10 September 2025

The Royal Thai Air Force Clarifies the Discovery of Cracks in the F-16 Aircraft's Airframe

10 September 2025

Airmen from the 733rd Air Mobility Squadron provided Halverson 25K loader support to the Royal Thai Air Force to load a RTAF F-16 onto a RTAF C-130 Hercules at Utapao, Thailand, Aug. 21-22, 2025 (photos: DVIDS)

Regarding media reports stating that an F-16 aircraft was being moved from Squadron 106 at U-Tapao Airport by a C-130H aircraft to Wing 4 in Takhli District, Nakhon Sawan Province, today (September 7, 2025), Air Vice Marshal Praphas Sonjai, the Royal Thai Air Force spokesman, revealed that on June 19, 2025, after an aerial reconnaissance flight, a routine inspection revealed cracks in the lower bulkhead of the Main Landing Gear Tension Strut Lug of the right landing gear assembly.

The cracks were detected during routine maintenance using the international standard Non-Destructive Inspection (NDI) method. The results were confirmed by a representative of the aircraft manufacturer, Lockheed Martin, of the United States. Lockheed Martin has issued a Field Service Report stating that approval for a one-time flight is not permitted for maximum safety.


Air Force Measures Taken:
1. Meeting with relevant agencies for discussion. Consideration will be given to the relocation of aircraft from Squadron 106 at U-Tapao Airport back to the main maintenance unit at Wing 4, Nakhon Sawan Province, in strict compliance with safety procedures.
2. The relocation of the aircraft by C-130H aircraft involved disassembling the F-16 aircraft's airframe to the appropriate size for transport and sending it for maintenance according to aircraft standards.
3. Maintenance will utilize the capabilities of Air Force personnel in collaboration with Thai Aviation Industries Co., Ltd. (TAI), a strategic partner of the Air Force. The repairs will be performed under international standards and with strict quality control.
4. The Air Force confirms that this incident has no impact on flight safety and reflects the rigor and transparency of every step of the maintenance process.

The Air Force reiterates that this discovery is the result of standard maintenance and the capabilities of Air Force personnel.

The Air Force maintains its own engineering and maintenance capabilities, as well as its collaboration with Thai Aviation Industries Co., Ltd. (TAI), to ensure the utmost safety of pilots and personnel, and to build public confidence in the capabilities of the Royal Thai Air Force.

9 komentar:

