Royal Thai Air Force's F-16A Block 15 ADF (photos : Thai Fighter Club)
Public relations video published by Royal Thai Air Force 1 (RTAF) Korat Squadron on Youtube channels and online social media, which is a series of public relations continuously since January 2022, the latest on January 24, 2022.
It is an introduction to the fighter aircraft Lockheed Martin F-16A Fighting Falcon (local name : Type 19) stationed in Squadron 103, Wing 1 since visiting the simulator on Explore the F-16A fighter plane parked in the hangar and engine maintenance workshops that can be done in the country.
Part of the video also revealed a picture of the fighter aircraft F-16A ADF (Air Defense Fighter) Squadron 103 No. 10335 and the production line 820989 armed with a short-range air-to-air missile AIM-9M. Sidewinder and pod ACMI (Air Combat Maneuvering Instrumentation).
This short animation indicates that the fighter aircraft F-16A ADF transferred from Squadron 102 to join the 103 Squadron as of September 28, 2021, the new colors and markings of Squadron 103 have been repainted.
While still stationed in the 102 Squadron F-16A/B ADF does not have the production line numbers on the rudder like the F-16A/B Block 15 OCU Squadron 103 supplied in the Peace Naresuan I, II and Peace Carvin I programs, the Singapore Air Force (RSAF).
Production line 82-0989 of F-16A ADF number 10335, thus indicating that this machine was originally F-16A ADF number 10216 that was previously stationed in the United States Air Force (USAF) was supplied in the Peace Naresuan IV program in 2003.
It was not revealed that there was a F-16A ADF transferred from Squadron 102. How many machines are put into service in the 103 Squadron, but if counting from F-16A No. 10325, production line 870399, one of the 7 machines that were procured from Singapore in the year 2005, which is the latest number in the 103 Squadron.
It may be expected that there will be at least 10 F-16A ADFs that have been deployed to the 103 Squadron from the numbers 10326, 10327, 10328, 10329, 10330, 10331, 10332, 10333, 10334 and 10335, which can be confirmed will have to wait for the publication of images of other numbers to be revealed later.
Moving pictures of F-16A ADF No. 10207, production line 81-0690, to be displayed at the front of Wing 1's door in December 2021, it was one of the machines that have been retired since March 30, 2021.
Squadron 103 received 12 fighter aircraft F-16A/B Block 15 OCU in the Peace Naresuan I project in the year 1988, Peace Naresuan II Project, 6 units in 1991 and Peace Carvin I from Singapore, 7 units, total 25 units.
Squadron 102 received 16 fighter aircraft F-16A/B Block 15 ADF in the Peace Naresuan IV project, which until now F-16A/B fighter aircraft of Squadron 1 have been lost. from various accidents and retired due to a number of expired aircraft structures.
The Royal Thai Air Force wants to procure new attack fighters to replace the F-16A/B ADF Squadron 102 in the budget of the year 2023, which looks to the Lockheed Martin 5th-generation fighter aircraft F-35 Lightning II.
(AAG)