Origin

The Royal Thai Army is responsible for protecting the kingdom's sovereignty. The army was formed in 1874, partly as a response to new security threats following the 1855 Bowring Treaty with Britain, which opened the country for international trade.^[2]

Current

In modern era, the army has a long history of coups d'état and coup attempts. Its leadership continues to see coup-making as one role of the army.^[3][4][5]

On 22 May 2014 the army deposed the government, appointed military officers to the national assembly, and on 21 August 2014 they elected the army's Commander in Chief, General Prayut Chan-o-cha, as prime minister. The general retired October 2014^[6] to concentrate on political reform which he said would take at least a year, following which he promised national elections would be held.^[7]

The existence of an information warfare unit participating in a cyber campaign against government critics was leaked to the public in late February 2020.^[8] In 2020 Twitter shut down a network of accounts which were engaged in information warfare. According to Twitter “Our investigation uncovered a network of accounts partaking in information operations that we can reliably link to the Royal Thai Army (RTA).”^[9] The operation had targeted the political opposition within Thailand. The Thai Army denied that they had been involved in the disinformation operation.^[10]

Army components and control

The Ministry of Defence, Bangkok

The number of army generals is unclear. One point of comparison: as of 1 November 2019, the US Army had 322 general officers^[11]: 2 for a force of 471,990 troops.^[12] Saiyud Kerdphol is Thailand's oldest general, a veteran of World War II and Korea who retired in 1983 as supreme commander. During his tenure, general officer numbers were based on the number of troops under their command. As of 2019, only 150–200 four-star generals occupy command positions. Speaking on the topic of army manpower, Saiyud declared that, "Everybody being a general is unbelievable. Full generals don't have a seat to sit in or a job to do."^[13]

Command and control

The commanders-in-chief of the Royal Thai Army (ผู้บัญชาการทหารบกไทย) is considered the most powerful position in the Royal Thai Armed Forces.^[14] With effect from 1 October 2023, the commander will be General Jaroenchai Hintao.

• Commander-in-Chief: General Jaroenchai Hintao from 1 October 2023
• Deputy Commander-in-Chief: General Suksan Nongbualang from 1 October 2023
• Chairman of the Royal Thai Army Advisory Board: General Kittisak Boonphrathammachai from 1 October 2023
• Assistant Commander-in-Chief: General Ukrit Boontanon from 1 October 2023
• Assistant Commander-in-Chief: General Tharapong Malakham from 1 October 2023
• Chief of Staff of the Army: General Pana Klaewblaudtuk from 1 October 2023
• Commander of the 1st Army Area: Lieutenant General Chitsanupong Rodsiri from 1 October 2023
• Commander of the 2nd Army Area: Lieutenant General Adul Boonthamcharoen from 1 October 2023
• Commander of the 3rd Army Area: Lieutenant General Prasarn Saengsirirak from 1 October 2023
• Commander of the 4th Army Area: Lieutenant General Shanti Shakuntanak from 1 October 2022
• Commander of the Royal Thai Army Special Warfare Command: Lieutenant General Wattana Chatratanasang from 1 October 2023

Tactical units

The army is organised into the following formations:

• Nine infantry divisions (including 16 tank battalions)
• One armoured division
• Three cavalry divisions (light armoured divisions)
• One Special Warfare Command trained and equipped for small unit Special forces and airborne operations

The Army Tactical Level Advanced Simulation (ATLAS) is an interactive, distributed, constructive simulation used to conduct military Command Post Exercises (CPX). ATLAS displays a continuous terrain model, incorporates HLA 1516, and displays 1:250,000 and 1:50,000 maps and satellite imagery. ATLAS was developed between 2002 and 2005 through co-operation with the Army Command and General Staff College (CGSC).

Army Medical Department

Phramongkutklao Hospital

Army Medical Department (AMED) (กรมแพทย์ทหารบก) belongs to the service segment of the Royal Thai Army. It is in charge of medical affairs, and providing medical care, both in the field and on base, training personnel in research and agriculture and supervising the other medical divisions within the Royal Thai Army.

AMED observed 111 years of service in January 2011,^[22] with 110 years of service having been honoured by issue of a series of commemorative stamps.^[23] AMED operates Phramongkutklao Hospital in Bangkok and Ananda Mahidol Hospital in Lopburi, along with smaller hospitals at each fort, as well as Phramongkutklao College of Medicine (PCM).

Air Division

Thai army infantrymen board a RTA UH-1 Iroquois helicopter, 1992

UH-60L Black Hawk during air show at Don Mueang Air Force Base

Mil Mi-17 V5 during air show at Don Mueang Air Force Base

Royal Thai Army Aviation Center (กองบินทหารบกไทย) belongs to the service segment of the Royal Thai Army Areas:

• Don Mueang International Airport (VTBD)
  • Units include the VIP squadron, flying two Embraer ERJ-135LRs (serial number 1084/HS-AMP and serial number 1124), two Jetstream 41s (serial numbers 41060 and 41094), two Casa 212–300s (serial numbers 446 and 447), and two Beech 1900C-1s (serial numbers 0169 and 0170) and the 1st Infantry Battalion operating two Bell 206Bs (serial numbers 4422 and 4448), three Schweizer S-300Cs (serial numbers 1340, 1366 and 1367), and two Cessna U-17B FAC aircraft (serial numbers 1616 and 1617).
• Bang Khen (3 km south of Don Mueang)
  • The Royal Squadron flies three Bell 212s and two Bell 412s (serial numbers 36332 and 36333). There is also a special transport unit flying around 10–12 Bell 212s and one or two Bell 206s.

