Aircraft
Thai Army Boosts Air Defense Missile Capability
The Chinese KS-1C system is in service, and the MBDA MICA is on its way
The Thai Army put the KS-1C SAM system on display during an open day at the system’s home base, Surat Thani. (Photo: Sukasom Hiranphan)
The Thai Army put the KS-1C SAM system on display during an open day at the system’s home base, Surat Thani. (Photo: Sukasom Hiranphan)

The Royal Thai Army (RTA) has displayed the Chinese KS (KaiShan)-1C surface-to-air missile (SAM) system that it has acquired in the past two years. It is also going ahead this year, with the purchase of vertical launch (VL) MICA air defense missile systems from MBDA. Until now, the RTA operated only short-range anti-aircraft guns such as the Oerlikon GDF-007, and man-portable missiles such as the Thales Starstreak.