Royal Thai Armed Forces

Total Armed Forces:

active - 301,000

reserve - 200,000

Defense Budget:

1999 - $2.1 billion

2000 - $2.0 billion

Army: Royal Thai Army

active - 190,000 (70,000 conscripts)

12 combat divisions

742 tanks (majority light tanks)

131 helicopters (4 attack helicopters)

supporting artillery/air defense guns and missiles

Navy: Royal Thai Navy

active - 68,000 (27,000 conscripts)

15 principal surface combatants including
1 STOL ( Short Takeoff and Landing) aircraft carrier
with 6 Seahawk helicopters and 8 AV-8 Harrier jump jets

88 patrol and coastal combatants

5 mine countermeasures

9 amphibious warfare ships

1,700-strong Naval Air arm with
9 fighter aircraft
5 armed helicopters
supporting air defense missiles and maritime reconnaisance/attack aircraft

Air Force: Royal Thai Air Force

active - 43,000

153 total combat aircraft including
3 fighter/ground attack squadrons (48 aircraft)
3 fighter/aggressor squadrons (33 aircraft)
2 helicopter squadrons (42 helicopters)

supporting air defense guns and missiles

Assessment:

Thailand is capable of defending its mainland, coastal areas and borders against all existing and foreseeable threats. With increasing concern for maritime security, especially to protect oil and gas deposits in the Gulf of Thailand and the Andaman Sea as well as its 200-mile Exclusive Economic Zone (EEZ), Thailand has focused on creating a two-ocean naval capability and expanding its surface and anti-submarine warfare operations.

Trends:

The Thai armed forces are only slowly recovering from the impact of the 1997 economic crisis which forced a massive 30% reduction in the 1998 defense budget and led to the indefinite suspension of many arms procurement plans. These plans include the purchase of 295 APCs, 8 additional F-18s, an airborne warning and control aircraft, 100,000 new infantry rifles, a surveillance satellite, 2 submarines, light tanks and long-range artillery. However, as soon as the first signs of economic recovery emerged sometime in 1999, procurement emphasis has been on sea and airspace protection. For example, a deal was concluded recently for 18 used F-16 fighters from the U.S. The Royal Thai Navy is working to make the 8 AV-8 Harrier jump jets operational for its small aircraft carrier by acquiring new engines.

Other priorities include a new C3I system, improvement of ground-based early warning systems, especially for problematic border areas with Cambodia and Burma, and upgrading of tactical helicopters supporting the army. Thai armed forces are looking to play a more active role in United Nations peacekeeping efforts and have made plans for a Rapid Deployment Force.