Royal Thai Air Force Buys Fleet Of Beechcraft T-6 Trainers

The $162 million purchase of a dozen T-6 trainers is part of a modernization plan to develop the Thai defense industry.

Kimberly Johnson

Friday, November 19, 2021 at 03:54 PM ET

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Textron's fourth-quarter earnings totaled $3.32 billion. [Courtesy: Textron Aviation]

Key Takeaways:

The Royal Thai Air Force's (RTAF) new fleet of 12 Beechcraft T-6TH Texan II training aircraft, acquired under a $162 million contract, is nearing production completion and is expected to arrive by early 2023.
This acquisition is part of the RTAF's modernization plan to provide student pilots with advanced technological training for transitioning to fighter aircraft.
In addition, the RTAF recently became the first international customer for Textron's Beechcraft AT-6 Wolverine, purchasing eight units for border security, anti-smuggling, and counter-narcotics operations.

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The Royal Thai Air Force’s (RTAF) new fleet Beechcraft T-6TH Texan II training aircraft currently under production is nearing the end of the assembly line, according to aircraft designer and manufacturer Textron Aviation Defense LLC.

In October 2020, RTAF awarded a $162 million contract for 12 of the T-6 military training aircraft, which will be designated as Beechcraft AT-6TH in Thailand, as part of a modernization plan underway aiming to develop the Thai defense industry. The contract also includes ground-based training systems for pilots, a mission planning and debrief system, spare parts, and ground support equipment.