Two Last T-50TH for Thailand in the Production Line of KAI South Korea Inspected by RTAF Delegation

27 Februari 2023

RTAF's Delegation was inspected last two of RTAF's T-50TH in production line at Korea Aerospace Industries (KAI) in Sacheon, Republic of Korea on February 20, 2023. (photos : Royal Thai Air Force)

The Royal Thai Air Force (RTAF: Royal Thai Air Force) has published pictures and information on its online social media about the progress of the initial fighter pilot training aircraft procurement program (phase 4), with a budget of 2,360,671,875 baht ($72 million) for the procurement of fighter and training aircraft, T-50TH Golden Eagle, additional 2 units from Korea Aerospace Industries (KAI), Republic of Korea.

The set of images published details that a delegation of the Royal Thai Air Force led by Air Chief Marshal Phanphakdee Pattanakul, Assistant Commander-in-Chief of the Air Force Visited KAI's aircraft factory in Sacheon on February 20, 2023 by touring the production line of the T-50 Golden Eagle family of jets, the Golden Eagle shows two aircraft in yellow primer being assembled with vertical tail plates printed as "T-50TH 013". and "T-50TH 014" which are the last two machines for the Royal Thai Air Force.

The Royal Thai Air Force has ordered the procurement of fighter aircraft and training T-50TH Phase 1, 4 machines in the year 2015 and Phase 2, 8 machines in 2017 is the total amount of approximately 12.5 billion baht ($360 million) by KAI, Republic of Korea, has delivered 12 units of T-50TH to the Royal Thai Air Force and is in service at Squadron 401, Wing 4 Takhli.

The procurement of fighter pilot training aircraft at the initial stage (Phase 3), with an estimated budget of 1,659,360,500 baht ($ 52.5 million), is to improve the capabilities of fighter aircraft and train T-50TH received announced in the year 2019 includes Israel Elta EL/M-2032 Radar installation, Radar Warning Receiver (RWR) and additional Countermeasures Dispenser System (CMDS).

The Royal Thai Air Force's primary fighter pilot training aircraft procurement program For fighter and training aircraft T-50TH, a total of 14 machines are delayed due to the reduction of the defense budget due to the Covid-19 epidemic situation. Until on July 9, 2021, the Royal Thai Air Force announced the procurement of two additional T-50TH Phase 4 T-50THs. It is understood that a contract has been signed with KAI, Republic of Korea. Followed later in 2021, the delivery is understood that it should take place around the year 2024.

The Royal Thai Air Force's T-50TH fighter and training aircraft is a version of the KAI T-50 jet trainer, which is also integrated with the Thai-developed Link-TH datalink network system. and the use of the Diehl IRIS-T short-range air-to-air missile, Germany, including proposals from KAI to increase the capabilities of the FA-50 Block 20 standard, such as the Sniper ATP targeting pod and the US AIM-120 medium-range air-to-air missile.

(AAG)