Reply With QuoteExcellent Pictures Skyman. Do they still operate the Air combat instrumenation range near Korat? I spent a month with Wing 1 in 92. Great people.
Procurement Update
MILITARY
Army making robots, will buy 96 APCs from Ukraine
WASSANA NANUAM
The army is making bomb-disposal robots and buying armoured personnel carriers (APCs) from Ukraine to protect its troops in the far South.
Montree Sangkhasap, the chief of staff, said 10 pilot robots would be built in collaboration with King Mongkut’s Institute of Technology North Bangkok, where students have just won the 2007 World Robocup Rescue Championship in Atlanta, Georgia.
The 10 robots, costing more than one million baht each, will be sent to the troubled southernmost provinces of Narathiwat, Pattani and Yala.
If they prove effective more will be built, said Gen Montree, who is also secretarygeneral of the Internal Security Operations Command (Isoc).
He said the army would also build more unmanned aerial vehicles for use in the far South.
Sonthi Boonyaratkalin, army commander-in-chief and chairman of the Council for National Security, said the army would order 96 armoured personnel carriers at a cost of four billion baht from Ukraine.
Some vehicles would be stationed at the Second Infantry Division in Saraburi province and the rest would be deployed in the deep South.
Gen Sonthi said the choice was carefully considered. The Ukrainian model is within the army budget and spare parts are still being made in Ukraine.
The Defence Ministry would seal the procurement as a government-togovernment deal, he said.
Defence Minister Boonrawd Somtas said last week that the army favoured the BTR-3E1 armoured vehicle, because it was the cheapest of the nine bidders. Gen Boonrawd said Canada, Russia and China had lobbied hard for the sale, but price was the deciding factor.
‘‘The Canadian vehicles are excellent, but we would get only half of the 96 vehicles we will get from Ukraine. It’s like buying Japanese cars over European cars,’’ he said.
In June the navy signed a Letter of Offer and Acceptance with the US government to purchase two Sikorsky MH60S Nighthawk helicopters for an estimated price of $58 million (1.7 billion baht) inclusive of spares, support and training. The agreement specifies delivery in 2009, the online Defence Industry Daily reported.
http://www.bangkokpost.com
Excellent Pictures Skyman. Do they still operate the Air combat instrumenation range near Korat? I spent a month with Wing 1 in 92. Great people.
Well, I'm not so sure about that. Excuse my EnglishOriginally Posted by Engine Mech
If you mean whether the RTAF still uses Wing 1 in Korat, the answer is yes. We got 2 Sqn. of F-16 there.
If you mean whether the RTAF uses the area around Wing 1 for air combat training, the answer is I don't know exactly. As far as I know we got the gunnery range in Lop buri and Kornkean for A2G training and in the gulf of Thailand near Sattahip for air combat training.
Thank you
In the News
Thai cops punished by Hello Kitty
The Hello Kitty cartoon character is known across Asia
Police chiefs in the Thai capital, Bangkok, have come up with a new way of punishing officers who break the rules - an eye-catching Hello Kitty armband.
The armband is large, bright pink and has a Hello Kitty motif with two hearts embroidered on it.
From today, officers who are late, park in the wrong place or commit other minor transgressions will have to wear it for several days.
The armband is designed to shame the wearer, police officials said.
"This is to help build discipline. We should not let small offences go unnoticed," Police Colonel Pongpat Chayapan told ******* news agency.
"Guilty officers will be made to wear the armbands in the office for a few days, with instructions not to disclose their offences. Let people guess what they have done," he said.
Further offences would be dealt with using a more traditional disciplinary panel, he said.
The cartoon character Hello Kitty was first introduced by Japanese company Sanrio in 1974.
The cute round-faced cat has become an Asia-wide marketing phenomenon, with Hello Kitty products such as stationery, hair accessories and kitchen appliances available across the region.
http://news.bbc.co.uk/2/hi/asia-pacific/6932801.stm
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POLICE / DISCIPLINARY MEASURES
Turning pink with shame
A pink ''Hello Kitty'' armband wrapped around a khaki-clad arm is shouting for attention at the police Crime Suppression Division.
