The Royal Thai Army or RTA (Thai: กองทัพบกไทย; RTGS: kong thap bok thai) is the army of Thailand and the oldest and largest branch of the Royal Thai Armed Forces.
The Royal Thai Army or RTA (Thai: กองทัพบกไทย; RTGS: kong thap bok thai) is the army of Thailand and the oldest and largest branch of the Royal Thai Armed Forces.
The Royal Thai Army is responsible for protecting the kingdom's sovereignty. The army was formed in 1874, partly as a response to new security threats following the 1855 Bowring Treaty with the United Kingdom, which opened the country for international trade.
In the modern era, the army has a long history of coups d'état and coup attempts. Its leadership continues to see coup-making as one role of the army.
On 22 May 2014, the army deposed the government, appointed military officers to the national assembly, and on 21 August 2014, they elected the army's Commander in Chief, General Prayut Chan-o-cha, as prime minister. The general retired October 2014 to concentrate on political reform which he said would take at least a year, following which he promised that national elections would be held.
The existence of an information warfare unit participating in a cyber campaign against government critics was leaked to the public in late February 2020. In 2020, Twitter shut down a network of accounts which were engaged in information warfare. According to Twitter, "Our investigation uncovered a network of accounts partaking in information operations that we can reliably link to the Royal Thai Army (RTA)." The operation had targeted the political opposition within Thailand. The Thai Army denied that they had been involved in the disinformation operation.
The number of Thai Army generals is unclear. One point of comparison: as of 1 November 2019, the US Army had 322 general officers: 2 for a force of 471,990 troops. Saiyud Kerdphol was Thailand's oldest general, a veteran of World War II and Korea who retired in 1983 as supreme commander. During his tenure, general officer numbers were based on the number of troops under their command. As of 2019[update], only 150–200 four-star generals occupy command positions. Speaking on the topic of army manpower, Saiyud declared that, "Everybody being a general is unbelievable. Full generals don't have a seat to sit in or a job to do."
 | This section's factual accuracy may be compromised due to out-of-date information. (October 2026) |
The commander-in-chief of the Royal Thai Army (ผู้บัญชาการทหารบกไทย) is considered the most powerful position in the Royal Thai Armed Forces. Since 1 October 2024, the commander-in-chief has been General Phana Khlaeoplotthuk.
The army is organized nationally into four army areas:
The creation of the 15th Infantry Division was announced in January 2005. Defence Minister, General Samphan Boonyanan, was quoted as saying that the new unit, dubbed the "Development Division," would not be a combat unit for fighting Islamic militants, but rather its main mission would be to assist local citizens and develop the region. The military will not ignore its general function of providing safety for the citizens of the region, he added. He said that troops for the new division would undergo training to give them a good understanding of local residents, the vast majority of whom are ethnic Malay Muslims. The division is, in fact, a transformation of the Pranburi-based 16th Infantry Division. It will now be headquartered at Fort Ingkhayutthaborihan in Pattani, complete with its battalions and companies of military police and communications and aviation personnel, he said. It will also have three separate infantry battalions, one each in Pattani, Yala, and Narathiwat. Each battalion will include three companies of medical, engineering, and psychological warfare personnel, he said. The government will allocate a budget of more than 18 billion baht for the division over the next four years.
The 15th Infantry Division is being established as a permanent force to handle security problems in the Deep South. The division is based in Pattani and is expected to have a combined force of around 10,000. The establishment of this new division, approved by the government in 2005, has yet to be completed. As of this writing, some 7,000 troops deployed in the Deep South are affiliated with this division." In 2012, two new combat formations had been approved by the Thai government. The new 7th Infantry Division is based at Mae Rim, near Chiang Mai, and the new 3rd Cavalry Division is based at Khon Kaen.
Army formations are structured into 17 corps, split into 3 categories as shown below.
| Component | Corps | Insignia and color | Mission |
|---|---|---|---|
| Combat Component | Infantry Corps |  |
Its duty is to conduct combat operations using the firepower of its personal weapons to seize territory and destroy the enemy. It has the capability to move independently without relying heavily on vehicles and is considered the branch with the largest number of soldiers. It is known by the title "Queen of the Battlefield."
