Royal Thai Army demonstrates Hermes 450 UAV


The 21st Aviation Battalion, Royal Thai Air Force Aviation Center, based in Lopburi Province, is an air unit of the Royal Thai Army (RTA) operating unmanned aerial vehicles. According to Defense Studies, it has four Searcher Mk II tactical UAVs originally supplied by Israel Aerospace Industries (IAI) in the 1990s for an estimated $12 million (about 300 million baht at the time).
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Although the exported Hermes 450 UAVs, including those of the Royal Thai Army, currently do not have attack capabilities, the DTI D-eyes 04 unmanned aerial vehicle prototype that is currently being built appears to be capable of firing air-to-surface missiles. (Picture source: RTA via Defense Studies)


The Royal Thai Army ordered the acquisition of Hermes 450 UAVs from Elbit Systems, Israel, costing approximately 900 million baht ($30 million) in 2017 and intended for missions such as targeting, ISR (Intelligence, Surveillance, and Reconnaissance), and mapping. It was procured for testing by the US Department of Defense. It is the basis for the development of the British Army's Thales Watchkeeper WK450 unmanned aircraft.

Defense Studies reports that the Royal Thai Army is also trying to develop its unmanned aerial vehicle system capabilities. This includes the D-eyes 04 medium-sized unmanned aerial vehicle system research and development project for the Royal Thai Army Aviation Center between the Army Research and Development Office (ARDO) Royal Thai Army and Defense Technology Institute (DTI) in collaboration with Beihang UAS Technology Co., People's Republic of China.

Although the exported Hermes 450 UAVs, including those of the Royal Thai Army, currently do not have attack capabilities, the DTI D-eyes 04 unmanned aerial vehicle prototype that is currently being built appears to be capable of firing air-to-surface missiles.


Army Recognition Global Defense and Security news
Although the exported Hermes 450 UAVs, including those of the Royal Thai Army, currently do not have attack capabilities, the DTI D-eyes 04 unmanned aerial vehicle prototype that is currently being built appears to be capable of firing air-to-surface missiles. (Picture source: RTA via Defense Studies)