Sunday 16th June visitor,
04-03742 MH-47G D Co? 160 SOAR R03742 from VTBU
so 6th Army Brigade from Sanshui, some 1600km away.2 of the Mi171 are LH96770 and LH96775, arrival via Chiang Mai on 7 December
Thailand will host a 14-day joint military exercise with Chinese special forces starting from Monday in Lop Buri, the army said on Friday. The "Strike 2013" exercise will take place in and around the Royal Thai Army Ranger Battalion headquarters, Col Sanwit Phumithakwong, chief of staff of the Special Warfare Command's 3rd Special Forces Regiment, said yesterday.
The exercise is aimed at sharing tactics in special forces operations and bolstering military ties between Thailand and China, he said.
A total of 135 Chinese troops will take part in the exercise, said Col Sanwit. Of them, 20 are Guangzhou regional base commanders; 98 are soldiers from the 12th Division Combat Team, 12 are troops from China's MI-171 aviation division; and 27 are support team members.
Three Chinese MI-171 helicopters will also take part in the drill, the fourth between the two countries, which Thailand and China take turns hosting The exercise will also include 185 Thai army officers. Fifteen are 1st Special Forces Regiment commanders; 85 are from the 3rd Special Forces Regiment, 15 soldiers are from the MI-17 aviation division, while 70 others are support team members.
Three MI-17 choppers from the Thai army will also be used.
The exercises will include counter-terrorism operations, patrolling, reconnaissance, parachute training and sniper drills.
The first nine days will focus on sharing expertise at the base while the remaining five days will be devoted to training in the field.
The exercise - codenamed "Strike" - was first held in 2007 in Guangzhou, in China
This exercise is expected to be held every two years.
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