The Phnom Penh Post reports that the Royal Thai Air Force deployed the T-50TH Golden Eagle in real combat operations for the first time, launching an attack reaching Cambodia's Battambang province amid ongoing tensions.
The Phnom Penh Post, a Cambodian media outlet, reported that the Royal Thai Air Force used the advanced trainer aircraft T-50TH Golden Eagle in its first real combat mission, conducting an airstrike deep into Battambang province on the morning of 24 December, amid escalating hostilities throughout December.
According to information cited by the Phnom Penh Post from the Ministry of Defense, at approximately 10:00 a.m., a T-50TH aircraft dropped four bombs on a target in a village in Banan district, Battambang province.
The T-50TH Golden Eagle, produced by Korea Aerospace Industries (KAI) of South Korea, was originally designed as an advanced jet trainer but has been developed to perform full military combat missions.
A Defence Security Asia report on 22 December stated that Air Chief Marshal Prapas Sornjai, Assistant Commander of the Royal Thai Air Force, confirmed that the Air Force has re-designated the T-50TH from a training platform to an operational combat aircraft, ready for real wartime deployment for the first time.
The aircraft took off from Squadron 401, Wing 4, at Takli Air Base in Nakhon Sawan province and operated alongside U.S. F-16 Fighting Falcon fighters and Swedish Gripen jets in integrated operations.
The report notes that Thailand currently operates 14 T-50TH Golden Eagle aircraft, with the last two delivered in August 2024, each valued at approximately 30 to 35 million U.S. dollars.
The deployment of the T-50TH in combat missions represents an enhancement of the Royal Thai Air Force's airstrike capabilities and marks the first time this aircraft model has been used in an actual conflict.
Since fighting erupted on 7 December, the Royal Thai Air Force has reportedly conducted about 30 airstrikes in Cambodia, previously using F-16s and Gripen jets to target various locations including buildings, hotels, bridges, and educational institutions. The introduction of the T-50TH into real combat is thus closely watched both for its military strategic implications and its political impact amid international calls for both Thailand and Cambodia to de-escalate tensions.
Source:Phnom Penh Post
Click to read related news aboutThailand-Cambodia clashes