Suvarnabhumi International Airport’s general manager has confirmed sightings of unidentified drones near the airport, but insists that they did not enter the airport’s premises or airspace.
“Following reports of people seeing unidentified drones in the area, our investigation into the incidents on those nights confirm that there were drones flying nearby, but they did not enter the inner or restricted airspace of Suvarnabhumi Airport,” Kittipong Kittikachorn said.
As an urgent measure, the Royal Thai Air Force has provided the airport with one Redsky-II counter-aircraft system, one Drone Killer gun, two Drone Defender guns and a Tomahawk shotgun with 20 rounds of ammunition, he said.
He added that police have also provided one anti-drone system, stressing that all safety measures are being implemented under a strict operational plan, to ensure the highest level of safety.
For longer-term protection, he said that, following an emergency meeting between the prime minister and security agencies, approval was given for Airports of Thailand (AOT) to procure the most advanced anti-drone systems available.
Such systems are intended to counter all forms of drone-related threat. While procurement is expected to take some time, authorities have been instructed to expedite the process.
Kittipong reiterated assurances to tourists travelling through Suvarnabhumi, and other airports under the supervision of AOT, that safety remains the top priority.
Meanwhile in light of the widespread use of drones in the current conflict between Thai and Cambodian forces, Thailand’s National Security Council (NSC) has adopted four measures to control the use of non-military drones by the private sector and to promote the use of drones for national defence.
Emerging from the special NSC meeting yesterday, its Secretary-General Chatchai Bangchuad said that one of the measures is to tighten control the use of drones at and in close vicinity to airports and in seven provinces bordering Cambodia, a measure which has been imposed since December 20th, adding that several unidentified drones were detected last weekend in those areas.
The border provinces are Surin, Si Sa Ket, Ubon Ratchathani, Buri Ram, Sa Kaeo, Chanthaburi and Trat.
Additionally, he said that that the Royal Thai Air Force has been designated by the NSC to establish a national drone centre, to manage and control the use of the unmanned aerial vehicles in Thailand.
He added that related agencies have been instructed to procure drones, train personnel in their use and review laws and regulations pertaining to drones, with an emphasis increasing penalties for the use of drones in a manner which is deemed to be a threat to national security.
Another measure is to tighten controls on the import and smuggling of drones into border areas, which is considered a threat to national security, said Chatchai, as he warned that violators may face capital punishment if convicted.
The NSC also ordered the Defence Ministry to ease restrictions on the procurement of anti-drone equipment for territorial defence by governmental and non-governmental agencies, such as Airports of Thailand (AOT).
