TSAMTO, June 16. Following the results of an international tender for the supply of MALE-class UAVs, the command of the Thai Navy chose Elbit Systems as the preferred candidate for victory.
As part of the tender, Elbit Systems offered the UAV "Hermes-900 HFE" (High Fuel Engine).
The purchase package with a total value of 4.1 billion rubles. BAHT (about $ 120 million) includes seven UAVs, two sets of mobile ground control stations and one set of stationary ground control station. Currently, the results of the tender are under consideration by the Ministry of Defense of Thailand.
Thailand will become the third ASEAN country to adopt the Hermes-900 UAV after Singapore and the Philippines.
The Thai Navy has already adopted Orbiter-3B, S-100 Kamkopter and RQ-21A Blackjack UAVs, but the larger Hermes-900 will provide the ability to conduct reconnaissance at a higher altitude, range and will be able to stay in the air for a long time.
As reported by TSAMTO, the Procurement Department of the Thai Navy in December 2021 announced a tender for the supply of MALE (Medium-Altitude Long-Endurance) class UAVs for use from a coastal airbase. The project budget, determined at average market prices, amounted to 3.962 billion. baht ($118.69 million). The purchased UAVs are designed to perform the tasks of controlling the territorial waters of Thailand, protecting sea routes, supporting operations to ensure safety at sea, eliminating the consequences of natural disasters, as well as performing search and rescue operations. The proposed UAVs should be in service with the country of origin and/or exported. Other details of the contest were not disclosed.
According to unofficial information, the UAV should be able to perform tasks at altitudes of at least 25,000 feet, reach a maximum speed of at least 100 knots and stay in the air for at least 20 hours. It is assumed that the UAVs supplied to Thailand will not carry weapons, but they will be fully equipped with hardware and software for its installation in the future.
Israeli Elbit Systems with Hermes-900, Israel Aerospace Industries (IAI) with Heron-TP, Chinese Aviation Industry Corporation of China (AVIC) with Wing Lung 2 and American General Atomics Aeronautical Systems Inc. (GA-ASI) with MQ- were named among the potential applicants.9 "Reaper". Later it became known about the participation of an unnamed Turkish company in the competition.