Schiebel Wins Follow-on Systems Contracts
The Royal Thai Navy (RTN) has ordered two further Camcopter S-100 UAS from Schiebel, to add to the two already in service.
The latest contract, awarded following a competitive tender, was signed on 14 February, and is estimated to be worth about $17.1 million. The deal includes four VTOL UAVs, with related equipment, training, logistics support, and other services.
The follow-on order comes after Thailand’s House of Representatives earmarked THB570 million ($17.32 million) last August for procurement of the additional systems. According to local media reports, one UAS is set to be stationed at the RTN’s Naval Aviation Division Battleship Fleet in Rayong Province, while the other will be based at the 491st Air and Coastal Defence Command in Satun Province.
The Camcopter S-100 is the first-ever VTOL UAS to be operated by the RTN. The first two systems were ordered in November 2019, and their main operating station is the Pak Phanang District of southern Thailand’s Nakhon Si Thammarat Province. That said, they are also deployed on the RTN’s frigate fleet to help conduct ISR operations.
To secure the first contract in 2019, Schiebel partnered with Bangkok-based MoraThai Defence Company Ltd. This is believed to also be the case for the follow-on contract.
According to Schiebel, the Camcopter S-100 UAV has an endurance of up to six hours and a range of 200km, both with a maximum take-off weight of 200kg and a typical 50kg payload. Using ‘fly-by-wire’ technology controlled by redundant flight computers, the UAV can conduct missions automatically in complex electromagnetic environments, noted the company.
Gabriel Dominguez in Singapore for MON
