Wolverine Gets a Win With the Royal Thai Air Force

Thailand has become the first foreign customer for the Beechcraft AT-6 light-attack aircraft, saving face for the aircraft in its continuing duel with Embraer's competing Super Tucano. An affordable, lightweight, and reliable aircraft, the AT-6TH will work as a multirole workhorse for the Royal Thai Air Force. The deal for 8 of the aircraft, with ground support equipment, spare parts, training, and other accessories. The purchase will replace their increasingly antiquated L-39 Albatros aircraft in service, offering improved capability, performance, and force integration at an affordable hourly cost. 

“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,” said Thomas Hammoor, president and chief executive officer of Textron Aviation Defense LLC. “The RTAF is a key U.S. security ally and operator of one of the most advanced air forces in Asia Pacific. Its extensive market research and stringent procurement process sought the alignment of best cost, schedule, and performance to replace its existing fleet of aging Aero L-39 Albatros aircraft and advance the capabilities of its fleet with the latest technology.”

The contract is a solid win for the Beechcraft Aircraft, with unrealized aspirations for the once shelved U.S. Air Force Light Attack Aircraft a remote possibility. More data, increased production, and more experience could add to the aircraft's resumé and give it an edge as a domestically-produced option should procurement begin again. The purchasing committee assigned to the RTAF project found it a good fit under Thailand's S-Curve 11 program, an effort to diversify their defensive postures, their industry, and support integration across their forces. 

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

The purchase of the AT-6TH comes following their acquisition of the trainer variant, the T-6TH Texan II, which the same program selected in 2020. Training for RTAF maintenance personnel is set to begin in Thailand in 2023, while pilot training starts in Wichita, Kansas, near the production line for the aircraft. The RTAF expects the program to be operational in the Royal Thai fleet in 2024.  

FMI: www.defense.txtav.com/en/AT-6