Bangkok, Thailand – The Royal Thai Air Force (RTAF) welcomed a delegation from the Indian Air Force (IAF) under the framework of the 18th Junior Officer Exchange Program (JOEP), held between 15–21 September 2025, further enhancing operational cooperation and strengthening bilateral relations between the two forces.
The exchange program focused on building closer working-level ties and sharing expertise across multiple domains, including:
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Training and Education – Support for professional development courses and exchange of officers to participate in programs such as the Air Force Command Course and the Air Staff College Course.
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Joint Operations – Collaboration on humanitarian assistance and disaster relief (HADR) training, planning for the upcoming SIAM BHARAT exercise, and joint flying missions under the Dissimilar Air Combat Tactic (DACT) program.
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Expert Exchange – Meetings and knowledge transfer sessions conducted via video teleconferencing (VTC) to strengthen air operations capabilities and promote regional security.
During the visit, Air Marshal Phichitchai Surakitpipat, Deputy Chief of Air Staff (Personnel), received a courtesy call from Group Captain Sumit Garg, head of the IAF delegation, at the Air Chief of Staff’s reception room.
The delegation also received a briefing from Group Captain Prasertvisanu Mahakan, Deputy Director of the Air Force Intelligence Policy and Planning Office, and toured key RTAF establishments, including the Royal Thai Air Force Museum and National Aviation Museum, the Aviation and Space Technology Research and Development Center, the Flying Training School, and Wing 41.
This year’s exchange highlights the ongoing commitment of both the Royal Thai Air Force and the Indian Air Force to deepen mutual understanding, strengthen professional bonds, and enhance security cooperation. The initiative reflects the shared vision of Thailand and India to contribute to peace, stability, and prosperity in the region.
