Closing ceremony of the project to improve the capacity of transport aircraft Lockheed Martin C-130H Hercules, Squadron 601, Wing 6 Don Mueang at the aircraft repair shop Thai Aviation Industries (TAI) on September 26, 2022.
There is a picture of the pilot of the aircraft carrier C-130H number 60110 in the 40th-anniversary pattern, including a glass cockpit, aircraft structures, components, equipment, and various engines that have been replaced.
The Royal Thai Air Force did not provide details as to which of the C-130H machines from the expected number. Eight engines completed performance improvements, including the new Rolls-Royce T56 Series 3.5 turboprop engine.
At present, the 601 Squadron, 6th Airborne Division, Royal Thai Air Force is stationed with a total of 12 C-130H transport aircraft, comprising 6 C-130H short-body transport aircraft and C-130H-30 transport aircraft.
The details of 6 machines is C-130H No. 60101, 60102, 60103, which entered service in 1980, C-130H-30 60104 in service 1983, C-130H-30 60105, 60106 entered service 1988, C-130H-30 60107, and C-130H 60108 entered service 1990, and the C-130H 60109, 60110 and C-130H-30 60111, 60112 into service 1992, with an average service life of between 30-32 years. The remaining 4 C-130H C-130H will be renovated accordingly in the budget of 2023, which will enable them to use work until the year 2032.
According to the Thai Air Force White Paper 2020, the Royal Thai Air Force has a project to procure 12 replacement transport aircraft C-130H Hercules and systems related with training for use in air transport missions.
Implementation period:
Phase 1 Budget binding 4 years Fiscal Year 2022-2025 4 devices,
Phase 2 Budget binding 4 years Fiscal year 2024-2026 4 devices, Phase 3 Budget binding 4 years Fiscal Year 2016-2029 4 units.
However, by cutting the defense budget due to the Covid-19 epidemic for many years, the Royal Thai Air Force has not been allocated. Adequate budget for supplying new transport aircraft to replace C-130H.
Improving the capabilities of C-130H is therefore a small project that does not require a small budget. But plans to replace such as the new C-130J Super Hercules transport aircraft will need to be assessed in the future.
(AAG)