Royal Thailand Air force delays plan for new jet fighters

Prime Minister Prayut Chan-o-cha is pushing the military to more quickly draft its spending plans for the 2016 fiscal year and submit them within the month.
Air Force commander ACM Treetod Sonjance said the Defence Ministry, the Royal Thai Armed Forces Headquarters, the Royal Thai Army, the Royal Thai Navy and the Royal Thai Air Force are expected to prepare their budgets by mid-January.
He said Gen Prayut, who is also head of the National Council for Peace and Order (NCPO), wants to see how the armed forces and other military units prioritise their spending.
The Royal Thai Air Force has no plan to procure new fighter jets in the next budget year. It will focus on upgrades and maintenance instead.
Preliminary plans call for upgrades to the air force's fleet of F-5 jets. The aircraft have been in service for over 30 years.
A Defence Ministry source said the proposed defence spending is likely to be a little higher than the amount approved in 2015.
The source said the army is likely to propose the procurement of helicopters for general use. About 30 UH-1H (Huey) helicopters will be decommissioned. The US-made UH-72 (Lakota) aircraft is said to be on the army's wish list.
The army also has a plan to purchase a transporter aircraft under a budget of 1.25 billion baht. Ukraine's Antonov-30 and Spain's CN-295 are said to be at the top of the list.
An air force committee is working on choosing a new fleet of training aircraft to replace the L-39 model.
The air force has allocated 3.7 billion baht in the 2015 budget to procure a new fleet of training aircraft to replace the L-39 aircraft manufactured by the Czech Republic.
There are three contenders that meet the initial specifications: T-50 aircraft from South Korea, M-346 from Italy; and the Textron Airland Scorpion from the US. The South Korean aircraft is expected to come at the top of the list.
bangkokpost

Indonesia TNI-AU to receive Super Tucano, F-16, T-50, CN-295 this year

The Indonesian Air Force (TNI AU) will procure 102 new armaments (alutsista) as listed in its 2010-2014 development strategic plan.
These include F-16, T-50 and Sukhoi jet fighters; Super Tucano and CN-295 turboprop aircrafts; Hercules transport aircrafts; Cougar helicopters; Grobs; KT-1s; Boeing 737-500s and radars.
thejakartapost

Indonesia could order seven additional C295s

Indonesia could obtain up to seven additional Airbus Military C295 tactical transport aircraft, which would bring its eventual total of the type to 16 examples.
"The air force requires an additional seven aircraft," says Arie Wibowo, vice-president marketing and sales for PT Dirgantara Indonesia (PTDI). "Having 16 will allow them to form a full squadron."
Jakarta entered a deal for nine C295s at the Singapore air show in February 2012.
In addition to Jakarta's air force requirements, PTDI is promoting two C295s to the Indonesian National Police. The police would use them to transport special counter-terrorism teams.

flightglobal

Indonesia displays new C295

An Indonesian air force Airbus Military C295 medium transport has made its air show debut on the static line at the Langkawi International Maritime & Aerospace exhibition in Malaysia.
The aircraft, designated the CN295 in Indonesian service, is part of a nine-aircraft order signed during the Singapore air show in February 2012. An initial batch of two aircraft was delivered in late 2012.
When it announced the CN295 deal, Airbus Military said state-owned PT Dirgantara Indonesia (PTDI) would manufacture the type's tail empennage, as well as its rear fuselage and fuselage panels. A final assembly line for the programme's final two aircraft will be in Indonesia and PTDI will also establish a service centre for the airlifter.
PTDI hopes to subsequently secure follow-on orders for the type from the Indonesian air force, as well as the nation's police service, which could require two examples to use as transports.
flightglobal