STOP PRESS: SINGAPORE GIVES 7 F-16A/B FIGHTERS TO THAILAND!!
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Source: MCOT
Singapore presents fighter jets to Thailand
BANGKOK, Nov 17 (TNA) - Singapore has granted seven used F16 A/B fighter jets to Thailand, the Royal Thai Air Force has announced.
The used F16 A/B fighter jets had already been upgraded to ensure their capacity, said the Royal Thai Air Force in a statement released to TNA today.
However, the grant has not related to a recent deal in which Thailand allows Singapore to use an air force base in the country's northeastern province of Udon Thani for military trainings for 15 years, according to the statement.
To avoid any confusions, the Royal Thai Air Force will hold a press conference at its headquarters here tomorrow to clarify the two issues. (TNA)--E002 -
give
why no give mi
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Source:
Udon residents call for explanation on Singapore air force plans
UDON THANI, Nov 18 (TNA) – Residents of Thailand's northeastern province of Udon Thani today demanded an official explanation of reports that the Singapore Air Force plans to use a military airfield in the province for a 15-year training programme.
Mr. Khon Pholnamthieng, former President of the Udon Thani Chamber of Commerce, said that the reports had caused a high degree of concern among the people of the province, with the lack of clear information only adding to the dismay and confusion.
Many people were worried that training flights could lead to military practice exercises, which, in turn, could cause violence in the region, he said.
Referring to previous instances of the US using Thai Air Force bases for military operations, he warned of the dangers of reactionary groups springing up in opposition, as well as the more obvious problems of noise disturbance.
The 23rd Udon Airfield is located in a residential area, is close to a university, and is used together with civilian airlines.
Already jet aircraft take off and land at the airport every five minutes, causing huge levels of noise.
(TNA)--E006 -
give as in FREE OF CHARGE?
erm why ar?i don't get their reason.. -
If it's really true then there's definitely a trade off somewhere. Contrary to what the Thai Public Relations ppl have to say, it could be related to the new training facilities.
Also, considering that some of the earlier A/B jets are already well into their useful life spans, it could be that the RSAF is selling/trading them off to make way for the Next Generation Fighter? Eventually, the RSAF would still have to scrap them so maybe this is just another more attractive method of giving them away...
Besides, the Thais have been good allies for a long time... -
I think it would be best that we wait for an official statement from Sg`s mindef before coming to a firm conclusion. If there is none, it`s probably nothing.
It may well be local thai politics and the jets are granted for use by the thai air-force but are in fact leased; just as we have been granted use of the thai air-bases. And the leased jets are used by both singapore and thai pilots for advanced training,etc. They might not even be leased and are stationed there for use by both sides. But the thai authorities have to make it sound more palatable to the thai locals.
I don`t think the local thais would take too kindly to a foreign presence there. The better that they say the F-16s are used by thier own people. Of course, the thai government would have to explain the situation to the local thais in a way they would discern and accept. best we wait and hear it from our mindef, if any. -
Source: Scramble
MAJOR AIR BASES IN THAILAND
Udon Thani - Home of 231 Hunter Squadron, 2nd Division/23rd Wing
Dassault-Bréguet/Dornier, Alpha Jet A
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This is a fantastic strategy.
Should our airbase be completely disabled in a sudden attack by Malaysia, we now have a friendly airbase from which we can still conduct some kind of operations against Malaysia (provided the Thais permit).
It can also serve as a base for us to relocate our aircrafts still based in Australia during a conflict. -
Source: Yahoo! Asia News
Singapore to lease Thai bases for used F-16s
BANGKOK, Nov 12 (Reuters) - Singapore will be able to use two Thai air bases for 15 years in exchange for seven used F-16 jet fighters under a military cooperation agreement signed on Friday, a senior Thai Air Force officer said.
Singapore, which has had strong ties with the Thai military for 20 years, would be entitled to use one air base in Khon Kaen and one in Udon Thani, both in the northeast, said the officer, who declined to be identified.
The Udon Thani base was used by U.S. bombers during the Vietnam War.
A Thai statement said a military cooperation pact was signed on Friday by Thai Defence Minister Sumpun Boonyanun and his Singapore counterpart Teo Chee Hean, but gave no details.
