Two Royal Thai Air Force F-16s crashed during the US-Thai Cobra Gold military exercise currently underway in Thailand. Both pilots, assigned to the RTAF’s Wing One, ejected safely, reported the Bangkok Post. The F-16s were part of a four-ship sortie flying from Korat Royal Thai Air Force Base on Monday when they disappeared from radar north of the base and crashed into a wooded area in neighboring Chaiyaphum province, according to the newspaper. The Thais are launching a board of enquiry into the incident. This year’s Cobra Gold, which runs through Friday, is the 30th annual multi-service exercise between the US and Thailand, with Indonesian, Japanese, Korean, Malaysian, and Singaporean forces participating. The accident is reportedly the first since Thailand took delivery of F-16s in 2002.
Lt. Gen. Dan Caine, nominee to be chairman of the Joint Chiefs of Staff, told the Senate Armed Services Committee that the Defense Department needs to upgrade its electronic warfare capability and its EW training ranges; just as his predecessor said at his own confirmation hearing.