Page 11 - DEFENSE & SECURITY 2022 - Day 3 | DAILY NEWS

and positioning missions. It has four control station to operate the UAS, the global market offer an endur-
hard points and can carry a max one for the communications equip- ance of 16-20 hours, which was found
payload 370 kg. ATIL is showcas- ment and one for the transport of excessive for Thai requirements. He
ing the DP20-A with dual-payload the UAS itself. For the smaller DP16, said the Thai armed forces required
bomb racks which can carry multiple this requirement is reduced to only only around ten hours of operational
munitions at the show. The DP-20A is two vehicles needed to transport the endurance and more often than
normally deployed in a group of four UAS and the ground control station, not, six hours of operating endur-
UAVs which are supported by a single while the communication equipment ance was found to be sufficient. He
ground station. is much more portable. The atten- also said longer UAS flights required
Dr. Niyomthai also told Daily News, dant savings in operational and life additional crew due to flight duty
that the RTA has also expressed ini- cycle costs are also evident due to restrictions as pilots also need to rest
tial interest in the smaller DP16. the reduced manpower and logistics for eight hours before flights.
“ATIL is also getting interest from requirement.
other potential customers in the `Speaking on Thai requirements for The DP16 tactical combat UAV capa-
region,” while confirming that there MALE UAVs, he said similar UAVs in ble of conducting ISR combat attack,
had been strong interest from coun- artillery, fire calibration, battlefield
tries in the region, whose delegations damage assessment, monitoring
and patrol missions. It has six hours
are visiting Defence & Security. The of endurance with full load. In this
DP16 could also be of potential future configuration, it can travel 700-900
interest for the RTAF but this require- km. When configured in reconnais-
ment is not as urgent as the service sance mode with a lighter payload,
presently has sufficient number of the drone can stay in the air for 10
UAS to meet its requirements. hours.

The DP16 is a smaller UAV with a 10m The DP16 has a maximum takeoff
wingspan and Dr. Niyomthai said that weight of 360 kg and a max payload
it was realised from the RTAF’s previ- of 80 kg. It can attain a max speed of
ous operating experience with UAVs, 180 km per hour and a cruising speed
that larger unmanned systems had of 120 - 150 kmph. The drone can
a bigger logistics footprint, requiring attain a max ceiling of 18,000 feet
three vehicles – one for the ground and cruise at 10,000 - 13,000 feet.

the flight test programme for Gripen
E is on continued development and
testing of primarily the tactical sys-
tems and as well as integration of
a variation of weapons, such as the
Meteor.
The Meteor long-range BVRAAM can
operate in in the most contested
environments and the ramjet pow-
ered missile can successfully engage
a wide variety of targets, from fighter
aircraft to small unmanned aerial
vehicles and cruise missiles at unri-
valled ranges. “This success is a great
SAAB GRIPEN E MAKES MAIDEN demonstration of the close partner-

METEOR BVRAAM LAUNCH ship between MBDA and Saab, which
after many years of active co-oper-
Saab has announced the first test “It feels very good that we have now ation continues to go from strength
firing of a Meteor Beyond Visual completed the first test firing with to strength. This trial also excellently
Range Air-to-Air Missile (BVRAAM) on Meteor from Gripen E. It is a very shows off our joint ability to rapidly
Gripen. The airframer said that the important milestone both for the integrate weapon capabilities onto
launch met with a successful end-to- programme and for Saab. It shows the all new Gripen E,” said Jim Price,
end result on the target. The Gripen E that the weapon capability of Gripen MBDA Vice President Europe. Saab is
launched the Meteor missile from an is at the absolute forefront,” said a partner in the Meteor programme
altitude of approximately 16,500 ft in conjunction with prime contractor
above the Vidsel test range in north- Mikael Olsson, Head of Flight Test & MBDA UK.
ern Sweden. Verification, Saab. Saab’s focus of
DEFENCE & SECURITY 2022 AUGUST 31 2022 11