The insignia features crossed rifles with a cartridge belt. Its corps colour is White. |
| Cavalry Corps |  |
It conducts combat operations primarily using tanks and fast-moving vehicles, employing firepower to destroy and intimidate the enemy. It is an important combat branch and serves as one of the Army's main fighting forces, alongside the infantry.
The insignia features crossed sabers with a horseshoe and a tank. Its corps colour is Dull Blue. | |
| Combat Support Component | Artillery Corps |  |
It conducts combat using artillery firepower to destroy enemy strongpoints and to support infantry assaults. It also provides direct fire support and shields the infantry during attacks to enable their operations. It is nicknamed the "King of the Battlefield."
The insignia features crossed cannons with a flaming grenade. Its corps colour is Yellow. |
| Engineer Corps |  |
Its duties include constructing, modifying, and repairing roads and bridges. In addition, combat engineers can fight alongside infantry units during assaults on enemy fortifications or heavily reinforced positions.
The insignia features a crossed shovel and axe with an anchor. Its corps colour is Black. | |
| Signal Corps |  |
Its duty is to provide communications within and between units to support commanders and staff operations. It is also responsible for the procurement, distribution, and maintenance of communications equipment.
The insignia features a lightning bolt with a cogwheel. Its corps colour is Violet or directly translated from Thai as "Mango Purple Seed". | |
| Intelligence Corps |  |
Its duties include planning, directing, coordinating, supervising, and conducting intelligence and security operations, as well as preparing military intelligence personnel for assignments.
The insignia features a crossed lightning bolt and arrow with an eight-pointed star on a shield. It appears to have no corps colours. | |
| Combat Auxiliary Component | Ordnance Corps |  |
Its duties include researching and developing weapons and military equipment, as well as inspecting, storing, maintaining, advising on, and repairing various weapons to ensure they remain operational at all times.
The insignia features a flaming grenade. Its corps colour is Orange and Green. |
| Quartermaster Corps |  |
Its duties are to sustain and support military units by ensuring they are adequately provided with essential supplies and consumables. It is also responsible for replenishment, logistics support, storage, and distribution of unit supplies.
The insignia features crossed sabers with three cogwheels. It appears to have no corps colours. | |
| Medical Corps |  |
Its duties are to provide medical care and conduct medical operations during both peacetime and wartime. In wartime, it operates alongside infantry units on the front lines by providing first aid and evacuating the wounded from the battlefield to field hospitals.
The insignia features a pair of intertwined nagas serpents around a flaming torch. It appears to have no corps colours. | |
| Transport Corps |  |
Its duties are to transport personnel and supplies for various Army units and other assigned organizations by land, water (inland waterways), and air. It is also responsible for overseeing all transportation operations within the Army.
The insignia features a ship's wheel combined with a cogwheel and wings on a shield. It appears to have no corps colours. | |
| Combat Service Support Component | Adjutant General Corps |  |
Has duties in administrative operations, including the receipt, dispatch, and sorting of official documents; the appointment, promotion, demotion, dismissal, and transfer of personnel; matters relating to pensions, gratuities, and disciplinary actions; maintaining records of correspondence, military service affairs, and other related duties.
The insignia features a sword and a quill crossed together, with a book placed at the center of the emblem. It appears to have no corps colours. |
| Finance Corps |  |
Has duties in disbursing salaries, allowances, and various expenses, as well as supervising the expenditures of the military unit to ensure compliance with military rules and regulations.
The insignia features crossed swords combined with Erawan, a three-headed elephant. It appears to have no corps colours. | |
| Judge Advocate General Corps |  |
Has duties in enforcing military laws and regulations, as well as carrying out all judicial processes involving individuals, soldiers, or military units.
The insignia features the scales of justice combined with a chakra wheel. It appears to have no corps colours. | |
| Survey Corps |  |
Has duties in preparing maps of various local areas for military units to use in movement and strategic operations, as well as surveying routes and updating map details to accurately reflect the actual terrain at all times.
