Defense Career
Aerial Warfare

Royal Thai Air Force Orders 8 Beechcraft AT-6TH Wolverine Light Attack Turboprops

234
×

Royal Thai Air Force Orders 8 Beechcraft AT-6TH Wolverine Light Attack Turboprops

Share this article
Beechcraft AT-6E Wolverine Counter-insurgency Aircrafts
Beechcraft AT-6E Wolverine Counter-insurgency Aircrafts

Textron Aviation Defense LLC announced a $143 million contract with the Royal Thai Air Force (RTAF) for an Integrated System in support of the 41st Wing light attack operations at Chiang Mai Air Base. The historic contract — for eight Beechcraft AT-6 Wolverine aircraft, ground support equipment, spare parts, training and other equipment — establishes Thailand as the international launch customer for the USAF’s latest light attack aircraft. The work in support of this procurement will take place at the company’s Wichita, Kansas facilities. The Beechcraft AT-6 Wolverine is designed and manufactured by Textron Aviation Defense LLC, a Textron Inc. company.

The contract also contributes to the growth of Thailand’s aerospace industry detailed in the 10-year Royal Thai Air Force Purchase and Development (P&D) Plan, complies with requirements set forth by the Thai National Anti-Corruption Committee (ACC) and empowers RTAF light attack aircrew with a vital technological advantage. The contract signing, witnessed by RTAF Air Chief Marshal Chanon Mungthanya, aligns the procurement with the Thai government’s S-Curve 11 strategy — a program that pioneers development of the Thai domestic defense industry, cultivates diversity and supports involvement across foreign and Thai companies.

511 Tactical
From left to right: Thomas Hammoor, president and chief executive officer of Textron Aviation Defense LLC, hosts the Royal Thai Air Force (RTAF) Air Marshal Pongsawat Jantasarn, Chairman of the RTAF Procurement Committee, for the signing of the official Thai contract procuring a fleet of 12 Beechcraft AT-6TH aircraft. Witnessing the contract signing are Thomas Webster, Textron Aviation Defense regional sales director for Asia Pacific, and RTAF Air Chief Marshal Chanon Mungthanya.
From left to right: Thomas Hammoor, president and chief executive officer of Textron Aviation Defense LLC, hosts the Royal Thai Air Force (RTAF) Air Marshal Pongsawat Jantasarn, Chairman of the RTAF Procurement Committee, for the signing of the official Thai contract procuring a fleet of 12 Beechcraft AT-6TH aircraft. Witnessing the contract signing are Thomas Webster, Textron Aviation Defense regional sales director for Asia Pacific, and RTAF Air Chief Marshal Chanon Mungthanya.

“RTAF pilots and concerned parties found the attributes of the AT-6 procurement program extremely favorable. It will also benefit both Thai and U.S. mutual interests, strengthening the enduring strategic partnership between our nations,” stated AM Pongsawat Jantasarn, RTAF’s chairman of the procurement committee.

“We are honored the Royal Thai Air Force has competitively selected the Beechcraft AT-6 to conduct a broad array of missions in support of its border security and its anti-smuggling, counter-narcotics and anti-human trafficking operations. The RTAF is a key U.S. security ally and operator of one of the most advanced air forces in Asia Pacific,” said Thomas Hammoor, president and chief executive officer of Textron Aviation Defense LLC.

The contract signing, witnessed by RTAF Air Chief Marshal Chanon Mungthanya, aligns the procurement with the Thai government’s S-Curve 11 strategy — a program that pioneers development of the Thai domestic defense industry, cultivates diversity and supports involvement across foreign and Thai companies. The Beechcraft AT-6TH becomes the second RTAF procurement contracted in support of S-Curve 11. The first procurement under the new strategy was the Beechcraft T-6TH Texan II, awarded in 2020. The Ministry of Defense supports the S-Curve 11 strategy and the two procurements. Textron Aviation Defense training of RTAF maintenance professionals is set to begin in Thailand in 2023, while pilot training is set to begin in Wichita in 2024. The Beechcraft AT-6TH will join the Royal Thai fleet in 2024.

Leave a Reply