Royal Thai Navy Welcomes Its First Refurbished Do 228 Maritime Patrol Aircraft

16 Februari 2023

Dornier Do-228 of the Royal Thai Navy after refurbished (photos : Royal Thai Navy)

Dornier Do 228 serial 1114 of 101 Naval Air Squadron, Naval Air Wing 1, Royal Thai Naval Air Division (RTNAD), Royal Thai Navy (RTN), the first maritime patrol aircraft (MPA) has completed modernized surveillance systems by RUAG MRO International under Maritime Security Initiative (MSI) program by US Government, was welcoming ceremony at U-Tapao Royal Thai Navy Airfield on 15 February 2023. (photo : Royal Thai Navy)

Naval Aviation Division, Royal Thai Naval Air Division (RTNAD), Royal Thai Fleet (RTF), Royal Thai Navy (RTN) held a welcome ceremony for a type 1 maritime patrol aircraft Dornier Do 228, No. 1114, Squadron 101, Wing 1, Royal Thai Navy.

Which is the first machine to be modernized According to the project to increase the capability of the surveillance system, Do 228 under the Maritime Security Initiative (MSI: Maritime Security Initiative) at U-Tapao International Airport on February 15, 2023.

The Maritime Reconnaissance Aircraft Do 228, No. 1114, is one of two aircraft, together with No. 1112, that have been modernized under the MSI program, which is an aid from the US government to friendly countries.

Do 228, numbers 1112 and 1114, both of them are the first batch sent to the aircraft factory of Dornier Luftfahrt GmbH at the airport. Oberpfaffenhofen, Germany, at the end of December 2020.

RUAG MRO International Aircraft maintenance center of RUAG, Switzerland. in the airport Oberpfaffenhofen Germany was awarded a contract for the modernization of the Naval Aviation Squadron Do 228 maritime reconnaissance aircraft of Royal Thai Navy.

Improvements include the installation of a new Glass Cockpit and mission system equipment as well as modernized avionic systems, including reconnaissance radar, infrared thermal imaging cameras as well as mission management systems, and data link network connection.

RUAG Switzerland did not disclose the value of the modernization project. But the Naval Air Systems Command (NAVAIR: Naval Air Systems Command), the United States Navy (USN: US Navy), announced on 22 July 2020 that RUAG was previously announced a $40.2 million contract to modernize all seven Royal Thai Navy Do 228 maritime patrol aircraft, whose average service life is over 25 years .

Naval Aviation Division The Royal Thai Navy has a total of 7  Do 228, consisting of No. 1109 and No. 1110, entered service on May 14, 1991, No. 1111 and No. 1112 entered service on May 14, 1991. 28 December 1995, Number 1113 entered service on May 2, 1996, number 1114 entered service on May 27, 2004 and number 1115 entered service on April 11, 1991  by improving it will allow it to be used for another 15-20 years.

(AAG)