The insignia features crossed swords combined with a surveying telescope. It appears to have no corps colours. | |
| Veterinarian Corps |  |
Has duties in supporting military operations through the use of animals and agricultural activities of the Army, including planning, directing, and coordinating matters related to the affairs and equipment of the Army's Animal Service Corps.
The insignia features crossed naga (serpents) combined with a horseshoe. It appears to have no corps colours. | |
| Band Corps |  |
Has duties in providing entertainment to relieve stress among soldiers and military units, boosting morale and inspiring soldiers through music so that they remain motivated, proud of their warrior's honor, and steadfast in performing their duties.
The insignia features a harp (lyre). It appears to have no corps colours. | |
| Military Police Corps |  |
Has duties related to maintaining discipline, arresting soldiers who commit offenses, overseeing military prisons and traffic within military operations, ensuring security, conducting criminal investigations under military court jurisdiction, preventing and researching crimes within the Army, and managing matters concerning missing soldiers and prisoners of war.
The insignia features crossed pistols combined with a chakra wheel. It appears to have no corps colours. |
The army is organised into the following formations:
Army Medical Department (AMED) (กรมแพทย์ทหารบก) belongs to the service segment of the Royal Thai Army. It is in charge of medical affairs, and providing medical care, both in the field and on base, training personnel in research and agriculture and supervising the other medical divisions within the Royal Thai Army.
AMED observed 111 years of service in January 2011, with 110 years of service having been honoured by issue of a series of commemorative stamps. AMED operates Phramongkutklao Hospital in Bangkok and Ananda Mahidol Hospital in Lopburi, along with smaller hospitals at each base, as well as the Phramongkutklao College of Medicine (PCM).
Royal Thai Army Aviation Center (ศูนย์การบินทหารบก) belongs to the service segment of the Royal Thai Army Areas:
The army is divided into districts, whereby the first digit of the district indicates the army (first, second, third or fourth) responsible for its supervision. The names of forts are from locations or influential figures in Thailand's history. These are as follows:
| Military district number | Provinces under control | Headquarters location |
|---|---|---|
| 11 | Bangkok, Nakhon Pathom, Nonthaburi, Pathum Thani, Samut Prakan | Laksi, Bangkok |
| 12 | Prachinburi, Nakhon Nayok, Chachoengsao | Fort Chakraphong, Prachinburi |
| 13 | Lopburi, Chai Nat, Sing Buri, Ang Thong | Fort King Narai Maharat, Lopburi |
| 14 | Chonburi, Rayong | Fort Nawaminthrachini, Chonburi |
| 15 | Phetchaburi, Prachuap Khiri Khan | Fort Ramratchaniwet, Phetchaburi |
| 16 | Ratchaburi, Samut Songkhram, Samut Sakhon | Fort Phanurangsi, Ratchaburi |
| 17 | Kanchanaburi, Suphan Buri | Fort Surasi, Kanchanaburi |
| 18 | Saraburi, Phra Nakhon Si Ayutthaya | Fort Adisorn, Saraburi |
| 19 | Sa Kaeo, Chanthaburi, Trat | Fort Surasinghanat, Sa Kaeo |
| 21 | Nakhon Ratchasima, Chaiyaphum | Fort Suranari, Nakhon Ratchasima |
| 22 | Ubon Ratchathani, Amnat Charoen | Fort Sapphasitthiprasong, Ubon Ratchathani |
| 23 | Khon Kaen, Kalasin | Fort Sripatcharin, Khon Kaen |
| 24 | Udon Thani, Nong Khai | Fort Prachaksinlapakhom, Udon Thani |
| 25 | Surin, Sisaket | Fort Weerawatyothin, Surin |
| 26 | Buriram, Maha Sarakham | Fort Somdej Chao Phraya Kasatsuek, Buriram |
| 27 | Roi Et, Yasothon | Fort Prasertsongkhram, Roi Et |
| 28 | Loei, Nong Bua Lamphu | Fort Srisongrak, Loei |
| 29 | Sakon Nakhon, Bueng Kan | Fort Kritsiwara, Sakon Nakhon |
| 210 | Nakhon Phanom, Mukdahan | Fort Phra Yod Mueang Khwang, Nakhon Phanom |
