Topzle Updated: Wikipedia source
The Royal Thai Air Force (RTAF) (Thai: กองทัพอากาศไทย; RTGS: Kong Thap Akat Thai) is the air force of Thailand. Since its establishment in 1913 as one of the earliest air forces of Asia, the Royal Thai Air Force has engaged in numerous major and minor conflicts. During the Vietnam War era, the RTAF was supplied with USAF-aid equipment.
| Wing | Role | Province | Base | Notes |
| Directorate of Air Operations Control | ||||
| Security Force Command | ||||
| Space Operation Center | ||||
| Royal Thai Air Force Academy | Training | Saraburi | Muak Lek | |
| Flying Training School | Training | Nakhon Pathom | Kamphang Saen | Composed of 1st, 2nd and 3rd Flying Training Squadrons |
| Wing 1 | Interceptor/fighter | Nakhon Ratchasima | Korat | |
| Wing 2 | Helicopter transport/SAR | Lopburi | Khok Kathiam | |
| Wing 3 | Unmanned aerial vehicle | Sa Kaeo | Watthana Nakhon | |
| Wing 4 | Light attack/interceptor | Nakhon Sawan | Takhli | |
| Wing 5 | Transport/special mission | Prachuap Khiri Khan | Prachuap Khiri Khan | |
| Wing 6 | Non-combat multi-role | Bangkok | Don Muang | Provides transport, mapping, communications, surveying |
| Wing 7 | Interceptor/fighter | Surat Thani | Surat Thani | Nicknamed "Ferocious Shark of the Andaman" and "House of Gripen" as they fly Gripen aircraft. |
| Wing 21 | Interceptor | Ubon Ratchathani | Ubon Ratchathani | |
| Wing 23 | Attack | Udon Thani | Udon | |
| Wing 41 | Light attack | Chiang Mai | Chiang Mai | |
| Wing 46 | Transport/rainmaking | Phitsanulok | Phitsanulok | |
| Wing 56 | Forward operating base | Songkhla | Hat Yai |
| Squadron | Equipment | Wing | RTAF Base | Notes |
| 101st Fighter Squadron | - | Wing 1 | Korat | |
| 102nd Fighter Squadron | F16A/B Block 15 ADF | Wing 1 | Korat | |
| 103rd Fighter Squadron | F-16A/B Block 15 OCU | Wing 1 | Korat | |
| 201 Helicopter Squadron | S-70i, S-92 | Wing 2 | Khok Ka Thiam | Former Royal Guard |
| 202 Helicopter Squadron | Bell 412/SP/HP/EP | Wing 2 | Khok Ka Thiam | |
| 203 Helicopter Squadron | EC 725 | Wing 2 | Khok Ka Thiam | SAR detachments at many locations.UH-1H replaced by EC 725 |
| 301 UAV Squadron | Aerostar BP, RTAF U-1 | Wing 3 | Watthana Nakhon | |
| 302 UAV Squadron | Aerostar BP, RTAF U-1 | Wing 3 | Watthana Nakhon | |
| 303 UAV Squadron | Aerostar BP, RTAF U-1 | Wing 3 | Watthana Nakhon | |
| 401 Light Attack Squadron | T-50TH | Wing 4 | Takhli | |
| 402 Elint Reconnaissance Squadron | Avanti | Wing 4 | Takhli | |
| 403 Fighter Squadron | F-16AM/BM Block 20 MLU | Wing 4 | Takhli | |
| 501 Light Attack Squadron | Fairchild AU-23 | Wing 5 | Prachuap Khiri Khan | |
| 601 Transport Squadron | C-130H/H-30 | Wing 6 | Don Muang | |
| 602 Royal Flight Squadron | A319CJ, A320CJ, A340-500 | Wing 6 | Don Muang | Former Royal Guard |
| 603 Transport Squadron | ATR72-600, SSJ100-95LR | Wing 6 | Don Muang | |
| 604 Civil Pilot Training Squadron | PAC CT-4A, T-41D, Diamond DA42 | Wing 6 | Don Muang | |
| Dechochai 3 Flight Unit | B737-400, B737-800 | Wing 6 | Don Muang | Royal Flight Unit |
| 701 Fighter Squadron | JAS-39 C/D | Wing 7 | Surat Thani | Total 12 Gripens delivered (4 Gripen D and 8 Gripen C), replacing F-5E/F. |
| 702 Air Control Squadron | Saab 340,S-100B Argus | Wing 7 | Surat Thani | Saab 340 70201 and S-100B Argus AEW 70202 |
| 211 Fighter Squadron | F-5TH Super Tigris | Wing 21 | Ubon | |
| 231 Attack Squadron | Alpha Jet A | Wing 23 | Udorn | |
| 411 Fighter Squadron | AT-6TH | Wing 41 | Chiang Mai | |
| 461 Transport Squadron | Basler BT-67 | Wing 46 | Phitsanulok | Also conducts rainmaking flights. |
| 561 Fighter Squadron | - | Wing 56 | Hat Yai | Forward operating base for 701 Fighter Sqn. |
| 904 Aggressor Squadron | F-5E | - | Don Muang | Former unit of King Vajiralongkorn Mahidol. |
| 1st Flying Training Squadron | PAC CT/4E | Flying Training School | Kamphang Saen | Primary flight training. |
| 2nd Flying Training Squadron | Pilatus PC-9M | Flying Training School | Kamphang Saen | Basic flight training. |
| 3rd Flying Training Squadron | Eurocopter EC135T3H | Flying Training School | Kamphang Saen | Helicopter training. |
| Aircraft | Origin | Type | Variant | On order | Notes | |
| Combat aircraft | ||||||
| JAS 39 Gripen | Sweden | Multirole combat aircraft | JAS 39E/F | (+12) | 12 Gripen E/F's have been selected to replace the F-16s of 102 Squadron, Wing 1, Korat Royal Thai Air Force Base | |
| F-5 or Alpha Jet replacement | Unknown | Multirole combat aircraft | Unknown | Unknown | Set to begin with FY2031 budget. | |
| 403 Squadron F-16 replacement | Unknown | Multirole combat aircraft | Unknown | Unknown | Set to begin with FY2036 budget. Will be a Fifth-generation fighter. | |
| Transport aircraft | ||||||
| Airbus A330 MRTT | Europe | Transport / Tanker | Airbus A330 MRTT+ | 0(+1) | Set to replace the Airbus A340-500. Contract is expected to be signed by the end of 2025 with delivery commencing in 2028-2029. | |
| Basler BT-67 replacement | Unknown | Transport | Unknown | Unknown | Set to begin with FY2031 budget. | |
| ATR 72-500 replacement | Unknown | Transport | Unknown | Unknown | Set to begin with FY2031 budget. | |
| Helicopter | ||||||
| Medium Sized VIP Helicopter with Utility/CSAR capability. | Europe | VIP / utility / CSAR | Unknown | 0(+2) | Medium Sized VIP Helicopter with utility and CSAR capabilities from Airbus Helicopters. Set to begin with FY2025 budget. | |
| FY | Million (baht) | % GDP |
| 2018 | 39,931 | 0.243% |
| 2019 | 41,609 | 0.237% |
| 2020 | 42,539 | 0.240% |
| 2021 | 40,081 |