It is a new disciplinary measure introduced especially for police investigators who refuse to play by the rules.
Starting this week, the warning will come in the form of the popular Japanese cat cartoon sitting on a heart on a pink background.
''The same old warnings no longer work for some officers,'' CSD acting chief Pongpat Chayaphan said.
''This new approach is intended to engender a feeling of guilt and discourage them from repeating the offence.''
Pol Gen Pongpat said 10 armbands were available. In addition to wearing it, a first-time offender must accompany the officer rostered as deputy chief of the day. That means walking to all parts of the CSD office, and being seen wearing the armband.
The wearers are prohibited from disclosing their offence with other officers or discussing the armband.
In the case of a second offence, a panel comprising 18 warrant officers will decide on an appropriate punishment, which could be standing guard, or detention, or even a harsher penalty. This would have to be approved by the CSD chief.
Pol Gen Pongpat said police must practise self discipline. Otherwise, their behaviour could get out of hand to the point of abusing the law or mistreating the public.
''Like a thief, once the first crime is committed the next one is always a worse offence,'' he said.
Offences liable to earn an officer the pink Kitty include failing to report for duty, parking in a prohibited area, fighting, or being the subject of a complaint about poor service.
Policemen see it as a bitter pill to swallow. Most agree it would be quite embarrassing to have to wear the pink armband, which stands out in vivid contrast against their uniform.
http://www.bangkokpost.com
When a verbal warning is not taken seriously, the Crime Suppression Division will get tough _ by handing out pink "Hello Kitty" armbands to undisciplined police investigators.
Southern Thailand Insurgency
Soldier guarding injury man in the hospital. In the last 6 months, RTA launch the "Operation Southern Protection" which is consists of 14 operations to search for the militant in the deep south. More than 500 suspected and 50 guns were arrested and captured.
Photo credit: Thai Jurnalist Association
Procurement Update
News from Ukrainian Observer Online
Ukraine Snags Large Armored Personnel Carrier Deal in Thailand
News and commentary from the Ukrainian Observer Online
KYIV, Aug. 6 – Sources in Bangkok said Monday that Thailand will strengthen its military with the purchase in a government-to-government deal of 96 BTR-3E1 armored personnel carriers designed and produced by the state-owned Kharkiv Morozov plant at Kharkiv, Ukraine. The deal is valued at four billion Thai baht, the equivalent of approximately 670 million Ukrainian hryvnia.
Military sources in Thailand said the choice of Ukraine’s APCs was based primarily on price and the fact that Ukraine will continue making spare parts for its vehicles.
Thai Defense Minister Boonrawd Somtas was quoted in press reports as having said last week that the army favored the Ukraine-made BTR-3E1 armored vehicle because it was the cheapest of the nine bidders. There were nine competitors for the contract with Ukraine beating out spirited efforts by Canada, Russia and China.
In addition to the APCs, Thailand will internally build 10 bomb-disposal robots, which along with the APCs will be used primarily to protect its troops in the troubled far south of the country.
In addition to the purchases for the Thai army, the Thai navy recently signed a Letter of Offer and Acceptance with the US government to purchase two Sikorsky MH-60S Nighthawk helicopters for an estimated price of $58 million (1.7 billion baht) inclusive of spares, support and training for delivery in 2009.
http://www.ukraine-observer.com/2?PH...3f03ce2849d30b
Last edited by Skyman; 08-09-2007 at 09:33 PM.
RTAF Fighter: F-16A/B/ADF
103 Sqn. First F-16 sqn. from Peace Naresuan I & II and Singapore donation in exchange with training in Thailand
403 Sqn. Second sqn. Night Falcon
102 Sqn. ADF Model
RTAF Fighter: F-16A/B/ADF
RTAF Fighter: F-16A/B/ADF
^^^^^
Me like.
