Thailand commissions upgraded F-5 light fighters, U1 unmanned aerial vehicles

The RTAF U1 UAVs and F-5TH Super Tigris fighter aircraft. Photo c/o AAG_Th Thai Defence Page.

The Royal Thai Air Force (RTAF) held a ground-breaking ceremony at Don Mueang airbase in Bangkok for the commissioning of the initial batch of two (2) upgraded Northrop F-5E/F Tiger II, which are now called the F-5TH Super Tigris, and indigenously developed and made tactical unmanned aerial vehicles (UAV) called the RTAF U1.

RTAF Air Chief Marshal Manat Wongwat presided the event, and flew on one of the F-5TH Super Tigris fighters, which were noted to be armed with the Diehl IRIS-T air-to-air missile originally used on the RTAF’s fleet of Saab JAS-39C/D Gripen fighters.

The F-5TH Super Tigris upgrade was made with the combined efforts of Israel’s Elbit Systems Ltd, the Thai Aviation Industries (TAI), with 14 aircraft slated for the upgrade. The upgraded fighters are equipped with the a new mission computer, the Elta Systems ELM-2032 fire control radar Tactical Data Link-T, and Have Quick II radios, and the integration of Tactical Data Link-16. It can support the use of Rafael products including the Sky Shield electronic warfare pod, Litening III targeting pods, Lizard laser guided bomb, and the Python IV and Derby / I-Derby air-to-air missiles. 

Meanwhile the RTAF’s fleet of 17 new RTAF U1 UAVs as also commissioned with the 206 Squadron based in Watthana Nakhon Air Base.

The RTAF U1 was developed by the Thai company RV Connex based on their Sky Scout, with 90% local content.

Both projects were the product of the Purchase & Development (P&D) approach of the Thai defense ministry.


[1] AAG_Th Thai Defence Page
[2] Bangkok Post
[3] Thairath Online