A prototype of the DP-20/A with armament is on display at the Defense & Security 2022 show in Bangkok. (Janes/Amit Kalra)
Thai firm Aero Technology Industry Company Limited (ATIL) unveiled the DP-20/A medium-altitude long-endurance (MALE) unmanned aerial vehicle (UAV) on 29 August at the opening day of the Defense & Security 2022 show in Bangkok.
ATIL said the UAV is suitable for intelligence, surveillance, and reconnaissance (ISR) missions. It said the MALE UAV can also conduct fire calibration, border patrol, battlefield assessment, and targeting and positioning missions. Apart from the standard electro-optical/infrared (EO/IR) payload, the UAV can optionally be equipped with synthetic aperture radar, signals intelligence (SIGINT), communication relay, and weapons.
An ATIL official told Janes that DP-20/A is part of a project by Thailand's Defence Technology Institute (DTI). He added that DTI has, to date, issued a requirement of two MALE UAVs. The official said the development of the UAV is complete and flight trials for achieving airworthiness certification are under way. He said the local industry has manufactured 80% of the DP-20/A and its systems.
The DP-20/Afeatures high-strength carbon fibre fuselage, swept back mid-mounted wings, retractable tricycle landing gears, stabilised EO gimbal under the fuselage belly, and twin-tail with tail booms originating from structural pods on the lower wing section.
The UAV is 10.63 m long, 2.28 m in height, and has a wingspan of 18 m. The UAV has a maximum fuel load capacity of 430 kg and is powered by a single Rotax 914 โ a turbo-charged, four-stroke, four-cylinder engine โ enabling the aircraft to attain a maximum speed of 200 km/h. The UAV has a flight endurance of 36 hours, and an operational ceiling of 7,500 m with a maximum take-off weight of 1,500 kg.
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