The Royal Thai Air Force Performs the First Flight of the Enhanced Alpha Jet

29 September 2021

Enhanced Alpha Jet of the RTAF (all photos : AAG)

Youtube channel of Air Chief Marshal Jom Rungsawang, the 24th former commander-in-chief of the Royal Thai Air Force holding office during the year 2016-2018 has published a video of the latest progress of the project to improve the capability of the attack aircraft,  Dornier Alpha Jet A (Type 7 : named in Thailand).

Attack aircraft Type 7 Alpha Jet, Squadron 231, Wing 23 Udon Thani the first of 14 aircraft that has been modernized according to the capability improvement project made its first flight on 31 August 2021. The project to improve the capabilities of Alpha Jet, amounting to 1 job, by a specific method, with a limit of 60 million baht ($1,998,781), was announced by the Department of Aeronautics on January 12, 2021.

Although the video is low in detail, but it can see the significant changes of Alpha Jet which has been improved by the company Aviation Industry Thai Aviation Industries (TAI) Thailand and RV Connex Thailand according to the Purchasing and Development Policy.

The cockpit has been transformed into a Glass Cockpit with three color displays and the front display (HUD: Head-Up Display) and the control panel with various Avionics systems from CMC Electronics Canada. Includes HOTAS (Hands on Throttle-and-Stick) controls similar to the Lockheed Martin F-16 fighter, which is also used in the A-6TH (AT-6E Wolverine) attack aircraft that is being procured under the Commom Fleet policy.

The Up-Front Control Panel (UFCP: Up-Front Control Panel) also provides information on the Datalink Link-TH network system being developed in Thailand which has the capability to link with other types of aircraft such as Saab Gripen C/D and F-5TH Super Tigris fighters and other systems in the network.

Renovation of aircraft structure, Avionics system and weapon system in the name of the Alpha Jet TH attack aircraft, 14 machines, with a budget of 3,388 million baht ($108,519,334) It also supports Thai aviation industry and security.

During September 2021, the 23rd Airborne Division has published its various public relations activities which has an exhibit of Type 7 Alpha Jet, the first 231 Squadron that has been modernized in a yellow color primer, it is understood that the machine will be given a new camouflage color next.

(AAG)