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Air Tactical Operations
Evaluation 2025 |
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Text: |
Michael E. Fader |
Pictures: |
Chakrit Samithinan & Saichol Kraiamat |
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Chandy Range (Picture courtesy Chakrit Samithinan) |
(Picture courtesy
Michael E. Fader) |
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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. |
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(Picture courtesy Chakrit Samithinan) |
(Picture courtesy Saichol Kraiamat) |
(Picture courtesy Chakrit Samithinan) |
(Picture courtesy Chakrit Samithinan) |
(Picture courtesy
Michael E. Fader) |
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(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) |
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Flying programme |
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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. |
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(Picture courtesy Saichol Kraiamat) |
(Picture courtesy Saichol Kraiamat) |
(Picture courtesy Chakrit Samithinan) |
(Picture courtesy Chakrit Samithinan) |
(Picture courtesy Chakrit Samithinan) |
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(Picture courtesy Chakrit Samithinan) |
(Picture courtesy Saichol Kraiamat) |
(Picture courtesy Chakrit Samithinan) |
(Picture courtesy Chakrit Samithinan) |
(Picture courtesy
Michael E. Fader) |
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F-16A and T.50 |
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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. |
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(Picture courtesy Saichol Kraiamat) |
(Picture courtesy Saichol Kraiamat) |
(Picture courtesy
Michael E. Fader) |
(Picture courtesy
Michael E. Fader) |
(Picture courtesy Saichol Kraiamat) |
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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) |
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(Picture courtesy Chakrit Samithinan) |
(Picture courtesy
Michael E. Fader) |
(Picture courtesy Saichol Kraiamat) |
(Picture courtesy
Michael E. Fader) |
(Picture courtesy
Michael E. Fader) |
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Alpha Jet |
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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. |
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(Picture courtesy Saichol Kraiamat) |
(Picture courtesy Saichol Kraiamat) |
(Picture courtesy Saichol Kraiamat) |
(Picture courtesy Saichol Kraiamat) |
(Picture courtesy Saichol Kraiamat) |
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(Picture courtesy
Michael E. Fader) |
(Picture courtesy
Michael E. Fader) |
(Picture courtesy Chakrit Samithinan) |
(Picture courtesy Chakrit Samithinan) |
(Picture courtesy
Michael E. Fader) |
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Transport |
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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. |
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(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) |
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(Picture courtesy Chakrit Samithinan) |
(Picture courtesy
Michael E. Fader) |
(Picture courtesy
Michael E. Fader) |
(Picture courtesy Saichol Kraiamat) |
(Picture courtesy
Michael E. Fader) |
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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. |
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(Picture courtesy Chakrit Samithinan) |
(Picture courtesy
Michael E. Fader) |
(Picture courtesy Saichol Kraiamat) |
(Picture courtesy Saichol Kraiamat) |
(Picture courtesy Saichol Kraiamat) |
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Helicopter |
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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. |
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(Picture courtesy Chakrit Samithinan) |
(Picture courtesy Chakrit Samithinan) |
(Picture courtesy
Michael E. Fader) |
(Picture courtesy
Michael E. Fader) |
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(Picture courtesy
Michael E. Fader) |
(Picture courtesy
Michael E. Fader) |
(Picture courtesy
Michael E. Fader) |
(Picture courtesy
Michael E. Fader) |
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(Picture courtesy Chakrit Samithinan) |
(Picture courtesy Saichol Kraiamat) |
(Picture courtesy Chakrit Samithinan) |
(Picture courtesy
Michael E. Fader) |
(Picture courtesy
Michael E. Fader) |
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Balbo |
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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. |
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(Picture courtesy Saichol Kraiamat) |
(Picture courtesy Chakrit Samithinan) |
(Picture courtesy Chakrit Samithinan) |
(Picture courtesy Chakrit Samithinan) |
(Picture courtesy Chakrit Samithinan) |
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(Picture courtesy Saichol Kraiamat) |
(Picture courtesy Saichol Kraiamat) |
(Picture courtesy Chakrit Samithinan) |
(Picture courtesy Saichol Kraiamat) |
(Picture courtesy
Michael E. Fader) |
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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". |
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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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