An AT-6 Beechcraft is on display at the 2021 Dubai Airshow. (Agnes Helou/Staff)

 

By Agnes Helou

 

DUBAI, United Arab Emirates — The Royal Thai Air Force has awarded a $143 million contract to Textron Aviation for eight Beechcraft AT-6 Wolverine aircraft, ground support equipment, spare parts, training and other equipment.

 

Thailand’s deal with the American company on the first day of the Dubai Airshow makes it the first international customer of the light attack aircraft. Under the contract, work will take place at the company’s Wichita, Kansas, facility.

 

Thomas Hammoor, president and CEO of Textron Aviation Defense, said in a statement that the Royal Thai Air Force selected the Beechcraft AT-6 to conduct a broad array of missions in support of border security as well as anti-smuggling, counternarcotics and anti-human trafficking operations.

 

Full story: https://www.defensenews.com/digital-show-dailies/dubai-air-show/2021/11/14/thailand-becomes-first-foreign-customer-of-at-6-light-attack-aircraft/

 

-- © Copyright Defense News 2021-11-15

 

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Good if you want to fly low and slow . . . .

Now you know why expats are feeding the destitute and homeless in pattaya

16 minutes ago, bluebluewater said:

Good if you want to fly low and slow . . . .

Better yet, good aircraft if you don't have enemies coz if you do, the AT-6 are no better than a crop duster...

Hmmph.!  Doesn't look like a submarine.

 

Quite useful if the peasants are revolting.

Other than that lumbering boys toys.

Isn't the AT-6 a training plane. If so why outfit it as a light attack plane. Somchai will be flying while tossing out Som Tam to the refugees crossing the border 

And when has Thailand been in a serious regional conflict?! 

They make perfect sense if what you re doing is patrolling borders, seacoasts, interdicting unwanted border crossers, Rohingya boats, and fighting a low level insurgency. All of which Thailand is doing. 

57 minutes ago, LomSak27 said:

interdicting unwanted border crossers, Rohingya boats

You may call them that. The TAT call them "tourist arrivals" ????

3 hours ago, webfact said:

the first international customer of the light attack aircraft

To get the first customer to sign up to an expensive toy is always the most difficult for any sales team for many reasons.

I wonder therefore how big the brown envelope was to get that "Coveted" First Customer Award?

 

PS;  It would appear the Thailand is actually the First customer ever of the attack version as the USAF has only bought 3 samples of the AT-6E (electronics) version.

 

 

 

The brown envelopes would have been big enough for several high up polies to retire after delivery is complete

Perfect for unruly student protesters in Bangkok ?

Why does Thailand need these aircraft? It only attacks its own people. Oh, wait.......

2 hours ago, LomSak27 said:

And when has Thailand been in a serious regional conflict?! 

They make perfect sense if what you re doing is patrolling borders, seacoasts, interdicting unwanted border crossers, Rohingya boats, and fighting a low level insurgency. All of which Thailand is doing. 

So you are going to drop bombs and fire machine guns at them.

Personally I have no problems with them being used for reconnaissance but why the need for fire power.

Well, don't knock it chaps. The Wolverine took part in NATO exercises a while back and the USAF has also signed a contract. As I understand it, this aircraft is designed to replace older reconnaissance single engine aircraft (T series).

However, why Thailand should want them is debatable. 

4 hours ago, bluebluewater said:

Good if you want to fly low and slow . . . .

Perfect for low flyovers over Bangkok, keeping the unruly below in place.

2 hours ago, LomSak27 said:

And when has Thailand been in a serious regional conflict?! 

They make perfect sense if what you re doing is patrolling borders, seacoasts, interdicting unwanted border crossers, Rohingya boats, and fighting a low level insurgency. All of which Thailand is doing. 

Quite so.  My only question is why 8?  Unless Royal Thai Airforce has sublimely efficient maintenance and aircrew only six will be available at any time.  I would have thought two or three times the number so they can have groups of four (three available for flight) at various air fields would have been more sensible.  Now that TG is slimming down, or perhaps even evaporating, there will be less competition for pilots.  (A nephew of my wife is a TG pilot.  When ging through flight training he was the only one new to flying, all the others had been pilots in the Royal Thai Airforce.)  

21 minutes ago, TKDfella said:

Well, don't knock it chaps. The Wolverine took part in NATO exercises a while back and the USAF has also signed a contract. As I understand it, this aircraft is designed to replace older reconnaissance single engine aircraft (T series).

However, why Thailand should want them is debatable. 

The old Ts were also used for ground attack - at least the T28, in a theatre just north of here.

4 hours ago, LomSak27 said:

And when has Thailand been in a serious regional conflict?! 

They make perfect sense if what you re doing is patrolling borders, seacoasts, interdicting unwanted border crossers, Rohingya boats, and fighting a low level insurgency. All of which Thailand is doing. 

or to control your own citizens

 

And this is while the PM is at the "Paris Peace Forum".  Only in Thailand.  ????

2 hours ago, GreasyFingers said:

Personally I have no problems with them being used for reconnaissance but why the need for fire power.

You should talk to the Thai military about that. I understand they are very receptive to non Thai nationals thoughts & concerns. 

Quote

The old Ts were also used for ground attack - at least the T28, in a theatre just north of here.

Also the original T-6 Texans flown by Air America pilots in Laos markings 

used as an attack (Coin) aircraft 

Several Thai Generals just got richer !

Doing the Christmas shopping for the boys?

Do they open the canopy and just throw bombs out, WW1 style.

and dog fights with pistols.

 

 

Basically, a good choice if you are interested in strafing drug caravans/dealers and illegal loggers or keeping watch over the borders for immigrants etc. as you can fly low and slow. Not really much use for anything else, and still have to be careful as a half-decent heavy machine would probably bring one down... turboprops are vulnerable like helicopters.

Could have bought 100 Bell 505 Jet Ranger X, (1.2 mill each) to compliment the Bells they already have for $120 mill, and have 23 mill left over for brown envelopes, training & spare parts.

 

Would think they to be more practical for border patrolling.  No need for landing strips.

 

Oh wait ...  new contract to be award to build new short landing field airports.  Wonder who will get those contracts to build on who's land ...  Shh   

its to replace the bmw smart cars for immigration 

Ummmm, is that a propeller on it's nose? ????