Beechcraft T-6C Texan II for Royal Thai Air Force

On 28 September 2020, Textron Aviation Defense LLc announced a contract with the Kong Thap Akat Thai (RTAF, Royal Thai Air Force) for an Integrated Training System in support of operations at the 4th Air Division/Flying Training School at Kamphaeng Saen, Nakhon Pathom air base.

The contract is for twelve Beechcraft T-6C Texan II advanced military training aircraft, ground-based training systems for pilots and maintenance professionals, a mission planning and debrief system, spare parts and ground support equipment.

Training of RTAF pilots and maintenance professionals is set to begin in Wichita (KS) in 2022, while the twelve T-6C Texan II aircraft - christened the T-6TH in Thailand - are expected to join RTAF between late 2022 and early 2023. Textron Aviation Defense plans to ferry two of the twelve aircraft to Thailand, crating and transporting the remaining ten aircraft to Kamphaeng Saen air base.

The Texan IIs are intended to replace the Pilatus PC-9 aircraft now flying with Flying Training School. It is expected that in the near future also twelve AT-6TH Wolverine light attack aircraft are expected to be ordered to replace Aero L-39ZA/ART aircraft now flying with 411 squadron "Thunder" at Chiang Mai.

Photos: Andy Vass Aviation, Hans Rolink and Robbert Snijders, both via Scramble Magazine