michael E. Fader)

(Picture courtesy Michael E. Fader)

   

(Picture courtesy Michael E. Fader)

(Picture courtesy Michael E. Fader)

(Picture courtesy Michael E. Fader)

(Picture courtesy Michael E. Fader)

   

(Picture courtesy Chakrit Samithinan)

(Picture courtesy Saichol Kraiamat)

(Picture courtesy Chakrit Samithinan)

(Picture courtesy Michael E. Fader)

(Picture courtesy Michael E. Fader)

   

Balbo

   

At the end of the event there was a flypast of all the jets. A Balbo was flown in three groups. Two Northrop F-5TH Super Tigris with four Alpha Jets, four Saab Gripen and four KAI T.50 and as the last group 8 General Dynamics F-16 Falcon.

As always, the finale was a single General Dynamics F-16B Falcon in a spectacular "sneak pass" from behind the grandstand. The aircraft then pulled up throwing flares and disappeared.

   

(Picture courtesy Saichol Kraiamat)

(Picture courtesy Chakrit Samithinan)

(Picture courtesy Chakrit Samithinan)

(Picture courtesy Chakrit Samithinan)

(Picture courtesy Chakrit Samithinan)

   

(Picture courtesy Saichol Kraiamat)

(Picture courtesy Saichol Kraiamat)

(Picture courtesy Chakrit Samithinan)

(Picture courtesy Saichol Kraiamat)

(Picture courtesy Michael E. Fader)

Usually the flying displays are followed by a tour of air defence weapons, but this year the Air Chief Marshal was very short of time and the helicopters left the airfield before all the guests had left the viewing platform. 

This year's edition of the Air Tactical Operations Evaluation also demonstrated the high level of training and professionalism of the Royal Thai Air Force, which lives up to its new slogan "Unbeatable Air Force".

Finally, a word of thanks to the helpful ladies and gentlemen of the RTAF Public Relations Department, who once again kindly provided transport and catering for the editors this year.


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last update 23. December 2024

Written 20. December 2024

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