Israeli Firm to Sell Thailand Navy 7 UAVs for $112.5M

Israel’s Elbit Systems will hand over seven Hermes 900 UAVs to the Royal Thai Navy under a contract inked between the two parties recently.

A ministry source revealed to the Bangkok Post today that Gen Worakiat Rattananont, the permanent secretary of defense, has signed a contract valued nearly $112.5 million (4 billion baht) to procure seven Hermes 900 UAVs.

The move has also been approved by the Comptroller General's Department, the report said.

The company has not commented on the sale.

Adm Somprasong Nilsamai, commander-in-chief of the Royal Thai Navy, will sign the contract later to make it official, the source told the outlet.

Elbit Systems beat four other companies from Israel, Turkey, China and the U.S. to bag the Thailand deal. One company each from Turkey and China offered three UAVs while the proposal from a firm in the United States did not pass the committee's approval process.

Another company from Israel offered five UAVs while Elbit Systems said it could deliver seven, the report said.

Hermes 900 UAV boasts a range of high-performance sensors, allowing it to detect ground or maritime targets over a wide spectral range. It can be operated for up to 36 hours and the service ceiling is 30,000 ft (9,144m). Its maximum payload is 350kg.