A road in Songkhla province has been transformed into a landing pad for a Gripen fighter jet, marking its first-time use in a practice drill for emergency situations.
A section of Road 4287 in Hat Yai district was closed on Thursday to allow the jet to use it as a makeshift airstrip while the Royal Thai Air Force (RTAF) simulated an attack on its air base, necessitating the use of a road base.
The pilots successfully landed the twin-set jet to refuel and equip the aircraft with missiles before taking off during the one-hour exercise, according to the RTAF.
Road 4287 was selected by the air force from seven options for this historic operation, marking the first time a road has been used as a base for combat aircraft.
Gripen jets serve as the main combat aircraft for the Thai military, with their main base located at Wing 7 in Surat Thani province.