Teo was accompanying new Singapore Prime Minister Lee Hsien Loong on an introductory visit. -
Source: Yahoo! Asia News
Thursday November 18, 8:10 PM
Thailand, Singapore agree on air base sharing for training
Thailand and Singapore have agreed to share their air bases for training exercises over the next 15 years.
An agreement on mutual air force training and logistical support between the Southeast Asian nations was signed last week, Thai Air Force spokesman Capt. Montol Suchookorn said Thursday.
Allowing Singapore temporary basing rights raised some concerns in the Thai press about national security. But Montol said only 20 Singaporean planes at most will be permitted to use Thai bases for a maximum of 60 consecutive days.
Each training exercise would have to be approved by the Thai Air Force, and the agreement was subject to revision every five years, he added.
A statement from the Singapore Defense Ministry said he deal creates "more opportunities" for the two air forces to train together, and "enhances professional development and interoperability."
The agreement will serve Singapore's long-standing need for airspace in which its supersonic jets can conduct exercises. Thailand will benefit from by having access to logistical support in Singapore, Montol said.
The deal was signed immediately after a visit by Singapore's Prime Minister Lee Hsieng Loong to Thailand. During Lee's stay, Singapore agreed to give seven used F-16 fighter jets to Thailand as a gesture of cooperation. -
Air bases take up a lot of land. that is a expensive commodity in sgp.
Basing jets there will enable us to have more open space for training. It is also a nearer alternative compared to AU and US.
If we have jets based in Thailand, in the event of a surprise attack some elements of the RSAF will survive unless the adversary decide to escalate by attacking Thailand soil as well. -
pincer movement on the malaysian peninsular?haha nah just a joke
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Korat and Lop Buri, muahahahahaha aiming to go there for detachment!
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Source: The Nation
AIR BASE ACCESS: RTAF admits SÂ’pore deal
Published on November 19, 2004
Agreement allows island state to station military personnel in Udon Thani
The Royal Thai Air Force (RTAF) yesterday admitted it had struck an agreement with Singapore that would allow military personnel from the island state to train at an airbase in Udon Thani.
RTAF commander-in-chief ACM Kongsak Wanthana told a press conference at its headquarters yesterday morning that the deal was fair as the RTAF would get military materiel and know-how as well as the right to use SingaporeÂ’s air-base facilities in return.
The admission came amid concerns that the deal with Singapore would sour the KingdomÂ’s ties with other neighbours like Malaysia and Laos.
Democrat MP Piraphan Salirat-vipak said during yesterdayÂ’s House meeting that the deal might violate the Constitution as it required parliamentary approval.
He also called for disclosure of the dealÂ’s details.
An RTAF source said that in a memorandum of understanding signed last Friday, the air force agreed to allow Singapore to use its Wing 23 Base in Udon Thani three times a year in exchange for seven second-hand F-16 fighter jets worth more than Bt1 billion.
“Normally the Singapore military holds training at the Korat air base two times a year. Three more visits at the Wing 23 Base won’t be a problem,” the source said.
ACM Kongsak yesterday said Singaporean personnel would be allowed to train for three sessions a year, for no more than 60 days a session and involving no more than 20 aircraft each time. He dismissed the prospect of Singapore establishing a permanent air base here.
Kongsak said the deal was in line with a Cabinet resolution in 1983 to allow military personnel from member countries of the Association of Southeast Asian Nations to use RTAF facilities for training.
The air force chief said that although the MoU would expire in 15 years, a review could be made every five years.
Defence Ministry spokesman Maj-General Palangkoon Klahan said yesterday that the deal with Singapore, which is viewed as a close ally of the US, was not to pave the way for a return of American air bases in Thailand.
Panya Thiewsangwan, Bancha Khaengkhan
The Nation -
Source: Bangkok Post
Singapore's use of air base for war games denounced
Air force denies deal linked to gift fighters
SURASAK TUMCHAROEN & WASSANA NANUAM
About 100 members of the network of democracy-loving people gather in front of the Singapore embassy to protest against the government's decision to allow Singapore to use the Wing 23 air base in Udon Thani. - TAWATCHAI KEMGUMNERD
Allowing Singapore use of an air force base in Thailand for the next 15 years for military exercises had set a worrying precedent, a prominent Democrat MP said.
Pirapan Saliratawipak said he feared other countries would try to follow suit.
In a question to Defence Minister Sumpun Boonyanun Mr Pirapan said allowing the Singaporean air force use of Wing 23 air base in Udon Thani in exchange for seven second-hand F-16 Falcon fighters was ``unbecoming''.
