The Royal Thai Air Force (RTAF) conducted its first highway exercise on February 27 – and it immediately became a crowd-puller. Thousands of spectators lined the streets to watch the spectacular maneuvers of the Saab Gripen fighter jets.
For this premiere test, after extensive inspections and evaluations by technical experts, the Air Force and the Highway Department, the Air Force command decided on a section of Highway 4287 in Hat Yai district, Songkhla province.
Aim of the exercise: Optimize operational capability and safety
The exercise had several strategic objectives:
- Testing the safe operation of flights outside regular airports
- Increasing operational readiness in crisis situations
- Optimizing the mobilization of forces for national security missions
The preparatory measures included a so-called “FOD walk”: civilians, soldiers and street cleaning vehicles worked together to remove small objects from the roadway that could potentially endanger flight safety.
Focus on precision and efficiency
In addition to the aircraft performance itself, the focus was also on meeting precise deadlines and the efficiency of the mission. Particular emphasis was placed on the qualification of the pilots, who are trained in accordance with international standards to ensure the highest level of confidence and maximum safety.
This first highway landing by the RTAF could serve as a model for future exercises – and underlines the growing importance of unorthodox operational strategies in modern air warfare.
The RTAF rate their first highway test as a complete success. The two-seater Saab Gripen No. 70103 not only completed take-offs and landings, but was also refueled on the highway and equipped with Iris-T guided missiles from Diehl Defense weapons.
Gripen proves operational capability on extremely short runways
The test result underlines the ability of the Saab Gripen (designated “20/K” in Thailand) to operate on extremely short runways of only 700 to 800 meters, even after an airport has been destroyed.
The cooperation between the military, public and private sectors was particularly emphasized, especially the support of the people of Songkhla, who actively contributed to the success of this national security mission.
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