Royal Thai Army Aviation Center

The Royal Thai Army Aviation Center (Thai: ศูนย์การบินทหารบก) is the administrative organization in the Royal Thai Army responsible for doctrine, personnel, and configuration of all army aviation units. It is based at Fort Princess Srinagarindra, in Mueang Lopburi District.

Royal Thai Army Aviation Center
ศูนย์การบินทหารบก
Founded25 June 1935-Present
CountryThailand
BranchRoyal Thai Army
TypeArmy aviation
Garrison/HQFort Princess Srinagarindra, Mueang Lopburi, Lopburi
Websiteaavnc.rta.mi.th/index2.htm
Insignia
Aircraft symbol
Aircraft flown
Attack helicopterBell AH-1F Huey Cobra
Boeing AH-6
Eurocopter Fennec AS550 C3
Cargo helicopterCH-47
Mil Mi-17-V5
Multirole helicopterAgustaWestland AW149
Bell UH-1H Iroquois
Eurocopter UH-72A Lakota
Trainer helicopterEnstrom 480,
Utility helicopterUH-60
Bell UH-1H Iroquois
Eurocopter UH-72A Lakota

History

Thai military aviation began in 1911 when three Siamese army officers were sent to France to learn to pilot aircraft. They returned to Siam in 1913 with four Nieuport monoplanes and four Breguet biplanes. An aerodrome constructed at Don Mueang and the army aviation units moved there on 17 March 1914. On 27 March 1914 the unit became the Army Air Corps. Since then, 27 March has been observed as the birthday of the Royal Thai Air Force.[1]

In 1918, the Army Air Corps gained the status of a division consisting of three wings. It remained under the army until December 1921 when it was renamed the Air Division and was placed directly under the Ministry of War. The Air Division's name changed again in 1935 to the Air Force Division. In 1937 it was proclaimed the Royal Thai Air Force.[1] In 1967 the Army Aviation School was founded, and the Army Aviation Center was created on 20 September 1977.

Mission
  • Planning, directing, and practicing And study about Operation of the Royal Thai Army.
  • Conduct research Develop, define principles and make texts in science associated.
  • Ruling the military units that the Ministry of Defense requires The commander of the Army Aviation Center is responsible for.

Organization
  • Royal Thai Army Aviation Center Headquarters
    • Royal Thai Army Aviation Regiment
      • Light Aviation Company
      • 1st Air Mobility Company
      • 2nd Air Mobility Company
      • 3rd Air Mobility Company
      • 9th Air Mobility Company
      • 21th Aviation Battlion
      • 41st Aviation Battlion
    • Science Division
    • Service Division
    • Airport Division
    • Aviation Communications Division
    • Aviation Safety Division
    • Disease examination unit
    • Army Aviation School
    • Department of Aviation
    • Aviation Base Defense Battalion
    • Aviation Communication Support Division

Aircraft

The Royal Thai Army is known to operate the following aircraft types:

Photo Model Type Origin Quantity Notes
Helicopters
Bell AH-1F Huey CobraAttack helicopter US7[2]Will replace by Boeing AH-6. Four were ordered in 1988 and another four were ordered in 2005.[3][4] One was lost in 2001 crash. Three in storage for spare parts.
Boeing AH-6Light Attack helicopter US0+(8)[5]8 on order.[6]
Eurocopter Fennec AS550 C3Light Attack helicopter France8[2]
Sikorsky UH-60L/M/A BlackhawkUtility helicopter US15[7]UH-60Ls.[8] One was lost in 2011 crash.
UH-60Ms.[9][10]
Bell UH-1H IroquoisUtility helicopter US78[2]From US military aid. Some were bought by RTA. Total delivered from 1968–2004: 174.[11] In 2016 20 UH-1Hs will be upgraded into the UH-1H Plus standard.[12]
Bell 212Utility helicopter US51[2]48 units undergoing upgrade to tactical helicopter.
AgustaWestland AW149Utility helicopter Italy5[7][13]
Bell 206 Jet RangerUtility helicopter US20[2]Both the Bell 206A and Bell 206B are in use.
Eurocopter UH-72A LakotaUtility helicopter US5[14]One lost in 2016 crash.[15]
Kamov Ka-32A1Utility helicopter Russia2Ka-32A11BC. Fire fighting helicopter equipped with a helicopter bucket.[16]
Eurocopter EC145VIP transport helicopter Germany5[2]15 on order.[17]
AgustaWestland AW139VIP transport/Utility helicopter Italy8[2]2 on order.[2] Uses for VIPs.[18][19]
Mil Mi-17-V5Transport helicopter Russia6[2]4 on order.[2]
Schweizer S-300CObservation/Trainer helicopter US45[2]For observation and training
Enstrom 480BTrainer helicopter US16[2]For training
Robinson R44Trainer helicopter US1[2]For training
Fixed-wing aircraft
CASA C-295WTransport aircraft Spain1[2]The RTA ordered one C-295W.[20]
CASA C-212-300 Aviocartransport aircraft Spain2[2]Serial numbers 446 and 447 based with the VIP squadron at Don Mueang Airport.
Embraer ERJ-135LRVIP transport aircraft Brazil2Both aircraft delivered (serial numbers 1084/HS-AMP and 1124)[21][22]
British Aerospace Jetstream 41VIP transport aircraft UK2Serial numbers 41060 and 41094. Based with the VIP unit at Don Mueang Airport.
Beechcraft 1900C-1VIP transport aircraft US2Serial numbers 0169 and 0170. Based with the VIP unit at Don Mueang Airport.
Beechcraft Super King Air 200VIP transport aircraft US2[2]Serial numbers 0342 and 1165. Based at the Lopburi army complex.
Sukhoi Superjet 100 VIP transport aircraft Russia 3 Serial numbers 95093, 95095 and 95132. Registration 60317, 60318, 60319.
Unmanned aerial vehicles
Elbit Hermes 450UAV Israel4The UAVs are operated by the 21st Aviation Battalion at the Army Aviation Centre at Lopburi.[23]
IAI SearcherUAV Israel4
AeroVironment RQ-11 RavenUAV USUnknown

