BANGKOK, Nov 14 (TNA) – The Royal Thai Air Force (RTAF)
has officially commissioned 14 upgraded F5 fighters and 17 unmanned
aerial vehicles, “RTAF U1”.
The RTAF has successfully upgraded F5 fighters with new
avionics, software and weapons. The
upgraded aircraft are known as F5 Super Tigris that has similar features as
RTAF’s JAS-39 Gripen.
RTAF Commander-in-chief ACM Maanat Wongwat said it was a
historic day for the Thai air force and the country’s defense industry.
The upgrade to extend the airframe life of the aircraft and
improve combat capabilities, cockpit avionic and radar system was a joint
effort by several sectors to enhance the air force capabilities under the
government’s 20-year national development strategy, he said in the
commissioning ceremony.
He said the upgraded aircraft featured network centric
operation and tactical data link found in JAS-39 Gripen fighter.
The 17 RTAF U1 UAVs which entered service on Thursday was
designed and built domestically, he said, with operational range cover a
100-kilometer radius. “Except the
engines, the UAVs were entirely made by Thai people,” ACM Maanat said.
It was a historic milestone of the RTAF reflecting the
principle of self-reliance to utilize technological advancement through a broad
collaboration of Thai people, he said. (TNA)
