Orat and Takhli evoke vivid memories among many former US Airmen, as these two bases in central Thailand played a major role during the US military campaigns in Southeast Asia. The days of F-4 Phantoms and F-105 Thunderchiefs, or Thuds, rumbling down the runways are long gone. Today, Korat and Takhli are the primary fighter bases of the Royal Thai Air Force and home of the RTAF’s three squadrons of F-16 Fighting Falcons.
The Thai F-16 program is named Peace Naresuan after a great Thai warrior king of the late 1500s. The Peace Naresuan programs consist of four deliveries of F-16s, the first of which arrived in 1988. The RTAF marked the fifteenth anniversary of the program this year with the acceptance and delivery of the latest batch of F-16s under the Peace Naresuan IV program. The first three programs involved procurement of new aircraft. The latest entails the delivery of sixteen ex-USAF F-16 Block 15 Air Defense Fighter models.
“We had been considering fighter aircraft with beyond-visual-range capability for some time,” notes Air Chief Marshal Kongsak Vantana, the RTAF Commander in Chief. “The F-16 was the most feasible option for us. The air defense version has the capabilities we need.”
The RTAF’s current fleet of F-16s from the three previous acquisitions are all standard Block 15 models powered by the Pratt & Whitney F100-PW-220E engine. The newly delivered aircraft were previously operated by the Air National Guard. The US Government agreed to sell used aircraft to Thailand in 1999, and a letter agreement for the program was signed the next year. The program includes the refurbishment and delivery of fifteen single-seat and one two-seat F-16s. Two additional Block 10 OCU aircraft were acquired for spares.
The Peace Naresuan IV aircraft were taken from storage at the Aerospace Maintenance and Regeneration Center at Davis-Monthan AFB, Arizona, and transferred to the Ogden Air Logistics Center at Hill AFB, Utah, for structural upgrades and other modifications. The US Air Force was responsible for refurbishing and delivering the aircraft. Lockheed Martin provided the upgrade kits for refurbishment and provides logistics support and maintenance training. The engines of the ADF models have been upgraded to the F100-PW-220E configuration by technicians at the Pratt & Whitney San Antonio Engine Center to match the other RTAF F-16 engines. The first aircraft was handed over to the RTAF in ceremonies on 4 June 2002 at Hill and ferried to Korat Royal Thai AFB soon afterward.
Korat 102 Squadron
The new jets constitute the recently re-established 102 Squadron Stars of Wing 1 at Korat AB. This second F-16 squadron at Korat operates alongside the F-16s of 103 Squadron, the Lightnings, the first RTAF squadron to operate F-16s.
“The arrival of the first five jets last August concluded a three-year period in which we set up the squadron and prepared ourselves to receive the F-16s,” says Wing Commander Anudith Nakornthap, the commander of 102 Squadron. The squadron was built up with personnel from both neighboring 103 Squadron and from 403 Squadron, the F-16 squadron at Takhli. Only experienced F-16 pilots were selected to join 102 Squadron because, with only one two-seat F-16, the new squadron has a limited training capability for its pilots.
The primary mission for 102 Squadron is air defense, and its pilots concentrate on air-to-air training. The RTAF has purchased a limited number of AIM-120 AMRAAM missiles to be used on the F-16 ADFs. In addition to the AIM-120, the RTAF is considering the Israeli Python 4 short-range infrared-guided air-to-air missile for its F-16s.
Red Flag 2003—Almost
Thai planners were looking forward to the opportunity to hone their air-to-air skills in their new jets earlier this year when the RTAF was invited to participate in Red Flag exercises at Nellis AFB. “The deployment to Nellis would have been the first time in twenty years we had gone to Red Flag,” explains Air Chief Marshal Thares Punsri, the Chief of Air Staff for the RTAF. “We decided to concentrate on air-to-air scenarios given the complexity and realism that Red Flag offers as well as our acquisition of F-16s we plan to dedicate to this mission.”
Rather than ferry their aircraft back across the Pacific, the RTAF planned to fly seven F-16 ADFs awaiting delivery at Ogden to Red Flag. The RTAF detachment traveled to Davis Monthan AFB prior to the exercise for a three-week spin-up training and would use the time to check the new jets coming straight out of overhaul and to familiarize the F-16 crews with the aircraft and the US flight regime. However, Red Flag 03-3.1 was cancelled in late February because of USAF commitments in the Persian Gulf. The RTAF detachment went to Nellis anyway and trained with some of the tenant units. The aircraft were returned to Ogden after the training session to prepare for delivery to Thailand.
