Thailand’s Armed Forces are Accelerating their UAS Induction Plans
The Royal Thai Air Force (RTAF) is accelerating its plans to acquire new unmanned aerial vehicles (UAV) with advanced capabilities. The first step in this direction was the recent induction of Thailand’s first medium altitude long endurance unmanned aerial vehicle (MALE UAV). The Aeronautics DominatorXP is the RTAF’s first MALE UAV and the new assets will be based with the RTAF’s Squadron 302, Wing 3, Takhli District, Nakhon Sawan Province, located near 4 Wing and will support combat missions such as reconnaissance flights along the border. and non-combat missions such as searching for victims. or forest fire monitoring etc. The will also be used for Intelligence, surveillance and reconnaissance (ISR) missions.The RTAF has purchased three DominatorXP MALE UAVs from Aeronautics along with spare parts, equipment, logistics systems, and other related systems. and training courses. This procurement is in line with the RTAF’s Phase 2 UAV system acquisition project. At the previous edition of Defence & Security, held in August 2022, Thailand firm Aero Technology Industry Limited (ATIL), showcased three different drone systems conceived in partnership with Thailand’s Defence R&D agency, the Defence Technology Institute (DTI) and the Royal Thai Army (RTA). Deliveries to the RTA could potentially begin as early as 2026. ATIL showcased the DP20 MALE UAS, which a wingspan of 13.4m and a maximum take-off weight of 750 kg. It can carry a mission payload of 150kg along with 200kg of fuel. It can attain a maximum speed of 135 knots and a cruising speed of 100 knots. Endurance is claimed as 20 hours and its practical operating ceiling is quoted as 24,500 feet. The DP20-A is a larger armed drone with four hard points, which can accommodate dual-payload bomb racks and can carry a max payload 370 kg. The DP16 is a smaller UAV with a 10m wingspan. It has six hours of endurance with full load. In this configuration, it can travel 700-900 km. When configured in reconnaissance mode with a lighter payload, the drone can stay in the air for 10 hours. The DP16 has a maximum take-off weight of 360 kg and a max payload of 80 kg. It can attain a max speed of 180 km per hour and a cruising speed of 120 – 150 kmph. The drone can attain a max ceiling of 18,000 feet and cruise at 10,000 – 13,000 feet.
Royal Thai Navy’s (RTN) has already inducted its new maritime aerial reconnaissance craft unmanned system (MARCUS-B) vertical take-off or landing (VTOL) drone. The MARCUS-B, fixed wing VTOL drone, has a wingspan of 4.5m and a maximum take-off weight of 60kg. The MARCUS-B features pure electric or hybrid gas-electric propulsion and can attain a cruising speed of 50-55 knots. Endurance is claimed to be five hours. The VTOL naval drone, which is constructed out of fully dry-carbon, is nearing service entry and will be domestically manufactured by Thai firms. The MARCUS-B has also undergone testing aboard the RTN’s sole aircraft carrier, HTMS Chakri Naruebet.
Ecojet, the world's first electric, commercial airline, has signed an agreement to purchase 22 ZA2000 hydrogen-electric engines from ZeroAvia, with…
Vertical Aerospace has seen its latest VX4 prototype perform its first tethered piloted flight as it begins the “wheels up”…
As many as 260 firm commercial aircraft orders and £81.5bn worth of deals were struck on the first four days…
The first mission-ready F-16 pilots to graduate from the European F-16 Training Center (EFTC) in Romania were honoured today. This…
The NATO Support and Procurement Agency (NSPA) has awarded Airbus Helicopters a contract to lead a concept study as part…
Turkish Technic, a global maintenance, repair, and overhaul (MRO) company, has recently signed a Component Support Agreement with Citilink, a…
Following its firm order of 20 A330neo aircraft at the 2024 Farnborough International Airshow, Vietjet has entered into significant agreements…
NASA Langley Research Center has awarded a contract to Terma to improve the data management and operational efficiency of its…
With the advanced air mobility (AAM) industry on the verge of take-off, there has been a concerted effort by companies…
Magellan Aerospace Corporation (Magellan) has inked a Memorandum of Understanding (MOU) at the Farnborough Airshow with the Indian firm, Aequs…
ZeroAvia and KLM Royal Dutch Airlines will work towards a demonstration flight using ZeroAvia’s ZA2000 zero-emission, hydrogen-electric engines for large…
Pratt & Whitney has received more than 950 GTF engine orders and commitments since the beginning of the year. Airlines…
Triumph's Thermal Systems Division has been awarded a long-term-program contract to design, manufacture and support the precooler system for the…
Pratt & Whitney and OGMA Indústria Aeronáutica de Portugal , an Embraer company, have announced the induction of the first…
Abra Group has signed a Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) for five A350-900 aircraft, aiming to expand its international long-haul operations…
Saudi Arabia’s low-cost carrier flynas has signed a Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) with Airbus for 75 A320neo family aircraft and…
Thai Airways International Public Company Limited (THAI) has signed a six-year agreement with GE Aerospace to extend their TrueChoice Service…
AirAsia Aviation Group and AirAsia X, two of Asia’s largest low-cost carrier groups, have strengthened partnerships with SITA, adopting SITA…
AAR, a provider of aviation services to commercial and government operators, MROs, and OEMs, has entered into several long-term distribution…
J&C Aero, an EASA-certified international cabin interior hub, has successfully completed a full cabin modernisation of a Boeing 757-200, equipping…
Hours after it signed a contract with Australian company Wilbur Air, Spanish electric aircraft manufacturer Crisalion Mobility announced that it…
In a significant milestone for the D328eco programme, German OEM Deutsche Aircraft has commenced the construction of the first test…
British cargo airline, One Air, has marked its first year of operations by connecting 28 global airports and transporting over…
Liebherr-Aerospace and AAR have announced the signing of a General Terms Agreement (GTA). Under this agreement, Liebherr will grant licence…
EirTrade Aviation, the global aviation asset management and trading company, has begun disassembling its first B777-300ER in Knock, Ireland. The…
JEKTA Switzerland, the developer of the zero-emissions PHA-ZE 100 amphibious aircraft, has signed an agreement with Seaplane Asia to add…
Embraer announced a significant development for Brazilian air traffic during the Farnborough International Airshow. Atech, an Embraer Group company specialising…
Boeing and Ryanair, Europe’s largest airline group, are set to enhance the efficiency of Ryanair’s primarily 737 fleet by incorporating…
Specialist regional aircraft lessor TrueNoord has secured a new five-year term loan with BayernLB. This agreement strengthens TrueNoord’s relationship with…
LanzaJet, a sustainable fuels technology company, has received a strategic investment from Airbus to help expand LanzaJet’s ethanol-to-sustainable aviation fuel…
Headquartered in Singapore with reporters spread across all major regions, GBP Aerospace & Defence is a leading media house that publishes three publications that serve the aerospace and defence sector - Asian Defence Technology, Asian Airlines & Aerospace and Daily News. Known industry-wide for quality journalism, GBP Aerospace & Defence is present at more international tradeshows and exhibitions than any other competing publication in the region.
For over three decades, our award-winning team of reporters has been producing top-notch content to help readers stay abreast of the latest developements in the field of commercial aviation, MRO, defence, and Space.
Copyright 2024. GBP. All Rights Reserved.
Home Defence & Security Space Commercial Aviation Maintence Repair & Overhaul Daily News Events About Us
2024 GBP all rights reserved.