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Text: |
Chakrit Samithinan |
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Pictures: |
Chakrit Samithinan & Saichol Kraiamat |
Airbus Helicopters H225M (Picture courtesy Saichol Kraiamat)
Beech King Air from KASET (Picture courtesy Chakrit Samithian)
From 30th June to 10th July 2025, the Royal Thai Air Force (RTAF) hosted an air exercise at the RTAF base Wing 1 in Nakorn Rajasima (Korat) under the name AIR THAMAL with Thailand and Malaysia as participating countries. This was the 33rd exercise between the RTAF and the RMAF, which had an opening ceremony on 1 July 2025 and a closing ceremony on 10 July 2025 at Wing 1, Korat. The aim of this exercise was to build mutual understanding in joint air operations and enhance readiness for regional security and peacekeeping missions.
AIR THAMAL was held only a few days after the air exercise codenamed ELANG THAINESIA 2025 between the Royal Thai Air Force and the Indonesian Air Force which took place from 9th to 19th June 2025 also at Wing 1 air base in Korat. Similar to the ELANG THAINESIA 2025 air exercise at Wing 1 where the Indonesian Air Force brought its T-50 aircrafts to join the Thai T-50 aircrafts to Thailand, the Royal Malaysian Air Force also brought its aircraft to Korat to join the Field Training exercise after a hiatus of many years.
This is the first time that the Royal Malaysian Air Force has deployed Sukhoi Su-30MKM fighter jets from No.12 Squadron, and Mc Donnell-Douglas F/A-18D Hornet fighter jets from No.18 Squadron, to train in Thailand.
The RTAF brought Saab Gripen C/D from Squadron 701, Wing 7, Surat Thani, fighter aircraft Lockheed Martin F-16A/B Block 15 OCU/ADF from Squadron 103, Wing 1, Korat, and Northrop F-5E/F TH Super Tigris from Squadron 211, Wing 21, Ubon Ratchathani to join the exercise.
Other aircraft supporting the exercise included the EC725 Helicopters (Airbus Helicopters H225M) from RTAF’s Squadron 203, Wing 2, Khok Kratiam, the Lockheed C-130H Hercules of the RTAF and the Airbus A400M of the Royal Malaysian Air Force.
General Dynamics F-16B Falcon (Picture courtesy Saichol Kraiamat)
Saab JAS-39C Gripen (Picture courtesy Saichol Kraiamat)
General Dynamics F-16A Falcon (Picture courtesy Saichol Kraiamat)
Mc Donnell-Douglas F/A-18D Hornet (Picture courtesy Saichol Kraiamat)
Sukhoi Su-30MKM (Picture courtesy Saichol Kraiamat)
General Dynamics F-16B Falcon (Picture courtesy Chakrit Samithinan)
General Dynamics F-16A Falcon (Picture courtesy Chakrit Samithinan)
General Dynamics F-16B Falcon (Picture courtesy Chakrit Samithinan)
General Dynamics F-16B Falcon (Picture courtesy Chakrit Samithinan)
General Dynamics F-16B Falcon (Picture courtesy Chakrit Samithinan)
General Dynamics F-16B Falcon (Picture courtesy Chakrit Samithinan)
(Picture courtesy Chakrit Samithinan)
General Dynamics F-16B Falcon (Picture courtesy Saichol Kraiamat)
Mc Donnell-Douglas F/A-18D Hornet (Picture courtesy Saichol Kraiamat)
Mc Donnell-Douglas F/A-18D Hornet (Picture courtesy Chakrit Samithinan)
On 10 July 2025, the Commanders-in-Chief of both the Royal Thai Air Force and the Royal Malaysian Air Force jointly presided over the closing ceremony of the AIR THAMAL 33/2025 joint exercise at Wing 1, Nakhon Ratchasima Province. In his remarks, the Royal Thai Air Force Commander-in-Chief stated:
“This year’s exercise was particularly special as it involved various types of aircraft and marked the first time that the Su-30MKM fighter jets from the Royal Malaysian Air Force were deployed to train in Thailand. This presents a significant opportunity to enhance joint operational skills between our personnel. The scale of the exercise also expanded, involving up to five squadrons, clearly reflecting the mutual determination of both air forces to elevate the effectiveness and diversity of the exercise.”
He also expressed his appreciation for the success of the training and extended gratitude to all personnel who participated.
Never before in its history has Thailand hosted so many joint air exercises in any one year. Following the just completed AIR THAMAL exercise, an joint exercise with the Royal Australian Air Force (RAAF) under the name THAI BOOMERANG will be held at Korat later in July to be followed by the annual air exercise called FALCON STRIKE scheduled to take place in August at the 231 Attack Squadron at Wing 23 in Udorn with the Chinese Airforce and Navy. This is a direct reflection of the untiring efforts by the current RTAF commander to improve the relationships with friendly nations and to increase the professionalism of the RTAF with a view to Thailand becoming one of the leaders among the air forces of the ASEAN countries.
Mc Donnell-Douglas F/A-18D Hornet (Picture courtesy Chakrit Samithinan)
Mc Donnell-Douglas F/A-18D Hornet (Picture courtesy Chakrit Samithinan)
Saab JAS-39C Gripen (Picture courtesy Chakrit Samithinan)
Saab JAS-39C Gripen (Picture courtesy Chakrit Samithinan)
Saab JAS-39C Gripen (Picture courtesy Chakrit Samithinan)
Sukhoi Su-30MKM (Picture courtesy Chakrit Samithinan)
Sukhoi Su-30MKM (Picture courtesy Chakrit Samithinan)
Sukhoi Su-30MKM (Picture courtesy Chakrit Samithinan)
Sukhoi Su-30MKM (Picture courtesy Chakrit Samithinan)
Sukhoi Su-30MKM (Picture courtesy Chakrit Samithinan)
Sukhoi Su-30MKM (Picture courtesy Chakrit Samithinan)
Sukhoi Su-30MKM (Picture courtesy Chakrit Samithinan)
Sukhoi Su-30MKM (Picture courtesy Chakrit Samithinan)
Sukhoi Su-30MKM (Picture courtesy Saichol Kraiamat)
Sukhoi Su-30MKM (Picture courtesy Saichol Kraiamat)
Finally a word from the author about this photo report. In spite of efforts to become accredited to cover the AIR THAMAL air exercise from within the air base, the RTAF did not allow anyone of the press to enter the air base during the exercise. The reason given was that the current conflict with Cambodia necessitated an increased security level within the Korat Airbase in view of its close proximity to the border area with Cambodia. This meant that pictures could only be taken from outside the base which is quite a challenge. Pictures of aircrafts taking off are not possible from outside so the pictures in this report were taken only of aircrafts returning to base from two different locations.
The author intends to cover the FALCON STRIKE exercise with the Chinese Air Force and Navy scheduled to take place in the first week of August but it could well be that Thai photographers will not be allowed, same as last year, to publish photos of the event. Rumours have it that China has asked for a postponement of this year’s exercise, possibly due to its close relations with Cambodia who are presently on a war footing against Thailand. No postponement has so far been announced but according to RTAF insiders, a postponement to September is very likely.
