Arrival of no 1112, the second modernized Dornier Do 228 of the Royal Thai Navy (photos : RTN)
Receiving Ceremony for Maritime Reconnaissance Aircraft Dornier Do 228, No. 1112, Squadron 101, Wing 1, Royal Thai Naval Air Division, Royal Thai Fleet, Royal Thai Navy held on April 29, 2023 at U-Tapao International Airport. It is the second aircraft after the maritime reconnaissance aircraft Do 228, number 1114, which had a welcome ceremony on February 15, 2023, about two months ago.
Bor Do 228 No. 1112, is one of two, along with No. 1114, to be modernized under the Maritime Security Initiative (MSI) program assisted by the US government.
Do 228, numbers 1112 and 1114, both of which are the first batch sent to the aircraft factory of Dornier Luftfahrt GmbH at the airport Oberpfaffenhofen, Germany, at the end of December 2020.
Naval Air Systems Command (NAVAIR) of the United States Navy announced on July 22, 2020 that RUAG, Switzerland get the $40.2 million contract that was announced earlier to improve the modernization of maritime reconnaissance aircraft Do 228 of the Royal Thai Navy, all 7 machines which operated by RUAG MRO International RUAG Aircraft Maintenance Center.
The Naval Aviation Division of the Royal Thai Navy has a total of 7 Do 228 which has an average lifespan of more than 25 years.
Modernization of maritime reconnaissance aircraft Do 228 of the Royal Thai Navy Aviation Division of the Royal Thai Navy Including the installation of a glass cockpit and new mission system equipment, as well as the modernization of the Avionic system, including reconnaissance radar, infrared thermal imaging camera as well as a mission management system, and the data link network connection by improving will allow it to be used for another 15-20 years, which the remaining 5 machines of Do 228 improvements may be operated in Thailand.
(AAG)