Royal Thai and Malaysian Air Forces Complete Joint Exercise Air Thamal 2025

12 Juli 2025

Air Thamal 33/2025 joint exercise between RTAF and RMAF (all photos: RTAF)

The AIR THAMAL 33/2025 Joint Exercise 

From 1–9 July 2025, the Royal Thai Air Force (RTAF) and the Royal Malaysian Air Force (RMAF) are conducting a joint exercise to strengthen tactical air cooperation and mutual capabilities. Thailand has deployed F-16, F-5, and Gripen while Malaysia has deployed Su-30MKM and F/A-18D.

This is the 33rd iteration of the exercise, codenamed AIR THAMAL 33/2025, held from 30 June – 10 July 2025 at Wing 1 Korat in a Field Training Exercise (FTX) format.

Training activities include: Work-Up Training (WUT), Mini-LFE (small-scale Large Force Employment), DBFM, DACM, TI, DACT, OCA/DCA (Offensive and Defensive Counter-Air operations). 

This exercise aims to build mutual understanding in joint air operations and enhance readiness for regional security and peacekeeping missions.

The Royal Thai Air Force (RTAF) and the Royal Malaysian Air Force (RMAF, Tentera Udara Diraja Malaysia) have completed combined air exercise AIR THAMAL 33/2025 at Korat Air Base in Nakhon Ratchasima Province, Thailand, from 30 June to 10 July 2025. This is the 33rd exercise between the two air forces.

The AIR THAMAL 2025 joint exercise, which had an opening ceremony on 1 July 2025 and a closing ceremony on 10 July 2025 at Wing 1, Korat, was held after the air exercise codenamed ELANG THAINESIA XX/2025 between the Royal Thai Air Force and the Indonesian Air Force (Indonesian Air Force, TNI-AU: Tentara Nasional Indonesia-Angkatan Udara) during 9-19 June 2025.

Similar to the ELANG THAINESIA 2025 air exercise at Wing 1, where the Indonesian Air Force brought its aircraft back to join the exercise in Thailand after a hiatus of many years, in the latest AIR THAMAL 2025 air exercise, the Royal Malaysian Air Force also brought its aircraft back to join the exercise after a hiatus of many years.

This is the first time that the Royal Malaysian Air Force has deployed Sukhoi Su-30MKM fighter jets from No.12 Squadron, and Boeing F/A-18D Hornet fighter jets from No.18 Squadron, to train at Wing 1 in Thailand simultaneously.

While the Royal Thai Air Force has brought in fighter aircraft Saab Gripen C/D from Squadron 701, Wing 7, Surat Thani, fighter aircraft Lockheed Martin F-16A/B Block 15 OCU/ADF from Squadron 103, Wing 1, Korat, and fighter aircraft Northrop F-5E/F TH Super Tigris from Squadron 211, Wing 21, Ubon Ratchathani, etc. to join the exercise.

Other aircraft supporting the exercise include the EC725 Helicopters (Airbus Helicopters H225M) from Squadron 203, Wing 2, Khok Kratiam, Royal Thai Air Force, and the Lockheed Martin C-130H Hercules transport aircraft of the Royal Thai Air Force and the Airbus A400M Atlas transport aircraft of the Royal Malaysian Air Force. This is a new level of training that has been going on for a long time with the Royal Thai Air Force and its allies in the region.

(AAG)

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