Paul Lewis/SINGAPORE
THE ROYAL THAI NAVY has begun training pilots to fly the British Aerospace McDonnell Douglas AV-8A Harrier in anticipation of concluding a deal shortly to buy eight surplus Spanish navy aircraft.
An initial, 12 Thai pilots have been sent to the USA for basic training, after which they will go to the Spanish naval air station at Rota, for AV-8A simulator and flight training.
Thailand plans to acquire Spain's eight surviving Harriers, known as Matadors in the Spanish service, based at Rota, including two tandem-seat TAV-8A trainers. The Thai navy has begun discussing a logistical-support package with BAe.
The AV-8As are intended for use aboard the Thai navy light aircraft carrier, the HTS Chakrinaruebet, now under construction in Spain. The 11,400t ship, is scheduled to be launched on 20 January 1996, and is due to enter service with the Thai navy in March of the following year.
Its design is similar to the Spanish Navy's own Principe de Asturias aircraft carrier, but slightly scaled down. It will be equipped with a 12° bow ramp and a 174m-long flight deck, for very short takeoff and landing operations. The flight deck design has been modified to handle a Boeing CH-47 Chinook-size helicopter.
In addition to AV-8As, the Chakrinaruebet's air group will include the Sikorsky S-70 Seahawk helicopter, six of which have been ordered by the navy and are due for delivery in 1997.
Thailand is planning to equip two of the helicopters, with a Bendix AQS-13 dipping sonar for anti-submarine warfare. The remaining helicopters will be used for search and rescue, over-the-horizon targeting and anti-surface warfare.
Source: Flight International