Korat 103 Squadron
Korat’s Wing 1, 103 Squadron, specializes in ground attack missions. This squadron received the initial twelve F-16s under the original Peace Naresuan program in 1988. Six more aircraft were delivered to the squadron under the Peace Naresuan II program in April 1991.
In addition to dropping a mix of unguided Mk-82 and -84 general-purpose bombs, 103 Squadron has added a precision-guided attack capability. Their F-16s are often fitted with the Thomson-CSF ATLIS II laser designator pod in conjunction with GBU-10 and -12 precision-guided munitions. As with LANTIRN, the ATLIS pod is carried on the right intake station. Operating PGMs is part of the standard training curriculum for 103 Squadron pilots, notes Wing Commander Narong Inthachart, the 103 Squadron Commander and first RTAF F-16 pilot to log 2,000 hours. “All our pilots start training on the ATLIS pods as soon as they have reached 300 hours in the F-16. The targeting system is not complex, and the mission is straightforward.” 103 Squadron receives most of its pilots fresh out of pilot training and has four F-16Bs for conversion training.
Its ground attack mission often takes the 103 Squadron pilots to the Chandy range close to Korat RTAFB where F-16 crews can train with live ordnance. Korat also offers space for air combat maneuvering and basic fighter maneuvers. The base has its own Air Combat Maneuvering Instrumentation, or ACMI, training facility as well. “Our ACMI system is flexible and offers good opportunities for debriefs,” notes Wing Commander Nakornthap.
Because of its excellent training facilities, Korat AB often hosts large multinational exercises, including the annual Cope Tiger exercise with Singapore and the US and the annual Air Thamal exercise with Malaysia. The Republic of Singapore Air Force is a frequent visitor to Korat because of the limited airspace available in Singapore. The RTAF often acts as the aggressor squadron, and the 701 Squadron from Surat Thani in southern Thailand deploys some of its F-5Es to Korat as aggressors.
Takhli 403 Squadron
Although the RTAF has a dedicated air defense platform with F-16 ADF, alert duties are still performed by the two other F-16 squadrons. “We do not scramble very often, though we launch the alert jets frequently to maintain proficiency with scramble procedures,” explains Wing Commander Chanon Mungthanya at Takhli AB. Chanon commands 403 Squadron Cobras of Wing 4 at Takhli. Although the Takhli F-16 pilots perform air defense duties, the squadron’s main mission is ground attack. “About seventy percent of our training relates to air-to-ground,” Chanon adds.
The 403 Squadron also operates the ATLIS II laser designators. However, unlike 103 Squadron, the Takhli F-16 squadron is exclusively tasked with night attack. For this mission, the F-16s operate the Thomson CSF RUBIS navigation pod. This pod is carried on the left intake station and can be carried in conjunction with the ATLIS pod. The RUBIS pod is also used by the 403 Squadron pilots during night intercepts for identification purposes. The squadron will be expanding its night attack capability soon with the introduction of night vision goggles.
403 Squadron pilots perform night flying about two weeks every month. New F-16 pilots at Takhli start night attack training after logging 150 hours. “Most of our new pilots come fresh out of flight training,” the 403 Squadron commander says. “On average, we receive two new pilots every six months. They get one month of academics before they start flying the jet. We run a training program that encompasses an initial phase with six flights to familiarize students with the F-16 and a second phase comprising forty-five flights in which we teach them to operate the jet in every aspect, including instruments, basic fighter maneuvers, air combat maneuvering, and ground attack.”
Chanon has logged more than 1,400 hours in the F-16 since his conversion from the F-5 a decade ago. “I was quite happy flying F-5s,” he recalls. “I had some initial doubts, but the F-16 excels in every aspect. It is powerful. It has good avionics. It is very comfortable to operate. And we receive great customer support from Lockheed Martin,” Chanon says. The Takhli F-16s were delivered under the Peace Naresuan III program between October 1995 and February 1996 and were the last Block 15 OCU aircraft to roll off the assembly line.
