Asia Correspondent

Chen Chuanren

The Royal Thai Air Force (RTAF) is making its show debut at Singapore 2018, with its Saab JAS-39C in the aerial display and another JAS-39D in static display.

 


“We have changed about 15 percent of our routine for the Singapore Airshow,” said display pilot Group Captain Nattavut “Neon” Duangsungnaen. He is also the Deputy Wing 7 Commander, RTAF.&nbsp; “We shortened our time from eight minutes to six minutes, and in most places where we perform, the show starts from the moment we take off.”

 


“Flying in and out of Changi can be complicated as it is a very busy airport, but the facilities and management in this show has been excellent,” he said.

 


Flown by 701 Squadron based in Surat Thani, the squadron established the capability to perform aerial displays in 2012, with guidance from the Swedish Air Force. The squadron requires pilots to log at least 150 flight hours on the Gripen to be qualified as a display pilot.

 


“We are very good friends with Singapore, and we go back a long way in terms of military relationship. I am very proud and honored to represent RTAF to celebrate the Republic of Singapore Air Force’s golden jubilee here,” said Duangsungnaen.

 


This year marks the first decade of the RTAF’s Gripen program, having acquired the aircraft from Saab in 2008 as part of an air defense package. The first delivery consisted of six JAS-39C/Ds, a Saab 340 Erieye AEW turboprop, and another Saab 340 for utility transport. Saab also assisted in the development of an indigenous datalink known as Link-T, only available between the two Swedish platforms. RTAF’s Gripens are not Link-16 capable. The second batch of six Gripens and an additional Erieye followed in 2010, with deliveries completed in 2013.

 


The Thai Gripens are mainly tasked for air defense, certified with the Raytheon AIM-120C AMRAAM, AIM-9 and Diehl BGT Defence IRIS-T air-to-air missiles.

 


To keep the aircraft on the leading edge, Saab (Stand D11) and MBDA (Stand G27) have been offering the MS20 upgrade and the Meteor beyond-visual-range missile. More recently, RTAF publicly showed the RBS15F anti-ship missile in January. It also successfully live-dropped a GBU-12 laser-guided bomb with targeting from a Litening targeting pod, further proving that the Thais are pushing the limits of the aircraft, and exploring new multirole options for their Gripen fleet.

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