Page 33 - ADT SEPTEMBER - OCTOBER 2021 Online Magazine

The Royal Thai Army (RTA) is in the process
of acquiring three Daher Kodiak 100 aircraft to
replace four of their Cessna U-17B Skywagon
fleet which are due for retirement soon. With
a budget of around THB300 million (about
US$8,9 million), the planned purchase will also
include support as well as pilot and mechanic [ AIR SYSTEMS ]
training packages. The RTA has been operating
nine U-17B aircraft since 1981. In 2018, an air-
craft of this type crashed 4 km from Myanmar
border in Mae Hong Son province, killing four
people onboard. Aside from acquiring Kodiak
100, the RTA is currently also in the process
of acquiring two Cessna C208B Caravan
and a Pilatus PC-12 NGX to replace the aging
Skywagons. It is currently unknown whether all
these different aircraft will also be operated by
that the project will finally see its first prototype revealed before the RTA’s 21st Aviation Battalion based in Korat
the end of 2024. air base which previously operated the Cessna
U-17B, or whether they will be distributed to
PTDI has also signed an agreement with Turkey’s HAVELSAN to other RTA’s aviation units as well.
jointly develop a simulator for PTDI’s N-219 aircraft. Signed by
PTDI’s CEO and Turkey’s Minister of Industry and Technology, The Daher Kodiak 100 is a single engine tur-
Mustafa Varank, the agreement provides a ground for both com- boprop aircraft capable of transporting 10
panies to jointly develop avionic and system modeling, flight, and people on board (1 pilot + 9 passengers). Due
engine modeling, as well as the computer system and interface to to its Short Take Off and Landing (STOL) abil-
simulate PTDI’s N-219 aircraft. ity, the unpressurized, high-wing, fixed tricycle
landing gear aircraft is suitable to be operated
on the improvised airstrip. With a dimension
Thai Forces Upgrade Capability of 10.41 meters length, 13.72 meters wingspan
Royal Thai Navy (RTN) will procure two Schiebel S-100 Camcopter and a height of 4.65 meters, the aircraft has a
UAV systems for THB556 million (US$16.66 million), increasing maximum take-off weight of about 3,300 kilo-
its fleet of S-100 systems to four. It had previously ordered two grams. Formerly produced by Quest Aircraft
S-100 systems in 2019, which are currently in active service. Since of the United States before the company was
each of the S-100 Camcopter UAV systems in the RTN service sold to Daher conglomerate group of France
consisted of three aircraft, this will mean that the RTN will have 12 in 2019, the Kodiak 100 is powered with a Pratt
individual S-100 Camcopter aircraft. It is expected that two S-100 & Whitney Canada PT6A-34 turboprop, deliv-
Camcopter systems in the current procurement program will be ering 750 shp (560 kW) takeoff power to drive
delivered sometime next year. The RTN will also allocate the addi- a 2.44-meter diameter, four bladed, constant
tional S-100 systems to the Naval Air Division’s 104 squadron as speed propellers. The aircraft has a rated cruis-
the current operator of the UAV. Based in U-Tapao RTN airbase, ing speed of about 339 km/h and a maximum
the squadron formerly operated 18 A-7 Corsair II attack aircraft range of about 2,100 kilometers.
until they retired in 2007.

The S-100 Camcopter UAV is manufactured by Schiebel, an
Austrian company specializing in mine detector and helicopter
UAV technology. With a dimension of 3.11 meters long, 1.24 meters
wide, and 1.12 meters high, the S-100 Camcopter has an empty
weight of 110 kilograms with a maximum take-off weight of 200
kilograms. Powered with a 41 kW, 55 HP Wankel rotary engine
driving a 3.4 meters main rotor in its basic configuration, the S-100
has a service ceiling of 5,500 meters, a maximum speed of 220
km/h, a maximum range of about 180 km, and a 6-hours endurance.
Aside from a range of cameras and other detection sensors, the
S-100 can also be equipped with two external hardpoints to carry
two Martlet lightweight multirole missiles. The S-100 Camcopter
UAV has been exported to no less than 21 countries. In the ASEAN
region aside from Thailand, Malaysia, Myanmar, and Indonesia are
also operating the system.

ASIAN DEFENCE TECHNOLOGY September / Octobert 2021 | 33