Textron Aviation Defence will deliver the first Beechcraft AT-6TH Wolverine light attack aircraft to the Royal Thai Air Force (RTAF) in 2024. The RTAF ordered eight Beechcraft AT-6THs in July 2022 under a US$143 million contract, becoming the is the first international customer for the type. Following its use of two U.S. Air Force AT-6E Wolverines during a six-month global Building Partner Capacity (BPC) exercise at Moody Air Force Base in Valdosta, Georgia, the RTAF competitively selected the AT-6 Wolverine to support their 41st Wing light attack operations at Chiang Mai Air Base. The new AT-6THs will replace the RTAF’s existing fleet of aging Aero L-39 Albatros aircraft.
The RTAF’s first AT-6TH will serve as an Engineering, Manufacturing and Development testbed for integration of the RTAF’s datalink and other sovereign programs as part of Thailand’s purchase and develop initiative.On August 22, 2023, and within 10 months of delivery of the first two Beechcraft T-6TH Texan II aircraft to the Royal Thai Air Force (RTAF), the RTAF held a commissioning ceremony to celebrate receipt of all twelve of its Beechcraft T-6TH Texan II trainer aircraft at RTAF Flying Training School Kamphaeng Saen. The RTAF’s US$162 million contract for 12 T-6TH Texan IIs placed in October 2020,
includes a ground-based training systems for pilots and maintenance professionals, amission planning and debrief system, spare parts and ground support equipment.
The Beechcraft AT-6TH is the second RTAF procurement contracted in support of S-Curve 11. The first procurement under the new strategy was the Beechcraft T-6TH Texan II, awarded in 2020. “Textron Aviation Defence sees strong and growing global demand for both the T-6 and AT-6 as air forces continue to modernize their fleets with advanced, cost-effective military training and light attack aircraft,” a company spokesperson told Daily News.
Textron Aviation Defence and Special Missions have a broad base of customers throughout Asia with aircraft covering the gamut of missions from training, national defence, maritime patrol, humanitarian assistance, aeromedical airlift, weather modification, VIP transport, light utility lift, air traffic control calibration and others. This broad portfolio makes Textron Aviation Defence and Special Missions a reliable mission partner for national and corporate needs throughout the Asia Pacific region.
