Page 4 - Defense & Security 2023 - Day 3

“In March 2023, ATIL
began training the

RTA to fly the DP20.
We flew the DP20
to 25,000 feet and a
distance of 250km.

Various failure modes
were also tested.”

for weapons testing and trials. The DP21
will be the largest MALE UAS from ATIL
and this programme will start in February
2025. Niyomthai said current plans call for
the first DP21 to make its maiden flight in
Thailand in 2027.
keen to conclude a contract with ATIL for in production in Thailand with production of
Speaking with Atul Chandra on the sidelines UAVs soon. the AG-002 laser guided missile slated to
of the show, Niyomthai, Director ATIL, said begin by the end of this year.
the RTA is now being trained by ATIL to
operate the DP20. “In March 2023, ATIL ATIL has been working on the DP20 since
began training the RTA to fly the DP20. We 2019 and Niyomthai stated that the devel- The DP20 MALE UAS has a wingspan of
flew the DP20 to 25,000 feet and a distance opment of the armed DP20A is planned for 13.4m and a maximum take-off weight
of 250km. Various failure modes were also completion by 2026. The DP16A, which is of 750 kg. It can carry a mission payload
tested.” The DP20 is being manufactured by being showcased for the first time, will only of 150kg along with 200kg of fuel. It can
ATIL in Thailand and at present, two DP20s be used by ATIL for weapons testing and attain a maximum speed of 135 knots and
are being operated by ATIL. Two additional trials. Niyomthai said that the first bomb test a cruising speed of 100 knots. Endurance
DP20As will be procured as well. An ex- was completed by ATIL using the DP16A in is claimed as 20 hours and its practical
pert team from China is expected to join July, this year. The target was engaged using operating ceiling is quoted as 24,500 feet.
the ATIL team, later in the year. Thailand’s a dummy warhead, which was designated The DP20 will primarily undertake intelli-
Board of Investment has mandated that by the RTA using a laser designator from gence surveillance and reconnaissance
there must be 100 percent manufacturing a distance of 1km. The munitions were (ISR) missions for the RTA in addition to
of these systems within Thailand within launched from a distance of 2km away, border patrol, fire calibration and battlefield
three years. Interestingly, Niyomthai said taking 25 seconds to travel to the target assessment targeting and positioning mis-
that ATIL has also been receiving export and hit the bullseye on a 5m/5m, target. sions. It can carry a max payload 370 kg,
requests, with an overseas team visiting the The weapon used was the AG-001 laser while the armed DP20A has four hard points,
company’s facilities in Thailand in October. guided bomb, which will be integrated on which can also mount dual-payload bomb
He added that the country in question was the DP20 and DP21. The AG-001 is currently
racks to carry multiple munitions. The Royal
Thai Air Force (RTAF) and Royal Thai Navy
(RTN) are reportedly now also interested in
the DP20 and DP20A.

The DP21A is an armed high-altitude long
endurance (HALE) UAS with a 500kg pay-
load capability. It has four hardpoints on the
wings, each of which can accommodate a
max payload of 200kg. The DP21A has a
maximum take-off weight of 1,600 kg and
can carry a maximum payload of 500kg. It
has a service ceiling of 26,300 feet and can
stay aloft for 42 hours. It has an operational
radius of 250km in line of sight (LOS) mode
and 2,000km when controlled via satellite
communications (SATCOM). It can carry
8XAG-001 laser guided bombs or 4XAG-002
laser guided missiles.

4 NOVEMBER-08-2023 WWW.GBP.COM.SG/DAILY NEWS