RTN proves
out new H145M helicopters in actual HADR missions over southern Thailand
Ridzwan
Rahmat, Singapore - IHS Jane's Navy International
12 January
2017
Key Points
·
Thailand
has deployed its H145M helicopters on an actual HADR mission for the first time
·
The
missions are proving out the aircraft's medical-evacuation, emergency-relief
capabilities when operated from onboard a naval platform
The Royal
Thai Navy (RTN) has deployed its Endurance-class landing platform dock (LPD)
ship, embarked with two H145M helicopters, to southern Thailand as part of the
service's
flood relief efforts.
The LPD, HTMS
Angthong (791), arrived off the coast of Nakhon Si Thammarat on 9 January and
has since been conducting missions in the area including medical evacuations
and the delivery of rations and medical supplies.
The RTN's
public relations division confirmed on 12 January that this was the first time
its H145M helicopters had been deployed in actual humanitarian assistance and
disaster relief (HADR) operations.
"This
helicopter has improved our speed and also our ability to reach areas that have
been cut-off due to the floods and road collapses," said the division. It
added that three landing craft utility (LCU) platforms have also been deployed
with Angthong to support the RTN's relief efforts.
The aircraft
are part of five H145Ms ordered under a 2014 contract with Airbus Helicopters
and commissioned in early November 2016. The platform can be configured for
medical evacuation missions, on top of search-and-rescue (SAR) and
reconnaissance operations.
After
torrential rain since 1 January, the southern Thailand region has suffered
severe flooding and mudslides, which have displaced at least 370,000 households
and 1 million people, according to official figures from the Thai government.
At least 30 deaths have already been attributed to the floods.
Original post
janes.com
Main image
thaidefense-news.blogspot.com
LPD HTMS
Angthong 791: Details
H145M: Details
HTMS
Angthong, which has been conducting flood relief missions in southern Thailand
since 9 January 2017 with two embarked H145M helicopters. Source: Royal Thai
Navy
Image thaidefense-news.blogspot.com
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