UH-60L Black Hawk during air show at Don Mueang Air Force Base

• Fort Surasi (Kanchanaburi)
  • The 9th Infantry Division operates two Bell 206Bs (the serial number of one is 4424), and two or three Schweizer S-300Cs. There is also a detachment of UH-1Hs from an Air Mobility Company based here.
• Fort Chakraphong (Prachinburi)
  • The "2nd Infantry Division, Queen Sirikit's Guard", was operating two Bell 206Bs (serial numbers 4446 and 4361), three Schweizer S-300Cs (serial numbers 1343, 1344, and 1345), and two Maule MX-7s (one serial number known is 099) in 2004, however it is likely the Maule MX-7s may now not be operated by this unit now. A detachment of this unit (with, in 1998, one Bell 206 and one Maule MX-7) was operating from Watthana Nakhon (VTBW) near the Cambodian border.

AH-1F Cobra attack helicopter during air show at Don Mueang Air Force Base

• Phitsanulok Airport (VTPP)
  • Loc 16 degrees 46'58.58N,100 degrees 16'44.84E elevation 154 feet/47 metres.
  • Runway 14/32 length 9,843 x 148 feet (3,000 x 45 metres)
  • Operating from here is the 4th Infantry Battalion with Bell 206Bs, Schweizer S-300Cs, Cessna U-17Bs, and Maule MX-7s.
• Fort Suranari (Khorat)
  • The main flying unit here is the 3rd Infantry Battalion flying two Bell 206Bs (serial numbers 4396 and 4447), two Schweizer S-300Cs (serial numbers 1337 and 1339), and two Cessna U-17Bs (serial numbers 1454 and 1618).
  • This field also hosts a detachment of up to three Bell 212 helicopters from one of the Air Mobility Companies.
• Fort Princess Srinagarindra (Lopburi), the main base complex of Royal Thai Army Aviation, including training, technical school, aircraft maintenance, and aircraft storage. The main airfield here is called Sa Pran Nak (VTBH).
  • Loc 14 degrees 56'58.02N, 100 degrees 38'34.88E elevation 95 feet (29 metres).
  • Runways 01/19 3,300 x 98 feet (1,006 x 30 metres) and 06/24 3,890 x 98 feet (1,186 x 30 metres)
  • Operating units here include:
    • Gong Bin Bau ( Light Aviation Company ) – operating Cessna U-17Bs, Cessna T-41s, and Searcher MKIIs
    • Gong Bin Pee-ak Moon Tee Nung ( 1st Air Mobility Company ) – operating Bell UH-1Hs and Bell 212s
    • Gong Bin Pee-ak Moon Tee Song ( 2nd Air Mobility Company ) – operating Bell UH-1Hs (US Excess Defense Articles Program) and Bell 212s
    • Gong Bin Pee-ak Moon Tee Sam ( 3rd Air mobility Company ) – operating Bell UH-1Hs, Bell 206Bs, Bell AH-1F Huey Cobras (eight) and Bell 212s
    • Gong Bin Pee-ak Moon Tee Gou (pasom) ( 9th Air Mobility Company ) [Mixed]) – operating Bell UH-1Hs (US Excess Defense Articles Program) and Sikorsky S-70-43 Black Hawks (six) with six more on order.
    • Gong Bin Sanub-sanoon Tua Pai (General Support Aviation Battalion) – operating Boeing CH-47D Chinooks, Bell UH-1Hs, and Mil Mi-17V5s
    • The army aviation centre is based here, which conducts conversion training for the army. Types operated are Cessna T-41Bs (ex-US army surplus), Maule MX-7s, and Schweizer S-300C piston trainer helicopters.
    • The two former VIP Beechcraft 200 King Air aeroplanes (serial numbers 0342 and 1165), are also based here. Their present role is unknown. These aeroplanes were modified in the US in the late 1990s.
  • A separate airfield within the Lopburi complex (around 3 km south of Sa Pran Nak) houses the 5th Aircraft Maintenance Company. This unit is responsible for maintenance and storage of army aircraft and helicopters.
  • The 5th Infantry Division operates the following aviation assets from a small airfield within the army reserve at Nakhon Si Thammarat (not at the airport): two Bell 206B-3s (serial numbers 4382 and 4427), three Schweizer TH-300Cs (serial numbers 1371, 1372, and 1373) and two Maule MX-7s (serial numbers 114 and 115). A detachment of helicopters can be found here from the Air Mobility Companies based at Lopburi.

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