The Royal Thai Air Force (RTAF) has showcased its capabilities during Exercise Pitch Black 2024, operating a contingent of Gripen fighter aircraft from RAAF Darwin, Australia. The exercise provided a platform for the RTAF to train in a complex, high-intensity environment alongside international partners.
In an interview with the media at the Thai detachment’s operating grounds in Darwin, Group Captain Arnonh Charusombat emphasized the value of Pitch Black in providing realistic training opportunities, with the vast Australian airspace allowing for complex mission profiles. Despite operating in a complex airspace with numerous aircraft from different nations, the RTAF maintained a 100% mission capable rate using five JAS-39 aircraft, demonstrating the reliability and effectiveness of the Gripen platform. Notably, these Gripen aircraft are more than a decade old, highlighting the exceptional design and engineering of Saab. The platform’s inherent ease of maintenance is a testament to Saab’s commitment to user-friendly systems, and the RTAF ground crew deserves high praise for their proficiency in keeping these aircraft mission-ready throughout the exercise.
The RTAF has actively participated in both red and blue force scenarios during this exercise, gaining valuable experience in a complex, multi-national environment. The South East Asian air force deployed four Gripens for each exercise wave, keeping one aircraft as spare. However, the Thais are not undertaking air-to-air refueling with exercise partners during this iteration of Exerise Pitch Black, the service has previously conducted such operations during Pitch Black with their F-16 fleet.
While the RTAF has not confirmed plans for additional Gripen acquisitions, including the Gripen E variant, their participation in Pitch Black highlights the aircraft’s effectiveness in a complex operational environment. Their current fleet of MS20-upgraded Gripens has proven capable and adaptable to the demands of modern aerial warfare during Pitch Black. The MS20 upgrade is a significant enhancement that brings a number of improvements such as increased weapons integration like the Meteor long-range air-to-air missile. When queried if Thailand had carried out simulated Meteor missile launches during the exercise, Group Captain Charusombat declined to comment.
Networked warfare capabilities were also a key focus of Pitch Black 2024. While European and Australian forces primarily relied on Link 16 for data sharing, the exercise also highlighted the ability of other forces without this system to effectively cooperate. The RTAF demonstrated successful integration with partner nations despite using the Link-T communication system, showcasing the adaptability and flexibility of its Gripen.
Adding a touch of personality, the RTAF pilots from 701 Squadron, a unit belonging to Wing 7, the “Ferocious Sharks of the Andaman,” adopted “Shark” as their primary call sign during Pitch Black 2024, with “Jaws” as a secondary option. However, the pronunciation of “Jaws” proved to be a minor challenge for some air traffic controllers, as the Thais pronounced it as “Jaw” leading to some communication stumbles that were eventually overcome.
The RTAF’s successful deployment at Pitch Black 2024 strengthens their position as a key player in regional security and underscores the Gripen’s suitability for demanding operational environments. After the conclusion of Exercise Pitch Black 2024, the Thai contingent will return to their home base in Surat Thani.