Commander-in-Chief of Royal Thai Air Force Receives Prestigious Military Award

Minister for Defence Mr Chan Chun Sing (left) presenting the Meritorious Service Medal (Military) to the Commander-in-Chief of the Royal Thai Air Force Air Chief Marshal (ACM) Punpakdee Pattanakul (middle) at the Ministry of Defence earlier today.

ACM Punpakdee inspecting the Guard of Honour at MINDEF this morning.

ACM Punpakdee (left) calling on Mr Chan (right).

The Commander-in-Chief of the Royal Thai Air Force Air Chief Marshal (ACM) Punpakdee Pattanakul was conferred Singapore's prestigious military award, the Pingat Jasa Gemilang (Tentera) or Meritorious Service Medal (Military) [MSM(M)], by President Tharman Shanmugaratnam. Minister for Defence Mr Chan Chun Sing presented the award to ACM Punpakdee at an investiture held at the Ministry of Defence (MINDEF) this morning.

ACM Punpakdee was conferred the award in recognition of his significant contributions in strengthening the close and long-standing bilateral defence ties between the Royal Thai Air Force (RTAF) and the Republic of Singapore Air Force (RSAF). Both Air Forces continue to interact regularly through high-level visits, cross-attendance of courses, and professional exchanges, in addition to enhancing interoperability through the joint conduct of exercises such as Exercise Cope Tiger, which marked its 30th anniversary last year. ACM Punpakdee was also instrumental in the conduct of Exercise Air Thai Sing this year, a bilateral fighter training exercise between the RTAF and the RSAF. These interactions have enhanced the operational readiness of the RSAF and deepened the trust and rapport between the airmen and women of both air forces.

ACM Punpakdee is in Singapore from 27 to 28 August 2025. Prior to the MSM(M) investiture, ACM Punpakdee inspected a Guard of Honour and called on Mr Chan and Chief of Air Force Major-General (MG) Kelvin Fan.