RTAF Tested its SATCOM Satellite Communication System with the Domestically Developed SIKAN UAV

17 Februari 2026

The satellite communication (SATCOM) system testing on SIKAN Unmanned Aerial Vehicle (UAV) developed by RDC RTAF with THAICOM PUBLIC COMPANY LIMITED, at RTAF Small Airfield (Thung Sikan) on 12 February 2026 (photos: RTAF)

According to information from the Research and Development Center for Space and Aeronautical Science and Technology (RDC) of the Royal Thai Air Force (RTAF). At the Defense & Security 2025 exhibition of defense equipment and technology, held at IMPACT Muang Thong Thani, Bangkok, Thailand, from November 10-13, 2025. The SIKAN Unmanned Aerial Vehicle (UAV) is a radio-controlled training aircraft used as a training aid for external pilots before they train with real-world UAVs (Unmanned Aircraft Systems), thereby saving training costs.

The SIKAN UAV has dimensions of 3.58m in length, a wingspan of 4.58m, and a height of 1.16m. It is powered by a 170cc two-stroke piston engine producing 17.5hp, and also features an integrated motor. It has an empty weight of 65kg and a maximum take-off weight (MTOW) of 80kg.

The SIKAN UAV has a cruising speed of 110 km/h, a maximum speed of 180 km/h, a flight duration of 1 hour, a maximum altitude of 1,000 m, and an operational range of 2 km. It uses a Flight Control System (FLCS) operating on 2.4 GHz and 900 Hz radio waves.

The SIKAN UAV (unmanned aerial vehicle) was manufactured and put into service at the Royal Thai Air Force-Unmanned Aircraft System Training Center (RTAF-UTC) at Wing 3, Watthana Nakhon, Sa Kaeo Province, Thailand, which is the first UAV unit of the Royal Thai Air Force.

Testing of the Satellite Communication (SATCOM) system installation with the SIKAN unmanned aerial vehicle took place at the Royal Thai Air Force airfield (Thung Si Kan), Si Kan Subdistrict, Don Mueang District, Bangkok on 12 February 2026, with Air Chief Marshal Seksan Kantha, Commander-in-Chief of the Royal Thai Air Force, visiting.

This is a collaboration between the Royal Thai Air Force's Research and Development Center (RTAF RDDC) and Thaicom Public Company Limited (Thaicom PLC) to install a SATCOM satellite communication system using encrypted communication channels on the Thaicom 4 satellite. This overcomes the limitations of line-of-sight (LOS) transmission and will be further developed for application with other unmanned aerial vehicles (UAVs) developed domestically by the Royal Thai Air Force.

(AAG)