Thai and Chinese Air Forces Complete Falcon Strike 2023 Combined Exercises

25 Juli 2023

PLAAF and RTAF aircrafts participated in Falcon Strike 2023 

The Royal Thai Air Force (RTAF) and the People's Liberation Army Air Force (PLAAF) completed FALCON STRIKE 2023 air exercises with a closing ceremony on July 20, 2023 at Wing 23, Udon Thani.

Mixed practice FALCON STRIKE 2023, from 9-21 July 2023, is the sixth exercise. Since the first practice FALCON STRIKE 2015, the second time FALCON STRIKE 2017, the third time FALCON STRIKE 2018, the fourth time FALCON STRIKE 2019 and the fifth time, FALCON STRIKE 2022, with a two-year hiatus due to the Covid-19 epidemic situation, the Thai Air Force and the People's Liberation Air Force have brought many aircraft to be trained at the 23rd Airborne Division, Udon Thani.

PLAAF J-10C (photo : 4Aviation flightline)

The Royal Thai Air Force has deployed fighter aircraft type SAAB Gripen C/D Squadron 701, Wing 7 Surat Thani, Airborne Control and Warning Aircraft Type 1, B.C. 1 Saab 340B ERIEYE Airborne Early Warning (AEW) Squadron 702 Wing 7 and attack aircraft type Dornier Alpha Jet TH, Squadron 231, Wing 23, participated in the Falcon Strike 2023 exercise. 

As in the past exercise, the Royal Thai Air Force will not bring US-built aircraft such as fighter aircraft type F-16A/B to participate in the exercise with China at the request of the United States.

PLAAF JH-7A / JH-7AII (photo : 4Aviation flightline)

The People's Liberation Air Force (PLAF) took part in the exercises of the Chengdu J-10C and J-10S twin-seat fighters, which are fighters regularly participating in Falcon Strike exercises, equipped with Russian Salyut AL-31FN turbofan engines.

Falcon Strike 2023 is also the second year that the PLAAF has deployed Xian JH-7A/JH-7AII fighter-bombers. Participated in training after being deployed to the 23rd Airborne Division For the first time in Falcon Strike 2022 exercises between 14-24 August 2022.

PLANAF J-11BH (photo : 4Aviation flightline)

A Shenyang J-11B fighter jet and a J-11BS two-seat fighter are pictured. It is a version of the J-11BH and J-11BSH twin-seat fighter jets of the People's Liberation Army Navy Air Force (PLANAF).

It can be seen that the fighter jet J-11BH/J-11BSH Using Chinese insignia and characters, it clearly indicates that it belongs to the People's Liberation Army Navy (PLAN) and is equipped with Chinese WS-10 turbofan engines and Chinese weapons and avionic systems.

PLAAF KJ-500 airborne early warning (AEW) (photo : 4Aviation flightline)

It also includes the Shaanxi KJ-500 Airborne Early Warning and Control (AEW&C), Shaanxi Y-9 four-engine transport aircraft and Xian Y-20A four-engine transport aircraft supporting Exercise FALCON STRIKE 2023 at Wing 23.

It can be seen that during the Falcon Strike 2023 exercise in Thailand this year, the People's Liberation Army (PLA) has demonstrated its ability to deploy a large number of its own aircraft for overseas training.

PLAAF Y-9 transport aircraft (photo : 4Aviation flightline)

Falcon Strike 2023 exercises with China also take place at the same time that the Royal Thai Army (RTA) organizes Exercise Hanuman Guardian 2023 with the US Army and Exercise Panther Gold 2023 with the British Army.

(AAG)