Page 7 - DEFENSE & SECURITY 2022 - Day 2 | DAILY NEWS

THAILAND CHARTS MODERNISATION

PATH FOR NATIONAL NCW SYSTEM

For more than a decade, Thailand
has operated a networked national
air defence system that covers all
of Thailand’s territory. The most
visible elements of this net centric
warfare (NCW) capability are the
Gripen fighters and Erieye AEW&C
aircraft of the Royal Thai Air Force
(RTAF); but this system is more than
an air force asset. Thailand’s inde-
pendent, national datalink system
integrates RTAF airborne platforms
with its wider national air surveillance
radar network and multiple vessels
of the Royal Thai Navy. This secure,
high-speed, command-and-control
(C2) system therefore links multiple
elements of the Royal Thai Armed The RTAF is looking to upgrade for the Gripen fleet brings
Forces at an operational level while upgrade its Saab 340 further enhancements to the overall
also providing real-time data to the NCW environment and this will con-
strategic commanders and national Erieye AEW&C aircraft as tinue through regular future software
decision-makers. The next step in the next step in Thailand’s upgrades for the fighters.
Thailand’s NCW modernisation plan NCW modernisation plan. Beyond this current activity, Thailand
will deliver upgrades to the Erieye is looking at the potential to expand
systems. its NCW capability into a fully joint,
This system was delivered through a Over time, Thailand has care- tri-service network that would inte-
combined ‘Team Sweden’ contract fully modernised and improved all grate Royal Thai Army assets for the
with the Swedish government and aspects of the system. For example, first time. This logical growth path is
industry; Sweden’s Defence Material the backbone of the C2 system – made possible by the basic system
Administration (FMV) is the contract known as ACCS (Air Command and architecture acquired by Thailand
owner while the required equipment Control System) and based on Saab’s from Sweden that permits local
is supplied by Saab, supported by 9AIRC4I product, was upgraded adaptions that can be applied to all
Thai industry partners. The capa- under a 2018 contract with Saab. A Thai assets in accordance to national,
bilities of the system have been long-term Transfer of Technology independent, security policy. In this
progressively improved and Thailand programme has delivered local respect alone, Thailand’s NCW system
is now looking at new phases of fur- capacity to maintain and develop remains a powerful sovereign capa-
ther enhancements. the national datalink. The latest MS20 bility that is unmatched in the region.

ROYAL THAI ARMY, Royal Australian Regiment; 1st Combat activity between the Australian and Thai
Engineer Regiment. During the field armies and the latest edition marked the
AUSTRALIAN ARMY training component of the exercise, a resumption of the training exercises, fol-
TRAIN TOGETHER platoon from the 2nd Infantry Battalion lowing a pause since the 2019 COVID-19
The Royal Thai Army (RTA) and Australian RTA attached to RCB and a platoon from pandemic.
Army troops recently trained together RCB attached to the Thai company.
during Exercise Chapel Gold 2022. Officer Commanding RCB 136 Major
The RTA hosted the 11-day exercise in Lachlan Joseph of the 1st Armoured
Regiment, Australian Army said, “The
Thailand’s Nakhon Sawan province training programme included anti-ar-
throughout August. Members of the moured stalk tactics, tactical combat
2nd Infantry Battalion, 4th Infantry casualty care, counter-insurgency
Regiment of the RTA trained together training, jungle survival activities and
with Australian soldiers from RCB rota- close-quarter battle training, combat
tion 136, predominantly made up of shooting,and culminated in a com-
personnel from the Australian Army’s bined field training activity.” Exercise
1st Armoured Regiment; 7th Battalion, Chapel Gold is an annual training

DEFENCE & SECURITY 2022 AUGUST 30 2022 7