04 November 2020
Firing of IRIS-T missile from RTAF F-5E/F Tigris (photos : RTAF)
A 7-minute video presentation of the implementation of the urgent policy of the Minister of Defense of the Thai Air Force 2021 of the Royal Thai Air Force published on Youtube On 2 November 2020.
Has disclosed the latest progress of the project to develop and improve the capability of the aircraft in service according to the Purchase and Development policy published in the Royal Thai Air Force White Paper 2020.
The first is a project to modernize the fighter aircraft Northop F-5E /F-5F Tiger II, 111 Squadron, 21 Ubon Ratchathani Airborne Division, 14 aircraft as F-5TH Super Tigris by Elbit System Company Israel and Thai Aviation Industries (TAI) Thailand.
For the first time integrating a near-range air-to-air missile, Diehl IRIS-T, Germany, and an F-5 fighter jet.
The Royal Thai Air Force's latest publicity video revealed the live test firing of the IRIS-T air-to-air missile at the wing-tip weapon district of the upgraded F-5TH Super Tigris fighter.
The IRIS-T will work with the DASH IV display pilot helmet for the F-5E / F Super Tigris and will be the primary short-range air-to-air missile for Royal Thai Air Force fighters in accordance with common policy.
The latest videos also revealed the F-5E Super Tigris took off from the runway, equipped with two Israeli 500lbs Elbit Systems LIZARD III laser-guided bombs at the armament under the double outer wing with two IRIS-T missiles at each wing-tip weapon district
Under the renovation, the Super Tigris project will include the integration of the Rafael Litening III Israel targeting bulb, the Rafael Sky Shield Israel electronic war bulb, and the link-TH Datalink linkage developed in Thailand.
The Israeli Rafael I-Derby Rafael I-Derby is another weapon system that will be integrated into the F-fighters Improved 5E/F Super Tigris.
That will provide capabilities similar to the Raytheon AIM-120 AMRAAM (Advanced Medium-Range Air-to-Air Missile) that is equipped with a 4.5 generation fighter aircraft Saab Gripen C/D Squadron 701, Wing 7 Surat Thani.
The video also revealed the actual firing of the near-range air-to-air missile Raytheon AIM-9 Sidewinder from the wing-tip weapon district of the fighter jet and training the Royal Thai Air Force KAI T-50TH Squadron 401 Airborne Division 4 Takhli.
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