Thai company RV Connex is positioning itself as one of the country’s fastest growing private-sector defence companies, with developing capabilities across segments including military electronics, cyber, space, unmanned aerial vehicles (UAVs), and defence component manufacturing.
As an indicator of its growing profile, the firm - based in Pathum Thani, north of Bangkok - supplied in mid-November 14 new tactical UAVs to the Royal Thai Air Force (RTAF) for intelligence, surveillance and reconnaissance operations. The new platform is named RTAF U1 and is supported by three ground stations also developed and built by RV Connex.
The Royal Thai Air Force (RTAF) commissioned 14 RTAF U1 unmanned aerial vehicles (pictured), developed and produced by Thai firm RV Connex, in mid-November. (Jon Grevatt/IHS Markit)
The company developed and built the aircraft and its associated systems - apart from the UAV's engine and payload, which are sourced from Italy and Israel respectively – in close collaboration with the RTAF. Another three U1 platforms are expected to be delivered to the RTAF in the near future.
RV Connex also revealed at the Defense and Security (D&S) 2019 show in Bangkok that is now undertaking a programme to develop its Sky Scout UAV into an armed platform for the RTAF. Both the RTAF U1 and Sky Scout can fly up to an altitude of 10,000 ft.
Although the Sky Scout was previously unveiled, the new armed system, which the company aims to commence flight tests of in two years, is fitted with Thales’ LMM lightweight precision-guided battlefield missile. The armed version of the Sky Scout is also fitted with an engine and payload sourced from Italy and Israel.
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