Royal Thai Navy Demonstrates New MARCUS-B UAV at Opening Ceremony of Annual Navy Exercise 2025

24 Februari 2025

Marcus B UAV (photos: RTN)

The opening ceremony of the annual naval exercise 2025 on 13 February 2025 at Laem Thian Klang Pier, Sattahip Port, Sattahip Naval Base, Chonburi Province, will see the Royal Thai Navy (RTN) and Royal Thai Marine Corps (RTMC) bring new weapons designed, developed and manufactured by the Thai defense industry to join in a demonstration of various operations.

This includes the new MARCUS-B (2024) maritime reconnaissance UAV, also known as MARCUS-C, a vertical take-off and landing unmanned aerial vehicle (VTOL UAV) in the third-generation MARCUS (Maritime Aerial Reconnaissance Craft Unmanned System) family of maritime reconnaissance UAVs.

Developed by the Naval Research and Development Office (NRDO), Royal Thai Navy (RTN), in collaboration with Thai private sectors: Oceanus Research and Development (Thailand), X-Treme Composites (Thailand), and BJSupply 2017 (Thailand).

MARCUS-B (2024) Maritime Patrol UAV, length 2.8m, wingspan 4.8m, maximum take-off weight (MTOW: Maximum Take-Off Weight) 50kg, cruising speed 50-70knots, maximum ceiling 5,000m above sea level, can fly for 4-6 hours, has a payload of 8kg. One system consists of two airframes and one Ground Control Station (GCS).

The opening ceremony of the 2025 Royal Thai Navy Exercise will see the MARCUS-B maritime reconnaissance UAV take off and land from the helipad aft of the HTMS Chao Phraya-class frigates and HTMS Sai Buri, operating in conjunction with the Schiebel Camcopter S-100, Squadron 104, Wing 1, Royal Thai Naval Air Division (RTNAD).

AWAV 8x8 amphibious vehicle (photos: RTMC)

Pointing the target for the 130mm Type 59-I medium-caliber horizontal-trajectory howitzer of the Air and Coastal Defence Command (ACDC) in support of the Naval Special Warfare Command (NSWC) task force from the Marsun M18 Fast Assault Boat (F.51).

Demo of AWAV and AAV7A1

The demonstration also included an 8x8 AWAV (Armoured Wheeled Amphibious Vehicle) and an AAV7A1 RAM/RS amphibious vehicle developed, built and modified by Chaiseri Metal & Rubber Co. Ltd.

The Airbus Helicopters H145M transport helicopter and SH-60B Seahawk anti-submarine helicopter demonstrated water pollution control with tugboats HTMS Samae San and HTMS Tachai. The Royal Thai Navy plans to deploy MARCUS-B VTOL UAVs to five major island operations along the border and 18 ships, with more to be procured in the future.

The annual naval exercise 2025 that will follow the opening ceremony will also include a combined arms live fire exercise (CALFEX) of the Royal Thai Marines and the Royal Thai Navy's Combined Arms Live Fire Exercise, a maritime exercise of the Royal Thai Fleet (RTF), a helicopter carrier, and HTMS Chakri Naruebet. There will also be live fire exercises of the Mistral surface-to-air missile, which has not been practiced for a long time.

(AAG)

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