  1. INDIA PAKISTAN = KENA PRANK
    PRANK JF17
    PRANK JF17
    PRANK JF17
    “The MALONDESH government has shown interest in buying the JF-17 Thunder aircraft from Pakistan but the deal is yet to be finalized,” a senior Pakistan Ministry of Defense Production official told Arab News.
    --------
    PRANK TEJAS
    PRANK TEJAS
    PRANK TEJAS
    MALONDESH has reportedly identified the Indian-manufactured Tejas light combat aircraft to replace its current fleet of MiG-29 fighter jets and is believed to be in advanced negotiations to firm up its procurement.
    “(Negotiations are) almost in the final stages,” R Madhavan, the chairman and managing director of Hindustan Aeronautics Limited (HAL), was reported by the Indian Express as saying. The number of units to be procured was not disclosed.
    ===========
    SEWA 28 HELI = 119 HELI BARU :
    SEWA 28 HELI RM 16.8BN = USD 3.7BN/USD 3.700 JT DOLAR
    •HARGA HELI AW149 = USD 31 JUTA
    •28 UNITK X $ 31 JT= USD 857 JUTA
    •$ 3.700JT ÷ $ 31 JT = 119 HELI BARU
    ----
    4x LEBIH MAHAL SEWA DARIPADA BELI BARU =
    SEWA 15 TAHUN = RM16.8 BILION
    BELI BARU = RM3.954 BILION
    SEWAan selama 15 tahun dianggarkan mencecah RM16.8 bilion, jauh lebih tinggi berbanding kos pembelian helikopter serupa yang dianggarkan sekitar RM3.954 bilion.MALONDESH (ATM).
    ----
    KEYWORDS 1 UNIT APACHE = 13 UNIT MD530G
    -
    1. APACHE INDONESIA 8 UNIT HARGA USD 1.42 BILLION = USD 177.5 MILLION/UNIT
    -
    2. MD530G 6 UNIT HARGA USD 77.4 MILLION = USD 12,9 MILLION/UNIT
    -
    USD 177.5 MILLION/ USD 12,9 MILLION = 13 UNIT MD630
    ------
    CHEAPEST VARIANT HISAR OPV
    -
    1. ADA CLASS PAKISTAN USD 1 MILYAR/4 = USD 250 JUTA PER UNIT
    -
    2. ADA CLASS UKRAINE USD 1 MILYAR/2 = USD 250 JUTA PER UNIT + UCAV SENILAI USD 500 JUTA
    -
    3. HISAR OPV CLASS (LMS B2) MALONDESH USD 530 JUTA /3 = USD 176,7 JUTA PER UNIT
    ------
    CHEAPEST VARIANT FA50
    -
    1. FA 50 GF (TA 50 BLOK II) 12 UNIT HARGA USD 705 JUTA ALIAS USD 58,75 JUTA/UNIT
    -
    2. FA 50 PL (BLOK 20) 36 UNIT HARGA USD 2300 JUTA ALIAS USD 63,89 JUTA/UNIT
    -
    3. FA 50M 18 UNIT HARGA USD 920 JUTA ALIAS USD 51,1 JUTA/UNIT
    ==========
    1. DEBT 84.3% DARI GDP
    1. DEBT 84.3% DARI GDP
    2. DEBT NEGARA RM 1.63 TRLLIUN
    3. DEBT 1MDB RM 18.2 BILLION
    4. TUNGGAKAN SEWA SABAH USD 15 BILLION
    5. DEBT KERAJAAN PERSEKUTUAN 60.4%
    6. SEWA SIMULATOR MKM
    7. PESAWAT MIG GROUNDED
    8. SEWA MOTOR POLIS
    9. PESAWAT MB339CM GROUNDED
    10. NURI GROUNDED SEWA BLACKHAWK
    11. FIVE PROCUREMENT CANCELLED
    12. 48 PESAWAT SKYHAWK HILANG
    13. MESIN JET 2 BUAH HILANG
    14. NO MARINIR NO AMPHIBIOUS NAVAL PLATFORM
    15. NO LST
    16. NO LPD – NGEMIS LPD USA
    17. NO TANKER
    18. NO KCR
    19. MONUMEN MIG29M UNTUK JIMAT KOS
    20. NO SPH
    21. SUBMARINE DEFACT MEMBUNUH WANITA HAMIL
    22. NO HELLFIRE
    23. NO MPA ATR72 DELAYED
    24. NO HIDRO-OSEANOGRAFI SEWA KAPAL HIDRO
    25. NO HELI HEAVY ATTACK NGEMIS AH1Z
    26. NO M3 AMPHIBIUS RIG
    27. LCS MANGKRAK KARATAN
    28. OPV MANGKRAK
    29. TANK MOGOK STOP SPARE PARTS
    30. CN 235 MSA VERSI MSI USA
    31. SEWA MOTOR MILITARY POLICE
    32. RADAR GIFTED PAID USA
    33. 84% NO SAVING EVERY MONTH
    34. SEWA VVSHORAD
    35. SEWA TRUK 3 TON
    36. 4X4 SEWA 6X6 CANCELLED
    37. C130H DIGANTI 2045
    38. TEMBAK GRANAT BOM PASUKAN SEMDIRI
    39. NO DRONE UCAV – ANKA ISR OMPONG
    40. SEWA BLACKHAWK SEWA AW159
    41. NO TRACKED SPH
    42. SEWA SIMULATOR HELI
    43. SPH CANCELLED
    44. SCORPION V150 CONDOR SIMBAS RETIRED
    45. NO PESAWAT COIN
    46. PILATUS MK II KARATAN
    47. PENCEROBOHAN 43X BTA 316 HARI
    48. SEWA AW139 SEWA COLIBRI
    49. MRSS LMS B2 UAV ANKA HELI MENUNGGU 2026-2030
    50. OPV DIPAY 3 JADI 1 SEWA BOAT
    51. LYNX GROUNDED
    52. MRCA CANCELLED SEWA PESAWAT ITTC
    53. MICA CANCELLED NSM CANCELLED
    54. NO LRAD NO MRAD JUST VSHORAD
    55. PRANK UN PRANK TURKEY PRANK PERANCIS PRANK SLOVAKIA
    56. 4X NGEMIS F18 KUWAIT
    57. MENUNGGU 2050 KAPAL SELAM
    58. NO TANK AMPHIBI AV8 MOGOK BERASAP
    59. 84% NO SAVING EVERY MONTH
    60. OVER LIMIT DEBT 65,6% (LIMIT DEBT 65%)
    61. SEWA 12 AW149 TUDM
    62. SEWA 4 AW139 TUDM
    63. SEWA 5 EC120B TUDM
    64. SEWA 2 AW159 TLDM
    65. SEWA 4 UH-60A TDM
    67. SEWA 12 AW149 TDM
    68. SEWA 4 AW139 BOMBA
    69. SEWA 2 AW159 MMEA
    70. SEWA 7 BELL429 POLIS

