CALFEX of the Marine Corps Command in the Annual Navy Exercise 2025

02 Mei 2025

CALFEX at the Royal Thai Navy Annual Exercise 2025 (all photos: RTN)

The combined live-fire exercise (CALFEX) of the Marine Corps Command in the annual Navy Exercise 2025 was conducted at the Navy Training Field No. 16, Ban Chan Khem, Khao Khitchakut District, Chanthaburi Province.

The combined live-fire exercise (CALFEX) is part of the field/sea training exercise (FTX) in the annual Navy Exercise 2025, which is a real-world operation training of various combat units to create familiarity and experience for personnel.

The purpose is to test the operational capabilities and test the readiness of both personnel and equipment. In line with the concept of training management that "Fight as You Train"

For the combined live-fire exercise (CALFEX), there will be an attack, occupation, defense of the objective and establishment of the beachhead line, along with supporting the attack with supporting weapons from the Marine Corps Command (MCC) and the Air and Coastal Defense Command (ACDC), including requesting an attack on High Value Targets from the Air Force, which simulates the situation and training area at the Navy Training Field No. 16.

As for the weapons and equipment used in the training of the Navy, they include: 6 AAV amphibious combat vehicles, 3 VN16 amphibious assault vehicles, 4 BTR-3E1 wheeled armored vehicles, 7 AWAV 8x8 wheeled armored vehicles, 4 Humvee trucks with Tow 2A-RF anti-tank rocket launchers, 2 155 mm field guns from the Marines and the Royal Thai Navy, with BOR-A560 surveillance systems, 4 105 mm field guns, 2 40/60 mm anti-aircraft guns, internal fire support weapons at the infantry battalion rate, air infiltration units from the Marine Corps Reconnaissance Battalion, and 1 M SOLAR-X UAV.

The navy aircraft participating in the exercise included Dornier Do-228 maritime reconnaissance aircraft for air infiltration. Cessna T-337 targeting aircraft for close air support (CAS) and EC-645 transport helicopters for medical evacuation.

The Royal Thai Army has arranged 4 M1126 Stryker ICV armored vehicles to participate in the exercise for the strategy of attacking and seizing the target, while the Royal Thai Air Force has arranged 2 F-16 fighter jets to intercept additional forces from the opposing side. The Combat Control Team from the Special Operations Department of the Air Force Command advised on contacting aircraft to enter the operational area.

The results of this exercise, in addition to the personnel participating in the exercise from various units of the Royal Thai Navy, Royal Thai Army, and Royal Thai Air Force using the main tactics in joint combat and testing the Navy's use of forces in accordance with the national defense plan to gain more knowledge and expertise from actual training, also made the Navy aware of the capabilities and limitations of its current personnel, including joint operations with various armed forces, to be used in planning to develop capabilities for the Royal Thai Navy's missions, especially in national defense, to be more effective.

(Royal Thai Navy)