What would be awesome is if the fighter jets got Garuda paintjobs.
In the News
Singapore's minister visits Thailand
Singapore (dpa) - Singapore's Minister for Defence Teo Chee Hean kicked off a visit to Thailand on Tuesday which includes calls on Thai Prime Minister Surayud Chulanont and other senior officials.
He will also meet with Defence Minister Boonrawd Somtas, said a Singapore defence ministry statement.
The three-day visit "underscores the close and excellent bilateral defence relationship between Singapore and Thailand," the ministry said.
The armed forces of both countries cooperate closely on a broad range of multilateral activities such as training exercises and professional exchanges.
"Such interactions are mutually beneficial, enhancing the professionalism ... and camaraderie between the officers and men," the statement said.
In History: Thai Coup 2006
Thank to Mr. Napoleon.
The sign to you not to park here.
In the News
Sonthi gets military award from Singapore
Singapore (dpa) - The commander-in-chief of the Royal Thai Army, Gen Sonthi Boonyaratglin, received on Friday a prestigious military award from Singapore Defence Minister Teo Chee Hean.
The Meritorious Service Medal was awarded to Gen Sonthi in recognition of his contributions toward enhancing the strong ties between the Singapore and Thai armies, the defence ministry said in a statement.
"The two armies engage in a wide spectrum of activities," ranging from bilateral exercises to regular professional exchanges and attendance at each other's courses, boosting the comradeship between the officers and men, it added.
Gen Sonthi led a coup on September 19, 2006, overthrowing the elected government of then prime minister Thaksin Shinawatra.
Gen Sonthi, who was scheduled to call on Prime Minister Lee Hsien Loong later Friday, has met with Teo and other military officials during his visit which started on Thursday.
http://www.bangkokpost.com/breaking_....php?id=120934
In History
F8F Bearcat. Previously commissioned in RTAF, was restored to make her fly again by Thai Aircraft Preserving and Developmeting Foundation and Tango Historical Squadorn.
This Bearcat is one of the 13 bearcats in the world that still can fly. Painted by using the pattern during the time in commission. The photo show the engine test in May 2007.
In The News: Referendum - The Road To Election
Thai voters 'approve new charter'
Gen Surayud Chulanont, Thailand's post-coup prime minister, casts his vote on 19 August
Gen Surayud said the charter would go to the king shortly
Thailand's military coup leaders have won a referendum on a new constitution by a large margin, taking around 70% of Sunday's vote, exit polls suggest.
It was the first vote to be held since Thaksin Shinawatra was ousted by the army last year and replaced with Gen Surayud Chulanont.
About 60% of voters turned out, according to the election commission.
Thaksin supporters had urged a No vote, saying the new constitution had been drafted by an illegitimate government.
But Prime Minister Surayud said the result marked a victory.
"We consider that this constitution has been approved by the people, and by the end of August the constitution will be submitted to the king for endorsement," he told national television.
This referendum was about a lot more than the 194-page constitution which few Thais are likely to have read, the BBC's Jonathan Head reports from Bangkok - it was also a vote on the coup itself.
'Loopholes'
The charter is meant to replace the popular 1997 constitution, which the generals tore up after seizing power.
Bangkok rally 13 August
Coup central to Thai charter vote
Critics say the new constitution is less democratic, as it proposes that the Senate should be only partly elected.
But the government says there were too many loopholes in the old charter that allowed Mr Thaksin to abuse power.
Its also says the new charter has many other clauses, like those recognising minority rights, which are more liberal than before.
The draft document limits future prime ministers to two terms in office and makes it easier to impeach them.
The military has promised elections to restore democratic government by the end of the year, on the basis of the new constitution.
Considerable opposition to the new rulers remains in the countryside of the north and north-east, where poor farmers stay loyal to Mr Thaksin.
http://www.militaryphotos.net/forums...te=1&p=2710237
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