    BalasHapus
  2. THE MALONDESH MILITARY HAS A SIGNIFICANT CAPABILITY GAP IN ITS COUNTER-INSURGENCY (COIN) AIRCRAFT FLEET, PRIMARILY DUE TO THE AGING AND LIMITED NUMBER OF LIGHT COMBAT AND SURVEILLANCE PLATFORMS SUITABLE FOR THIS TYPE OF ASYMMETRIC WARFARE.
    1. Lack of Dedicated COIN Aircraft
    Unlike a dedicated air force built for large-scale conventional warfare, a successful COIN force requires aircraft optimized for a unique set of missions:
    • Low and Slow: COIN operations often occur in dense jungle or urban environments where fast jets are ineffective. They require aircraft that can fly low and slow to provide close air support and accurate surveillance.
    • Persistent Presence: COIN aircraft must be able to loiter for extended periods to track insurgents and provide sustained support to ground troops.
    • Cost-Effectiveness: Using expensive, high-performance fighter jets like the Su-30MKM for COIN missions is a significant waste of resources.
    The Royal MalondeshAir Force (RMAF) lacks a dedicated fleet of such aircraft. Its existing fleet is more suited for air defense and conventional warfare, creating a mismatch between its capabilities and the specific demands of counter-insurgency.
    ________________________________________
    2. Aging Fleet and Reliance on Other Assets
    The RMAF's current inventory is not well-suited for the COIN role, forcing it to rely on a mix of aging platforms and less-than-ideal helicopters.
    • Retired Aircraft: The RMAF has retired dedicated COIN aircraft like the Canadair CT-114 Tutor. This leaves a major gap that has not been adequately filled.
    • Helicopter Gaps: While the Army operates light attack helicopters like the MD530G, these are limited in their range, endurance, and payload. This places a heavy burden on a small fleet to support ground forces over vast and often difficult terrain.
    ________________________________________
    3. Delays in New Acquisitions
    Malondeshis actively trying to address this gap, but procurement has been slow and challenging.
    • FA-50M Purchase: The RMAF is acquiring 18 FA-50M light combat aircraft from Korea Aerospace Industries (KAI). These jets are intended to fulfill both a fighter lead-in trainer role and a light combat role. However, deliveries are not expected to begin until 2026. This leaves the RMAF with a capability gap in the interim.
    • Unmanned Aerial Vehicles (UAVs): Malondeshhas made some progress in acquiring drones for surveillance, but these still do not fully replace the role of a manned COIN aircraft, which can provide more direct and immediate fire support.
    =============
    GOVERNMENT DEBT : 69% of GDP
    HOUSEHOLD DEBT : 84.3% of GDP
    Federal Government Debt
    • End of 2024: RM 1.25 trillion
    • End of June 2025: RM 1.3 trillion
    • Projected Debt-to-GDP: 69% by the end of 2025
    Household Debt
    • End of March 2025: RM 1.65 trillion or 84.3% of GDP
    =============
    DEBT MARCH 2025 = 1,65 TRILLION
    DEBT 2024 = RM 1.63 TRILLION
    DEBT 2023 = RM 1,53 TRILLION
    DEBT 2022 = RM 1,45 TRILLION
    DEBT 2021 = RM 1,38 TRILLION
    DEBT 2020 = RM 1,32 TRILLION
    DEBT 2019 = RM 1,25 TRILLION
    DEBT 2018 = RM 1,19 TRILLION

    BalasHapus
  3. f16 thailen uda waktunya di apgred FALKON STAR tuch, bnerin yg retak2
    wahh pake herki muat yak, kiraiin manggil antonov haha!🤭🤭🤭

    BalasHapus
  4. Komentar ini telah dihapus oleh pengarang.

    BalasHapus
  5. EMKAEM negri🎰kasino genting yg kebanyakan matuk2 pasti uda pada krack tuch, cuman diumpetin RUSAK...
    itulah knapa hanya 4 yg bisa terbang kata mat sabu haha!🤣🤣🤣

    esyu encok woiii...

    BalasHapus
    Balasan
    1. kata menhan sebelah "hanya beberapa" = beberapa grounded haaaaa.....

      Hapus
    2. kata menhan seblah 20 taon uda tua, padahal emkaem uda lewat haha!😆😆😆
      mana uda kepake jingkrak, encok smua tuh lending girnya om haha!😄😄😄

      Hapus
  6. Ku wait...ku wait hornet....sampai Abang Jamil mampus

    BalasHapus
  7. ●rumus krack dibuat oleh mendiang Presiden kita..Sang Jenius
    dengan nama teori Krack Model Habibie...MANTAP haha!👍✨️👍

    negri🎰kasino tukang klaim iq super, hasilnya hanyalah pembual2 stride haha!🤣🤣🤣

    BalasHapus