Future Upgrades
Although the RTAF is satisfied with the night attack capability of its F-16s, it is evaluating potential replacements for its ATLIS II pods. “We are looking at the several systems, including the Litening pod and the Pantera pod,” explains Air Chief Marshal Thares. But the RTAF’s ambitions do not stop there. “We want to expand our BVR capability to all three of our F-16 squadrons. If you take air-to-air seriously, you need a BVR capability,” the chief of the air staff notes. Budgetary restraints, however, may delay these plans. Nevertheless, the F-16 continues to play a significant role in the RTAF, as the Peace Naresuan IV program demonstrates. In the words of Air Chief Marshal Vantana, “The F-16 has been and will be the most significant claws of the Royal Thai Air Force and Thailand for a long time to come.”
Peace Naresuan Veterans
All four Peace Naresuan programs in Thailand have been ardently supported by countless RTAF personnel during the past fifteen years. Three who have been involved with the F-16 in the RTAF since the beginning and have made key contributions to the success of all four F-16 programs in Thailand are spotlighted here.
Air Vice Marshal Pinit Comchird
No one in the RTAF knows F-16 program management better that AVM Pinit, as his connection with F-16s encompasses nearly a quarter of a century. He was involved in RTAF studies in 1979 to explore the possibilities for the RTAF to acquire F-16s. Pinit managed all program issues and was liaison with General Dynamics under the initial Peace Naresuan program. Later, he was assigned as senior national representative to the Ogden Air Logistics Center at Hill AFB, Utah. In the early nineties, Pinit served another term in the United States as senior representative at the F-16 System Program Office at Wright-Patterson AFB, Ohio. From there, he managed the Peace Naresuan III program. Because of his experience with F-16 program management, he was assigned first as deputy director and later as director of the RTAF FMS procurement division. More recently, he served as secretary to the Peace Naresuan IV Purchasing and Receiving Committee. Pinit was promoted to the rank of Air Vice Marshal in October 2002, making him the first non-rated, former enlisted officer to attain the rank of Air Vice Marshal in the history of the RTAF. As the committee secretary for Peace Naresuan, he is responsible for all Peace Naresuan issues as well as the F-16 Structural Enhancement Committee. Pinit looks back on years of operational service with F-16s in the RTAF with great satisfaction: “Peace Naresuan distinguished itself from the other aircraft programs by its complexity, but the results have been very rewarding.”
Air Vice Marshal Itthaporn Subhawong
AVM Itthaporn was among the initial six pilots to transfer to the F-16 in 1987 at Luke AFB, Arizona. He was the first F-16 squadron commander when the Fighting Falcon entered service in the RTAF at Korat RTAFB. Earlier, he had been one of the initial members of the RTAF’s first F-5E/F squadron, also at Korat. After leading 103 Squadron during its initial three years with the F-16, he fulfilled various staff duties with Wing 1. While still at Korat, Itthaporn kept flying F-16s as in instructor pilot. He also commanded Wing 21 at Ubon AB, before he was assigned as air attaché to the Royal Thai Embassy in Washington DC. Since October 2002, AVM Itthaporn has been the Chief of Staff, Directorate of Air Operations Control. Looking back on fifteen years of F-16 operations in the RTAF, Itthaporn describes the impact the F-16 has made on the RTAF. “After operating aircraft like the A-37 and the F-5, the F-16 was a major step for us. This aircraft brought new technologies and new tactical concepts,” he recalls.
Air Vice Marshal Suppasorn Gaysornmala
AVM Suppasorn has been involved with F-16 logistics for a long time. As an aircraft maintenance officer, Suppasorn was chief of aircraft maintenance control of the RTAF Directorate of Aeronautical Engineering when the first F-16 arrived at 103 Squadron in 1988. In the ensuing years, Suppasorn was a member of the RTAF Purchasing and Receiving Committee for all Peace Naresuan programs. He was also a member of the committee of the RTAF F-16 capability development project. He has been involved in all four Peace Naresuan programs. Besides his involvement with Fighting Falcons, Suppasorn has been part of the RTAF committee for transport aircraft and the special committee for RTAF royal family aircraft. Suppasorn has been assigned deputy commander for maintenance for the RTAF detachment to the Cope Thunder exercise. With his fifteen years of experience with F-16s in the RTAF, Suppasorn observes that the aircraft is still very much at the forefront of technological developments. “The F-16 is still as potent, reliable, and supportable as it was when we started operating the jet. We will be able to operate our F-16s for many years to come, especially after we have extended the service life of our fleet.”
Eric Stijger is an aviation photojournalist based in the Netherlands
