BANGKOK, Thailand – The Royal Thai Air Force (RTAF), under the directive of General Songwit Noonpackdee, Chief of Defence Forces, has announced plans to restructure its operations to safeguard national air and space interests.
Air Marshal Prapas Sornchaidee, RTAF spokesperson, emphasized the economic importance of these interests. He noted that Thailand’s aerospace sector generates over 29 billion baht annually, supporting 35,600 enterprises and employing 1.6 million people.
As part of the restructuring, the RTAF will establish a Coordination Center for the Protection of National Air and Space Interests. This center will operate under the Air Force Operations Center and be supervised by the Air Force Chief of Staff. It will coordinate internal and external activities related to air and space defense. The center will be staffed by existing personnel from relevant units, with no additional hiring or salary increases.
The RTAF also plans to propose significant legislative changes. This includes amendments to the Ministry of Defence Reorganization Act to rename the organization as the Royal Thai Air and Space Force. Additionally, the RTAF will draft the Air and Space National Interests Protection Act. This legislation will create the Directorate for the Protection of National Air and Space Interests, aimed at enhancing interagency cooperation.
These legislative drafts are scheduled for the 2025 fiscal year. After receiving approval from the Defence Council, they will be submitted to the legislative assembly and reviewed by the Constitutional Court by 2026. Full enactment, following royal endorsement and publication in the Royal Gazette, is expected by 2028. (NNT)