| 31 | Nakhon Sawan, Kamphaeng Phet, Uthai Thani | Fort Chiraprawat, Nakhon Sawan |
| 32 | Lampang | Fort Surasak Montri, Lampang |
| 33 | Chiang Mai, Mae Hong Son, Lamphun | Fort Kawila, Chiang Mai |
| 34 | Phayao | Fort Khun Chueang Thammikkarat, Phayao |
| 35 | Uttaradit, Phrae | Fort Phichai Dabhak, Uttaradit |
| 36 | Phetchabun, Phichit | Fort Phokhun Pha Mueang, Phetchabun |
| 37 | Chiang Rai | Fort King Mengrai Maharat, Chiang Rai |
| 38 | Nan | Fort Suriyaphong, Nan |
| 39 | Phitsanulok, Sukhothai | Fort King Naresuan Maharat, Phitsanulok |
| 310 | Tak | Fort Wachiraprakan, Tak |
| 41 | Nakhon Si Thammarat (except Thung Song District), Phuket | Fort Vajiravudh, Nakhon Si Thammarat |
| 42 | Songkhla, Phatthalung, Satun | Fort Senanarong, Songkhla |
| 43 | Nakhon Si Thammarat (only Thung Song District), Krabi, Trang | Fort Thep Satri Srisunthorn, Nakhon Si Thammarat |
| 44 | Chumphon, Ranong | Fort Khet Udomsak, Chumphon |
| 45 | Surat Thani, Phang Nga | Fort Vibhavadi Rangsit, Surat Thani |
| 46 | Pattani, Narathiwat, Yala | Fort Ingkhayutthaborihan, Pattani |
The RTA budget for Monument was 107,662 million baht, down from 112,815M baht in FY2020.
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| Rank group | General / flag officers | Senior officers | Junior officers | |||||||||||||||||||||
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 Royal Thai Army |
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| จอมพล Chom phon |
พลเอก Phon ek |
พลโท Phon tho |
พลตรี Phon tri |
พันเอก Phan ek |
พันโท Phan tho |
พันตรี Phan tri |
ร้อยเอก Roi ek |
ร้อยโท Roi tho |
ร้อยตรี Roi tri | |||||||||||||||
| Rank group | Senior NCOs | Junior NCOs | Enlisted | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
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| Royal Thai Army |
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| จ่าสิบเอก Cha sip ek |
จ่าสิบโท Cha sip tho |
จ่าสิบตรี Cha sip tri |
สิบเอก Sip ek |
สิบโท Sip tho |
สิบตรี Sip tri |
พลทหาร Phon thahan | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
The army owns more than 30 golf courses nationwide. The army also owns boxing stadium, 100 petrol stations, racecourses, hotels, retail and coffee shops, and radio and television airwaves (by one count, the armed forces have ownership in 537 radio and TV stations). In early 2020, the army entered an agreement with the Finance Ministry to turn over to the ministry the management of businesses unrelated to the army's mission. In a related move, army commander General Apirat Kongsompong decreed that retired generals must move out of army-owned housing to free space for serving officers. As of 2020[update], about 100 retired generals and colonels inhabit army accommodations. Some ex-generals, like PM Prayut Chan-o-cha and deputy PM Prawit Wongsuwan were exempted immediately from eviction because of their "contribution to society". The Thai Defence Ministry position is that there is no law prohibiting retired officers from occupying military housing if legally authorized.
In January 2021, the RTA signed a memorandum of understanding with the Electricity Generating Authority of Thailand (EGAT) to study the feasibility of constructing solar farms on 4.5 million rai of army land to generate 30,000 megawatts of electricity. Following up, on 22 February 2021 a meeting was called by the President of Royal Thai Army Radio and Television Channel 5 with energy firms interested in winning a piece of what is projected to be a 600 billion baht project. The Energy Ministry was not represented at the meeting. Critics have questioned why the army is involved in energy procurement, in contravention of existing regulations, and why Thailand needs more electricity when it already has 59% reserve capacity and more capacity under construction.
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