Couple Of F-16 Jets Join 4 Others In Patrolling Thai-Myanmar Border

[webfact]

 

A COUPLE OF THE THAI AIR FORCE’S F-16 Fighting Falcon jets today (Apr. 19) joined four others of the same type in conducting regular air patrols over Thai territory across the border from the war-torn Myanmar.

 

Both General Dynamics F-16A/B fighter jets from Wing 1 in Nakhon Ratchasima are operating as a fresh addition to the four F-16A/Bs from Wing 4 in Takhli with air patrol missions in Thai air space over Mae Sarieng district of Mae Hong Son and Mae Sot district of Tak, opposite Hpapun and Myawaddy townships in Kayin state of Myanmar respectively, according to an air force source.

 

The six F-16A/Bs are practically rotating to fly in their shared mission for the day/night air patrols along the Thai-Myanmar border whilst the air force pilots have been instructed to literally see to it that no foreign combat aircraft “stray” from inside Myanmar into Thai air space, either purposely or inadvertently, over those border areas which could otherwise adversely affect Thai villagers, the source said.

 

By Thai Newsroom Reporters

Thai air force F-16 Fighting Falcon jets. Photo: Thai Rath

 

Full story: THAI NEWSROOM 2024-04-20

 

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[SAFETY FIRST]

29 minutes ago, webfact said:

six F-16A/Bs are practically rotating to fly in their shared mission for the day/night air patrols

Can't they use 6 Cessna's for patrols? 🫨

 

Edited April 19 by SAFETY FIRST

[spermwhale]

Kinda a joke.. Talking big knowing that Myanmar's  won't be breaching Thailand's airspace. The regime nutballs in Myanmar are not interested in starting a conflict with Thailand. They have bigger problems domestically. 

[hotchilli]

Patrolling for what, they won't do anything.

[Andycoops]

Well at least they are patrolling which is more than you can say for the BiB.

Who patrol only when there is a full media presence to capture the photo op, e.g walking street etc

[ezzra]

12 minutes ago, hotchilli said:

Patrolling for what, they won't do anything.

Just looking for reasons to take those jets out of their mothballs and clear the cobwebs off them

to see if they still can fly..

Edited April 19 by ezzra

[ChrisY1]

33 minutes ago, ezzra said:

Just looking for reasons to take those jets out of their mothballs and clear the cobwebs off them

to see if they still can fly..

Looks like the wheels won't retract....probably rusty!

[Srikcir]

3 hours ago, webfact said:

conducting regular air patrols over Thai territory across the border from the war-torn Myanmar.

That's all very well but maybe not so efficient use of expensive high performance F-16s.

 

In 1992 the US sold to Thailand three E-2C AWACS having detection and tracking range of up to about 370 km or 230 miles - that would be sufficient for monitoring surroundering Thailand border airspaces.  But likely retired by now.

What AWACS does the RTAF have today if any?

 

I did find an article dated 2009* that Thailand would buy as part of an acquisition package of Swedish fighters, one turboprop S-1000 AEW by Saab, spread over a 5-year budgetary commitment from 2008-2012. Purchase of another Saab AEW was planned over another 5-year budgetary commitment from 2013-2017 but was "delayed." Perhaps by the RTA coup in 2014 that might have competing military needs? 

But today TRAF is using F-16s (apart from just accumulating flight time) for monitoring nearby Mynamar airspace suggests Thailand now has no AWACS.

* https://defenceforumindia.com "Thailand Buying JAS-39 Gripens, AWACS," dated Dec. 20, 2009

[Srikcir]

4 hours ago, webfact said:

the air force pilots have been instructed to literally see to it that no foreign combat aircraft “stray” from inside Myanmar into Thai air space, either purposely or inadvertently, over those border areas which could otherwise adversely affect Thai villagers

What does this mean exactly?

What is the ROE protocol? Shoot first, ask later? Or just protest again and again? The cited policy is nonsense and unworkable.

What might be more viable is a "deconflict" line between the Mynamar and Thailand militaries such as existing between the US and Russian militaries over Syria. A daily deconfliction hotline between the countries would establish daily military protocols regarding potential military conflicts.

"Status Unclear of US-Russia Hotline for Syrian Airspace," April 10, 2017 https://www.voanews.com 

Thailand might also establish same with the Myanmar National Defence Army-Ta'ang National Liberation Army that would reflect Thailand's apparent neutrality over the Myanmar Civil War.

 

 

[fondue zoo]

1 hour ago, hotchilli said:

Patrolling for what, they won't do anything.

 

how dare you sir

 

 

 

 

_teehee

 

 

[john donson]

we report everything is ok in the thai air...lol... was this a border check mission, over ?

[shackleton]

Would have thought they could have had a QRA ( quick action alert ) in place same as most air forces saves the  cost of  flying aircraft full time on border patrols 

As already mentioned they've have early airborne aircraft Swedish aircraft use them as well 

[Korat Kiwi]

5 hours ago, ChrisY1 said:

Looks like the wheels won't retract....probably rusty!

And the booster rockets are just fizzers now... Dammit will have to break out the pedals soon. 

[PETERTHEEATER]

5 hours ago, Srikcir said:

What AWACS does the RTAF have today if any?

 

Somewhere there is the contraversial survellance airship procured by the RTA for use in the south. Last I heard they were trying to get a leak fixed under warranty. 

[cowellandrew]

6 hours ago, PETERTHEEATER said:

Somewhere there is the contraversial survellance airship procured by the RTA for use in the south. Last I heard they were trying to get a leak fixed under warranty. 

Long gone. Decommissioned in 2007

 

[PETERTHEEATER]

1 hour ago, cowellandrew said:

Long gone. Decommissioned in 2007

 

Wow! How time flies. Which is more than that gasbag did.

[billd766]

14 hours ago, Srikcir said:

That's all very well but maybe not so efficient use of expensive high performance F-16s.

 

In 1992 the US sold to Thailand three E-2C AWACS having detection and tracking range of up to about 370 km or 230 miles - that would be sufficient for monitoring surroundering Thailand border airspaces.  But likely retired by now.

What AWACS does the RTAF have today if any?

 

I did find an article dated 2009* that Thailand would buy as part of an acquisition package of Swedish fighters, one turboprop S-1000 AEW by Saab, spread over a 5-year budgetary commitment from 2008-2012. Purchase of another Saab AEW was planned over another 5-year budgetary commitment from 2013-2017 but was "delayed." Perhaps by the RTA coup in 2014 that might have competing military needs? 

But today TRAF is using F-16s (apart from just accumulating flight time) for monitoring nearby Mynamar airspace suggests Thailand now has no AWACS.

* https://defenceforumindia.com "Thailand Buying JAS-39 Gripens, AWACS," dated Dec. 20, 2009

https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Saab_340_AEW%26C

 

In this link it looks as though the RTAF has only two Saab 340 AEW&C aircraft though how accurate the article is I have no idea.

 

 

 

https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Royal_Thai_Air_Force

 

In this article the aircraft are from 702 Air Control Squadron based with 7 Wing at Surat Thani. There is a sort of map that shows Surat Thani as about half way  between Prachuap Khiri Khan and Hat Yai, in the southern part of Thailand.

Edited April 20 by billd766
Added a missing link

[SAFETY FIRST]

23 hours ago, hotchilli said:

Patrolling for what, they won't do anything.

Agree, seems ashame to use those F-16's. 

 

Showoffs. 

 

[KhunLA]

Myanmar did have a couple Migs cruising the border, so just a heads up, don't wander into Thai airspace, or fire a wayward missile across the border 👍

 

Keep your internal issues ... internal.

Edited April 20 by KhunLA