Royal Thai Army prepares attack helicopter acquisition

Jon Grevatt, Bangkok - IHS Jane's Defence Industry
14 June 2018


The Royal Thai Army is looking to procure new attack helicopters, with several platforms under review including the Kamov Ka-52 from Russia. Source: Russian Helicopters

The Royal Thai Army (RTA) is preparing to acquire at least six new attack helicopters to replace its ageing fleet of Bell AH-1F Cobras, with funding for the procurement provided in the 2019 defence budget.

Confirming the plan in a press conference on 12 June, Major General Weerayuth Intaworn, commander of the RTA’s Aviation Centre, said the service has established a dedicated procurement committee, which is now evaluating proposals from several foreign countries.

Jane’s understands that helicopters under review include the Mil Mi-28 and Kamov Ka-52 from Russia, the Bell AH-1Z Viper and Boeing AH-64 Apache, Airbus Helicopters’ Tiger, Leonardo’s AW129 Mangusta, and the Z-19 Black Whirlwind produced by China’s Harbin Aircraft Industry Group.

The RTA’s Aviation Centre, based in Lopburi, has operated a small number of AH-1F Cobras since the early 1990s but three of these aircraft are scheduled to be decommissioned in the near future, confirmed Maj Gen Intaworn.

The RTA’s attack helicopter requirement is long-standing but has previously been hindered by a lack of funds. The country’s 2019 defence budget, which was announced in early June, outlines military spending of THB227.67 billion (USD7.1 billion). Official documents show the expenditure is an increase of THB9.16 billion – or 4.2% over actual defence spending in 2018.

SOUTH KOREA COMPLETES BASIC OR PRELIMINARY DESIGN REVIEW (PDR) OF "INDIGENOUS" KF-X/IF-X

The completion of the PDR allows it to proceed to the next phase of the development which is
the more detailed design which they plan to complete by September 2019.

The PDR confirms that system requirements and system functional requirements are all reflected in the development standard that meets the basic design, and that the detailed design can be carried out within schedule, cost and risk range.

After completing of the the more detailed design review in September 2019, the next stage is to build prototypes and with the first unit to be built by the first half 2021 and the first flight by the 2nd of 2022. Flight testing and other various tests is scheduled to be completed by 2026.

Indonesia launches new landing ship tank KRI Teluk Lada
 
June 29, 2018

The Indonesian Navy’s newest domestically-built landing ship tank (LST) KRI Teluk Lada (pennant no 521) was launched in a ceremony on June 28 in Lampung.

The launch at the PT Daya Radar Utama (DRU) shipyard also served as a naming ceremony.

KRI Teluk Lada is the fourth ship in the Teluk Bintuni-class.

The 117 meters long vessel has a width of 16.4 meters and reaches a maximum speed of up to 16 knots. It has an operating range of 6,240 nautical miles.

Teluk Lada has two helipads with two hangars and is capable of carrying ten Leopard main battle tanks.