References
  1. "Royal Thai Air Force - Kong Thap Akat Thai". Scramble. Retrieved 14 February 2020.
  2. "World Air Forces 2018". Flightglobal Insight. 2018. Archived from the original on 6 February 2018. Retrieved 18 May 2018.
  3. "Trade Registers". Armstrade.sipri.org. Retrieved 4 August 2014.
  4. Paul Steven Ghiringhelli (21 October 2010). "AH-1 Cobra retirement". United States Army. Retrieved 4 August 2014.
  5. online, thairath (26 September 2019). "DOS clears US$400 mn Thai attack chopper deal". www.asiatimes.com. Retrieved 3 October 2019.
  6. CHAN, DM (26 September 2019). "DOS clears US$400 mn Thai attack chopper deal". www.thairath.co.th. Retrieved 1 November 2019.
  7. https://dl.cypc.fr/Documents/Aviation/General/World%20Air%20Forces%202019.pdf
  8. Archived 16 May 2013 at the Wayback Machine
  9. Archived 21 March 2012 at the Wayback Machine
  10. Archived 23 July 2015 at the Wayback Machine
  11. http://www.thai-aviation.net/files/Army.pdf
  12. "D&S2015: Transworld upgrading RTA UH-1H and RTN & RTP Bell 212". thaiarmedforce.com. Archived from the original on 4 June 2016. Retrieved 4 November 2015.
  13. "Royal Thai Army buys AW149 and six AW139s". Jeremy Parkin. Helihub. 9 December 2016. Retrieved 25 April 2017.
  14. รวมสุวรรณ, อาคม (4 August 2015). "เปิดสเปก เฮลิคอปเตอร์รุ่นใหม่ Airbus Helicopter UH-72 Lakota แทนปลดระวาง". Retrieved 3 November 2019.
  15. "Thai Army UH-72 Lakota Crashes". militaryaviationreview.com. 15 August 2016. Retrieved 4 January 2017.
  16. นาคพุ่ม, เอกพล (28 November 2018). "Russian Helicopters touts platforms to Thai military". aagth1.blogspot.com. Retrieved 29 November 2019.
  17. "Thailand signs contract to buy six EC145 helicopters". janes.com. Retrieved 24 February 2015.
  18. "Royal Thai Army Takes Delivery of Two AW139 Helicopters". Leonardocompany.com. Retrieved 20 July 2016.
  19. "Thai Army Orders 8 AgustaWestland AW139 Helicopters". defenseworld.net. Retrieved 8 October 2015.
  20. "Orders, Deliveries, In Operation Military aircraft by Country - Worldwide" (PDF). Airbus Defence & Space. Archived from the original (PDF) on 20 November 2015. Retrieved 18 June 2016.
  21. Embraer Press Release Embraer sign contracts with the Royal Thai Army and the Royal Thai Navy Archived 29 July 2009 at the Wayback Machine
  22. Flight International Thailand buys third ERJ-135
  23. "Thailand expands ties with Israel through UAV acquisition". janes.com.
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