Royal Thai Army

Royal Thai Army
กองทัพบกไทย
Emblem of the Royal Thai Army
Founded	8 May 1874 (150 years)
Country	Thailand
Type	Army
Role	Land warfare
Size	245,000[1]
Part of	Royal Thai Armed Forces
HQ	Royal Thai Army Headquarters, Ratchadamnoen Avenue, Phra Nakhon, Bangkok
Nickname(s)	"ทบ." "Thor Bor" Abbreviation of Army
Motto(s)	เพื่อชาติ ศาสน์ กษัตริย์ และประชาชน ("For the Nation, Religion, Monarchy, and People")
Colours	Red and yellow
March	มาร์ชกองทัพบก (Army March)
Anniversaries	18 January (Royal Thai Armed Forces Day)
Website	rta.mi.th
Commanders
Commander-in-chief	General Pana Klaewblaudtuk
Insignia
Royal Thai Army Flag
Unit colour
Aircraft symbol

The Royal Thai Army or RTA (Thai: กองทัพบกไทย; RTGS: kong thap bok thai) is the army of Thailand and the oldest and largest branch of the Royal Thai Armed Forces.

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]

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]

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^[update], 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]

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 2024, the commander will be General Pana Klaewblaudtuk.

• Commander-in-Chief: General Pana Klaewblaudtuk from 1 October 2024
• Deputy Commander-in-Chief: General Nattawut Nakanakorn from 1 October 2024
• Chairman of the Royal Thai Army Advisory Board: General Ekkarat Changkaew from 1 October 2024
• Assistant Commander-in-Chief: General Wasu Jiamsuk from 1 October 2024
• Assistant Commander-in-Chief: General Chitsanupong Rodsiri from 1 October 2024
• Chief of Staff of the Army: General Thongchai Rodyoi from 1 October 2024
• Commander of the 1st Army Area: Lieutenant General Amrit Boonsuya from 1 October 2024
• Commander of the 2nd Army Area: Lieutenant General Boonsin Padklang from 1 October 2024
• Commander of the 3rd Army Area: Lieutenant General Kittipong Chaemsuwan from 1 October 2024
• Commander of the 4th Army Area: Lieutenant General Paisan Nusang from 1 October 2024
• Commander of the Royal Thai Army Special Warfare Command: Lieutenant General Narongrit Kamphira from 1 October 2024

The army is organized nationally into four army areas:

The creation of the 15th Infantry Division was announced in January 2005.^[18] Defence Minister, General Samphan Boonyanan, was quoted as saying that the new unit, dubbed the "Development Division", would not be a combat unit for fighting Islamic militants, but rather its main mission would be to assist local citizens and develop the region. The military will not ignore its general function of providing safety for the citizens of the region, he added. He said that troops for the new division would undergo training to give them a good understanding of local residents, the vast majority of whom are ethnic Malay Muslims. The division is in fact a transformation of the Pranburi-based 16th Infantry Division. It will now be headquartered at Fort Ingkhayutthaborihan in Pattani, complete with its battalions and companies of military police and communications and aviation personnel, he said. It will also have three separate infantry battalions, one each in Pattani, Yala, and Narathiwat. Each battalion will include three companies of medical, engineering, and psychological warfare personnel, he said. The government will allocate a budget of more than 18 billion baht for the division over the next four years.^[19]

The 15th Infantry Division is being established as a permanent force to handle security problems in the Deep South. The division is based in Pattani and is expected to have a combined force of around 10,000. The establishment of this new division, approved by the government in 2005, has yet to be completed. As of this writing, some 7,000 troops deployed in the Deep South are affiliated to this division."^[20] In 2012, two new combat formations had been approved by the thai government. The new 7th Infantry Division is based at Mae Rim, near Chiang Mai, and the new 3rd Cavalry Division is based at Khon Kaen.^[21]

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 (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).

Royal Thai Army Aviation Center (ศูนย์การบินทหารบก) 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.

• 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.

• 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.

The army is divided into districts, whereby the first digit of the district indicates the army (first, second, third or fourth) responsible for its supervision. The names of forts are from locations or influential figures in Thailand's history. These are as follows:

Military district number	Provinces under control	Headquarters location
11	Bangkok, Nakhon Pathom, Nonthaburi, Pathum Thani, Samut Prakan	Laksi, Bangkok
12	Prachinburi, Nakhon Nayok, Chachoengsao	Fort Chakraphong, Prachinburi
13	Lopburi, Chai Nat, Sing Buri, Ang Thong	Fort King Narai Maharat, Lopburi
14	Chonburi, Rayong	Fort Nawaminthrachini, Chonburi
15	Phetchaburi, Prachuap Khiri Khan	Fort Ramratchaniwet, Phetchaburi
16	Ratchaburi, Samut Songkhram, Samut Sakhon	Fort Phanurangsi, Ratchaburi
17	Kanchanaburi, Suphan Buri	Fort Surasi, Kanchanaburi
18	Saraburi, Phra Nakhon Si Ayutthaya	Fort Adisorn, Saraburi
19	Sa Kaeo, Chanthaburi, Trat	Fort Surasinghanat, Sa Kaeo
21	Nakhon Ratchasima, Chaiyaphum	Fort Suranari, Nakhon Ratchasima
22	Ubon Ratchathani, Amnat Charoen	Fort Sapphasitthiprasong, Ubon Ratchathani
23	Khon Kaen, Kalasin	Fort Sripatcharin, Khon Kaen
24	Udon Thani, Nong Khai	Fort Prachaksinlapakhom, Udon Thani
25	Surin, Sisaket	Fort Weerawatyothin, Surin
26	Buriram, Maha Sarakham	Fort Somdej Chao Phraya Kasatsuek, Buriram
27	Roi Et, Yasothon	Fort Prasertsongkhram, Roi Et
28	Loei, Nong Bua Lamphu	Fort Srisongrak, Loei
29	Sakon Nakhon, Bueng Kan	Fort Kritsiwara, Sakon Nakhon
210	Nakhon Phanom, Mukdahan	Fort Phra Yod Mueang Khwang, Nakhon Phanom
31	Nakhon Sawan, Kamphaeng Phet, Uthai Thani	Fort Chiraprawat, Nakhon Sawan
32	Lampang	Fort Surasak Montri, Lampang
33	Chiang Mai, Mae Hong Son, Lamphun	Fort Kawila, Chiang Mai
34	Phayao	Fort Khun Chueang Thammikkarat, Phayao
35	Uttaradit, Phrae	Fort Phichai Dabhak, Uttaradit
36	Phetchabun, Phichit	Fort Phokhun Pha Mueang, Phetchabun
37	Chiang Rai	Fort King Mengrai Maharat, Chiang Rai
38	Nan	Fort Suriyaphong, Nan
39	Phitsanulok, Sukhothai	Fort King Naresuan Maharat, Phitsanulok
310	Tak	Fort Wachiraprakan, Tak
41	Nakhon Si Thammarat (except Thung Song District), Phuket	Fort Vajiravudh, Nakhon Si Thammarat
42	Songkhla, Phatthalung, Satun	Fort Senanarong, Songkhla
43	Nakhon Si Thammarat (only Thung Song District), Krabi, Trang	Fort Thep Satri Srisunthorn, Nakhon Si Thammarat
44	Chumphon, Ranong	Fort Khet Udomsak, Chumphon
45	Surat Thani, Phang Nga	Fort Vibhavadi Rangsit, Surat Thani
46	Pattani, Narathiwat, Yala	Fort Ingkhayutthaborihan, Pattani

The RTA budget for FY2021 is 107,662 million baht, down from 112,815M baht in FY2020.^[24]

Rank group	General / flag officers										Senior officers						Junior officers
Royal Thai Army[25] v t e
	จอมพล Chom phon		พลเอก Phon ek		พลโท Phon tho		พลตรี Phon tri				พันเอก Phan ek		พันโท Phan tho		พันตรี Phan tri		ร้อยเอก Roi ek		ร้อยโท Roi tho			ร้อยตรี Roi tri

Rank group	Senior NCOs																						Junior NCOs						Enlisted
Royal Thai Army[25] v t e																																			No insignia
	จ่าสิบเอก Cha sip ek						จ่าสิบโท Cha sip tho		จ่าสิบตรี Cha sip tri								สิบเอก Sip ek						สิบโท Sip tho						สิบตรี Sip tri						พลทหาร Phon thahan

The army owns more than 30 golf courses nationwide. The army also owns boxing stadium, 100 petrol stations, racecourses, hotels, retail and coffee shops, and radio and television airwaves (by one count, the armed forces have ownership in 537 radio and TV stations).^[26] In early 2020, the army entered an agreement with the Finance Ministry to turn over to the ministry the management of businesses unrelated to the army's mission.^[27][28][29] In a related move, army commander General Apirat Kongsompong decreed that retired generals must move out of army-owned housing to free space for serving officers. As of 2020^[update], about 100 retired generals and colonels inhabit army accommodations.^[30] Some ex-generals, like PM Prayut Chan-o-cha and deputy PM Prawit Wongsuwan were exempted immediately from eviction because of their "contribution to society".^[31] The Thai Defence Ministry position is that there is no law prohibiting retired officers from occupying military housing.^[32]

In January 2021, the RTA signed a memorandum of understanding with the Electricity Generating Authority of Thailand (EGAT) to study the feasibility of constructing solar farms on 4.5 million rai of army land to generate 30,000 megawatts of electricity. Following up, on 22 February 2021 a meeting was called by the President of Royal Thai Army Radio and Television Channel 5 with energy firms interested in winning a piece of what is projected to be a 600 billion baht project. The Energy Ministry was not represented at the meeting. Critics have questioned why the army is involved in energy procurement, in contravention of existing regulations, and why Thailand needs more electricity when it already has 59% reserve capacity and more capacity under construction.^[33]

• Channel 5
• Channel 7, operated by Bangkok Broadcasting & Television Company Limited (BBTV)

• TGN

• Royal Thai Army Radio Network, all 126 stations

• Royal Thai Armed Forces Headquarters
• Royal Thai Army Radio and Television
• Border Patrol Police
• Thahan Phran
• Battle of Phou Pha Thi, (Northeastern Laos, March 1968) covert Border Patrol "volunteers"
• Thai–Laotian Border War
• Cambodian–Thai border dispute
• Chao Phraya Bodindecha
• Military history of Thailand
• Rajabhakti Park
• Special forces of Thailand

• Official website
• 'WiFi fee' deduction from army salaries probed. 14 June 2024. Bangkok Post.