Thai Army Look at the New US Attack Helicopter Instead of the AH-1F

05 October 2017

Royal Thai Army is looking for a 6-8 new attack helicopters to replace the 7 AH-1F of the 3rd Aviation Battalion, Aviation Regiment, Army Aviation Center, including US Boeing AH-64E Apache Guardian and Bell AH-1Z Viper (photo : John Miller)

On October 3, General Pravit Wongsuwan, the defense secretary of Thailand, gave a media interview on the visit of US Prime Minister Gen. Pravit Chanjoo to meet US President Donald Trump on October 2.

The Thai Army is in the process of setting up a new attack helicopter selection committee to replace HGH 1 AH-1F Cobra 7. 3rd Aviation Regiment, Aviation Department, Army Aviation Center, by AH-1F. 1991 (1991), but one accident in 2000 (2000) and four additional AH-1F EDAs in 2012 (2012) are currently in use. Much There are only two airworthiness aircraft that are flying and are flying out.

Thailand's Defense Minister said the Thai PM's visit to the United States did not discuss the supply of armaments to the Thai army. Currently, the US government has approved the possibility of selling arms to the Thai Army as reported several times before. 

In addition to supplying 60 UH-60M helicopters in addition to UH-60L/UH-60M acting in the 9th Fighter Combination (12) was originally built, but the UH-60L was damaged in 2011, leaving only 16 units as originally planned in 2014. 

New attack helicopter project 6-8 machines to replace AH-1F, the committee will consider the selection before submitting to the Ministry of Defense to import the Cabinet in the future in the normal course.

There are two types of US Army helicopter options available for the Royal Thai Navy: AH-64E Apache Guardian and Bell AH-1Z Viper. The AH-64E and AH-1Z are the perfect alternatives to AH-1F Cobra. It has been procured in several countries around the world. 

The Army will also consider the model : Germany Helicopters Tiger, Turkish Aerospace Industries - Leonardo T129, including Mil Mi-28NE with Kamov Ka-52 Russia and Changhe Aircraft Industries Corporation (CAIC) Z-10 China.

(AAG)