Thai Unmanned Aerial Vehicle ATIL DP16 UAV Successfully Launched a Guided Bomb

17 Juli 2023

Thailand's Defense Technology Institute (DTI) announced Thai firm Aero Technology Industry Company Limited (ATIL)'s DP16 Unmanned Aerial Vehicle (UAV) was successfully to drop two small laser guided bombs without warhead on targets (photos : ATIL/DTI)

Defense Technology Institute DTI (Defence Technology Institute) has announced the success of the DP16 UAV (Unmanned Aerial Vehicle) developed by Aero Technology Industry Company Limited (ATIL), Thailand.

In dropping two laser-guided bombs without a warhead, they hit a target 2km away while flying at a speed of 130km/h at a height of 6,000ft enters the target within 25 seconds and succeeds in hitting two targets.

DTI Thai Defense Technology Institute announced their latest achievements on their online social media on July 13, 2023 and published a test video following their online social media the following day, July 14, 2023.

DTI Thailand and ATIL Thailand did not provide details of the weapons used on the DP16 UAV, but the images showed it to be a small unmanned laser-guided bomb developed by China. by transferring technology to Thailand

ATIL Thailand, a joint venture between Beihang UAS Technology, China, DTI Thailand, and PYN INTERNATIONAL Thailand has released a life-size model (mockup) of its unmanned aerial vehicle. These are the DP20-A, DP20 and DP16 unmanned aerial vehicles at the Defense & Security 2022 National Defense Exhibition, between 29 August - 1 September 2022, in which the DP16 UAV will be seen installing two guided weapons at the machine subdistrict.

DTI Thailand and ATIL Thailand are still making progress in developing medium-sized unmanned aircraft DP20 UAS (Unmanned Aircraft System) for the needs of the Royal Thai Army (RTA) as well as VTOL UAV: ​​Vertical Take-Off and Landing Unmanned Aerial Vehicle type DP6 for the Royal Thai Army competing with the RV Connex PATHUM 4 (Aeronautics Orbiter 4 VTOL).

The successful launch of a laser-guided bomb from an ATIL DP16 UAV is the latest in a series of efforts to develop an Unmanned Combat Aerial Vehicle (UCAV) within Thailand. Following the integration of air-to-surface missiles Thales FFLMM Europe with the RTAF U1 - M medium tactical unmanned aerial vehicle Royal Thai Air Force that has already been tested, but some sources indicate that the test results are not very satisfactory.

The DP16 UAV unmanned aerial vehicle is 6m long, 1.2m tall and has a wingspan of 10m. It has a maximum speed of 180km/h, operating flight speed 120-150km/h, flying ceiling. 3,000-4,000ft, has a duration of practice of 6 hours, maximum takeoff weight (MTOW) 360kg. 

Payload up to 80kg can be equipped with a detection system such as a camera, EO/IR (Electro-Optical/Infrared), which currently supports the installation of guided weapons. 2 shots at the weapons district, strong points at the roots of both wings. In the future, the weapons can be added to the strong point, 3 points under the machine, a total of 5 shots.

(AAG)