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 manufacturing completion and is on schedule for delivery between late 2022 and early 2023.
These T-6TH aircraft are part of RTAF's modernization plan, aimed at equipping student pilots with advanced training capabilities for transitioning to fighter and attack aircraft.
In a related development, the RTAF also recently purchased eight Beechcraft AT-6 Wolverine light attack aircraft for $143 million, becoming the first international customer for this model, intended for missions such as border security and anti-smuggling.

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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.