Myanmar’s MiG-29 fighter jet flying over Thai territory yesterday. Photo: Stringer/BBC THAI

 

By Thai Newsroom Reporters

 

PRIME MINISTER-CUM-DEFENCE Minister Prayut Chan-o-cha and air force chief ACM Napadej Dhupatemiya will be obliged to testify before the House Armed Services Committee over June 30 crossborder intrusion into Thai airspace by a Myanmar MiG-29 jet, an opposition MP said yesterday (July 1).

 

Thai Civilized party leader/MP Mongkolkit Suksintharanon who currently sits on the House Armed Services Committee confirmed both Prayut and ACM Napadej will be shortly summoned for testimony before the House panel over the surprise event in which the Myanmar MiG-29 Fulcrum fighter flew across the Thai-Myanmar border into Thai airspace over Popphra district of Tak to attack Karen rebel bases along the border in Myawaddy township with missiles and bombs.

 

A couple of Thai F-16 Fighting Falcon jets took to the sky from Wing 4 in Takhli moments after the Myanmar MiG-29 had returned into Myanmar airspace, thus negating the possibility of a mid-air dogfight.

 

Full story: https://thainewsroom.com/2022/07/01/prayut-air-force-chief-to-be-summoned-for-house-testimony-over-myanmar-mig-29-intrusion/

 

-- © Copyright  THAI NEWSROOM 2022-07-02

 

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It is very difficult to “scramble” fighters to intercept foreign aircraft.  The distance from Myanmar is very short.  Just not enough time to challenge the intruders.  The only way to intercept in this airspace would be to have aircraft in the air 24/7.  This is financially, maintenance wise and pilot supply wise not possible.  The Thai Air Force did the best they could.  

'Dogfight' ?  Even if they caught him in Thai Airspace this was not likely to happen; more likely to just escort him back out.   A lot of hullabaloo about nothing !

Why ? The head honcho himself already said its not an issue !

7 hours ago, webfact said:

returned into Myanmar airspace, thus negating the possibility of a mid-air dogfight.

But what would have been the result if Thailand had anti-aircraft guns along the border with Burma?????

 

Thailand M163-Vulcan Air Defense System (VADS) 

 

8 hours ago, webfact said:

moments after the Myanmar MiG-29 had returned into Myanmar airspace, thus negating the possibility of a mid-air dogfight.

As planned.....

So much to human rights, UN resolutions and the Thai stance to the subject. But yeah, one junta leader does not <deleted> onto the uniform of the other junta leader .......... 

Was the Thai ambassador called back "for consultations"? Did Thailand check, if any living soul on Thai soil got hurt (just as to keep Myanmar a sovereign state). 

20 hours ago, webfact said:

A couple of Thai F-16 Fighting Falcon jets took to the sky from Wing 4 in Takhli moments after the Myanmar MiG-29 had returned into Myanmar airspace, thus negating the possibility of a mid-air dogfight.

Yeah Okay.

Storm in teacup.....

On 7/2/2022 at 10:53 AM, sqwakvfr said:

It is very difficult to “scramble” fighters to intercept foreign aircraft.  The distance from Myanmar is very short.  Just not enough time to challenge the intruders.  The only way to intercept in this airspace would be to have aircraft in the air 24/7.  This is financially, maintenance wise and pilot supply wise not possible.  The Thai Air Force did the best they could.  

What is required is a radar system capable of spotting approaching aircraft, just as the RAF have to intercept probing Russians on a regular basis.

Then the Thai aircraft would be in position prior to the Burmese dog getting over the border.

2 hours ago, Andycoops said:

What is required is a radar system capable of spotting approaching aircraft, just as the RAF have to intercept probing Russians on a regular basis.

Then the Thai aircraft would be in position prior to the Burmese dog getting over the border.

This is true but it still takes time for alert aircraft to get airborne.  The US Air Force can get F-22's  airborne in about 5 minutes to counter Russian aircraft in Alaskan Airspace.  I wonder how long it takes the Thai Air Force to get it's F-16 airborne? 

Just now, sqwakvfr said:

This is true but it still takes time for alert aircraft to get airborne.  The US Air Force can get F-22's  airborne in about 5 minutes to counter Russian aircraft in Alaskan Airspace.  I wonder how long it takes the Thai Air Force to get it's F-16 airborne? 

Surely sharing a wriggly long land border makes that all the more difficult.....

Perhaps the point of the summons is not so much to berate the Prime Minister and the Air Force Chief about the incursion as to inquire what political and military steps they intend to take to ensure that they don't do it again.

 

I had to comment on this. Long time lurker, first time poster. 

Anyway, I was looking at a website called flightradar24.com last week, it is a real time view of all aircraft in the air around the world. Poking around LOS, i noticed a RTA VIP jet take off from Phitsanulok airport, I think it was a Beechcraft Kingair. It went straight into Myanmar and when it turned north reducing altitude, it turned off its transponder. The airport it landed at was Heho, it was reported on the ground for a few hours at least before I lost interest. They have to keep the transponder on for the commercial aircraft flying in the area. I also saw HIS 737 do touch and goes and land at Phitsanulok. My wife thought they exchanged cash to pay for the future incursion.

flightradar24.com is an interesting site for aviation geeks. I will do a proper introduction later.

Oh well, it justifies a bigger budget for the military. 

"You see, we could have been attacked so we need more weapons"

All seems a bit staged.

MIG-29s indeed.

I believe the Myanmar Junta needs to update it's fighter jet class. 

 

How 'bout a fleet of Chengdu J-20s? 

[quote]

...

 My wife thought they exchanged cash to pay for the future incursion.

[/quote]

 

Er... right.  Did that money exchange show up on FR24?  Perhaps the plane was bringing Som Tam to Thai expats in Myanmar.....

On 7/2/2022 at 10:37 AM, webfact said:

 

A couple of Thai F-16 Fighting Falcon jets took to the sky from Wing 4 in Takhli moments after the Myanmar MiG-29 had returned into Myanmar airspace, thus negating the possibility of a mid-air dogfight.

 

Yeah right, like that would even happen....lol