``What if the US asks to use another air force base in this country, given Singapore's case and citing article 74 of the constitution on the use of Thai airspace for military exercises?'' he said.
``Wouldn't squadrons of foreign combat aircraft fire at one another over Thai airspace during their war games?''
In reply, Gen Sumpun said the Singaporeans would have to abide by Thai laws and would get no special privileges. Thai authorities would exercise tight control over use of the air base and Thai airspace.
The defence minister admitted the Singaporeans may conduct unilateral, bilateral or multi-lateral military exercises from Wing 23 air base.
The Thai air force held annual exercises with the US, Australia and neighbouring states, including Singapore, with which Thailand shared repair and maintenance programmes for common weapon systems, he said.
The Democrat argued the seven F-16A and F-16B fighters Singapore had offered in exchange for the use of Wing 23 air base were old and due to be decommissioned. The government should have bargained for more modern aircraft, especially the F-16C or F-16D fighters currently in use by the Singapore air force.
One of the old Singaporean F-16s had been damaged in an exercise over the South China Sea, Mr Pirapan said.
``Who will fly a fighter with one-third of the wing area seriously damaged?'' he said ``If you, Mr Defence Minister, were a combat pilot, would you have the nerve to fly it?''
Gen Sumpun, who claims to have been a pilot himself, said the damaged parts would be repaired and the aircraft's safety guaranteed before it ever takes off in Thailand.
Air force chief ACM Kongsak Wantana maintained Singapore had offered the seven fighters to Thailand because the two countries had good military relations.
The offer had nothing to do with Singapore's request for the use of Wing 23 air base in Udon Thani for air force training.
The seven F-16s had only 4,000 flying hours on the clock, were good for another 4,000 hours and could be in use for the next 15 years, said ACM Kongsak. The same model plane was already in service with the Thai air force.
Singapore had also offered 3,200 accessories and parts with the planes.
ACM Kongsak said the Singapore air force has been allowed to use air bases in Udon Thani and Khon Kaen provinces since April 30, 1981 under a cabinet resolution.
In Udon Thani, Charoon Thavornchak, an administrator of Rajabhat University Udon Thani, said the local people should be informed and public hearings held before Singapore was allowed use of the air base, which was now being used by both air force and commercial aircraft. -
ungrateful bastards
F-16C/D? Keep dreaming on lah...
What are they going to give us for them, chickens like they tried to give the Swedes? -
Ya loh... Grateful if they get F-16AB Already
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The RTAF operates F16s before the RSAF. Their existing F16A/Bs are probably older then ours.
They are also operating ex-USAF ADF F16s which are also very old. -
Because they were the 1st to buy... But has in the end, Singapore has the C/D versionOriginally posted by spencer99:The RTAF operates F16s before the RSAF. Their existing F16A/Bs are probably older then ours.
They are also operating ex-USAF ADF F16s which are also very old. -
Think that Mr Pirapan is nuts !!!
he said "who will fly a fighter with one-third of the wing area seriously damaged?"
if he bang his car would he have fixed it by now !!! Fucking stupid !!! RSAF would have change the entire air frame. In fact all the F-16a/b by not after so many hours of flight would have gone through a few air frame changes !!!!
give them C/D version ? maybe too advance for them to every know how to service !!!
Maybe we should keep the f16a/b to change them to - Bionic Dolphin instead !!!
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hope can go to korat again.
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our guys just came back a couple of weeks ago isn't it. guess they like to announce only after the rice is cooked.
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Haha.Nice picture dude.Originally posted by storywolf:Think that Mr Pirapan is nuts !!!
he said "who will fly a fighter with one-third of the wing area seriously damaged?"
if he bang his car would he have fixed it by now !!! Fucking stupid !!! RSAF would have change the entire air frame. In fact all the F-16a/b by not after so many hours of flight would have gone through a few air frame changes !!!!
give them C/D version ? maybe too advance for them to every know how to service !!!
Maybe we should keep the f16a/b to change them to - Bionic Dolphin instead !!! -
The Thais ungrateful.
Wait and hold on, they provide us with food, and airspace to train, and yet we are so darn proud, and go around cursing people.
Shame on us. -
Hey, why not we give them 100 A4-SU fighters in exchange for all of their air bases?