RTAF and PLAAF Complete Falcon Strike 2024 Joint Exercise

31 Agustus 2024

The Royal Thai Air Force (RTAF) and People's Liberation Army Air Force (PLAAF) concluded the exercise FALCON STRIKE 2024 at Wing 23 RTAF base Udon Thani, Thailand on 18-29 August 2024 (photo: RTAF, PLAAF, TAF)

Royal Thai Air Force involved its Gripen C/D of 701st Squadron, Wing 7, Alpha Jet TH of 231st Squadron, Wing 23, SAAB 340B ERIEYE airborne early warning (AEW) of 702nd Squadron, Wing 7 and Airbus Helicopter H225M (EC725) of 203rd Squadron, Wing 2 and SAAB RBS 70 Ground-based air defense (GBAD) with PLAAF's J-10C/AS of 130th Air Brigade, J-11B/BS, JH-7A/AII, KJ-500 AEW, Y-9LG electronic intelligence (ELINT) aircraft, Y-20A transport aircraft, Mi-171Ah helicopter and HY-6B GBAB.

The Royal Thai Air Force (RTAF) and the People's Liberation Army Air Force (PLAAF) have completed the FALCON STRIKE 2024 combined air exercise from 18-29 August 2024, with the opening ceremony on 18 August 2024 and the closing ceremony on 29 August 2024 at Wing 23, Udon Thani.

The FALCON STRIKE 2024 exercise is the seventh exercise, following the first exercise FALCON STRIKE 2015, the second exercise FALCON STRIKE 2017, the third exercise FALCON STRIKE 2018, the fourth exercise FALCON STRIKE 2019, the fifth exercise FALCON STRIKE 2022 and the sixth exercise FALCON STRIKE 2023.

The Royal Thai Air Force forces participating in the exercise included Saab Gripen C/D fighter aircraft from Squadron 701, Wing 7, Surat Thani; Dornier Alpha Jet TH attack aircraft from Squadron 231, Wing 23; Saab 340 ERIEYE AEW (Airborne Early Warning) airborne control and warning aircraft from Squadron 702, Wing 7.

Helicopter No. 11, H.11 EC725 (Airbus Helicopter H225M), Squadron 203, Wing 2, Khok Kratiam, and for the first time, bringing the search and rescue unit PJ Commando, Special Operations Regiment, and the ground-based air defense system (GBAD: Ground-Based Air Defence) type RBS 70, the Royal Air Defense Regiment, Air Force Command (SFC: Security Force Command) to join the training.

The Chinese force includes six Chengdu J-10C fighters and two-seat J-10AS variants from the 130th Air Brigade, two Shenyang J-11B fighters and two two-seat J-11BS variants, two Xian JH-7AII bombers armed with PL-8 and PL-10 short-range air-to-air missile trainers and PL-12 medium-range air-to-air missile trainers.

One Shaanxi KJ-500 airborne early warning and control aircraft, number 30178, one Y-9LG electronic intelligence (ELINT) aircraft, callsign "BATMAN", one Xian Y-20A transport aircraft, and one Mil Mi-171Sh helicopter. This is also the first time that China has sent a special operations unit, an anti-aircraft unit, and a HY-6B ground-based anti-aircraft system to participate in the exercise in Thailand.

(AAG)

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