RTN Sea Hawk Upgrade Deal

RTN S-70B Sea Hawk is in operation from HTMS Chakri Naruebeth with RTN for around 10 years. Three or four years ago there was a new rumor about the upgrade program on the fleet of six Sea Hawks.

On 22 September, Cabinet apporve the 989 million Baht for RTN to upgrade there antisubmarine capability. In the deal, which is believe to be the first from the two phases program, will see three Sea Hawks equipped with AN/ASN-15 Navigational Computer Set and Dipping Sonar from L3 Communication.

RTN Yet Another OPV From BVT Surface Fleet, and More of T.994 – 996

BVT Surface Fleet, the old and familar face that RTN used to and almost bought the OPV from, make a good come back to RTN. This time joining with Bangkok Dockyard to build new OPV for Royal Thai Navy.

RTN previously commissioned two Pattani-class OPV, the first OPV class in RTN, several years ago. This RTN-design Chinese-build OPV are replaced the older WWII frigate and they project to accquire four more OPV to replace all older WWII frigate and set up the coast guard unit under the command of RTN, but obviously a different class.

More Black Hawks are Joining The RTA Fleet

Today’s fleet of Royal Thai Army helicopter are consists of TH-300, Bell 206, UH-1H, Bell 212, Bell 412, CH-47D, and UH-60L.

There once was a plan to replace UH-1H “Huey” by 33 Black Hawk, but the budget crisis from 1997 Asian Financial Crisis forced RTA to cut the number into only 7.

Base on the original requirement in 2006, there is a requirment for 9 utility helicopter, with the helicopter required will be the same standard with Black Hawk.

Royal Thai Navy SAREX2009 in Songkhla

HTMS Sriracha departing Songkhla Naval base for SAREX.

SSAREX, or Search and Rescue Exercise, is an annual exercise organized by Department of Civil Aviation (DCA), Ministry of Transport. The exercise focus on rescuing the aircraft and ship that faced accident. Participant consists of armed force, police, armature radio network, private rescue foundation, hospital, etc. Each year DCA will assigned one government organization as a main host and this year Royal Thai Navy take this role.

CARAT2009 and Photo of Mistral Firing on Board HTMS Chakri Naruebeth

Thai, US Forces Recognize Achievements as CARAT Thailand Concludes 
Release Date: 7/16/2009

By Lt. Ed Early, Commander, Task Group 73.5 Public Affairs  

SATTAHIP, Thailand (July 16, 2009) Notable achievements at sea and on land exemplified the cooperation between the armed forces of Thailand and the United States as the Thailand phase of Cooperation Afloat Readiness and Training (CARAT) concluded, July 16.

Photo Gallery: CARAT2009

Royal Thai Navy SEALs jump into the beach

The landing exercise in Had Yao Beach, Sattahip of Royal Thai Navy and US Navy in CARAT2009. 
 

Thailand’s Part CARAT Begin Today!

  I’ll post more photos when the exercise is going on.

CARAT to Provide Numerous Training Opportunities for Thailand, US
Release Date: 7/08/2009
By Lt. Mike Morley, Commander, Task Group 73.5 Public Affairs

SATTAHIP, Thailand (July 8, 2009) Southeast Asia’s only aircraft carrier will be the centerpiece of a combined afloat training schedule for the armed forces of Thailand and the United States during the Thailand phase of the 15th annual Cooperation Afloat Readiness and Training (CARAT) exercise, which began July 8.

Detail of Defense Budget Cut!

As my memory told, the 1997 Asian Economic Crisis is so damn bad. The current crisis Thailand facing, it’s hard, but it  can not compare with our previuos one. Maybe Thailand got some immune from the 1997 crisis.

But whatever the case, it’s still hard and now military got an impact by facing an budget cut.

So here are some detail of it.

RTN Special Warfare goes Up Scale, New Special Warfare Fast Craft.

Thai Navy today’s has it’s own Naval Special Warfare Unit, a SEALs, which is base on US Naval SEALs. (of course US Navy help establish this unit about 40 years ago and cooperation still going on today)

New structure of RTN call for a Naval Special Warfare Command, could be compared to US Naval Special Warfare Command in term of structure.

Wargame In Paradise

A Thai marine aims his weapon during an amphibious assault exercise as part of the Cobra Gold ‘09 joint military exercise at a military base in Chonburi Province, east of Bangkok Feb. 13, 2009. (Sukree Sukplang/Reuters)

War games in paradise

Welcome to Cobra Gold, the largest US military exercise in Asia.

By Patrick Winn – GlobalPost

Published: February 18, 2009 17:47 ET
Updated: February 19, 2009 14:57 ET