Thailand | Exercise | Testing No.001

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Title: Testing No.001
Document Number: RTAF-TESNG-001/2004
Classification: Confidential
Security Level: NSST Protocol + Maximum Secure Encrypted Method
Date: February 17, 2004

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XI. IntroductionX

Background and Objective

HTMS Uthong Narubet, a part of the Naval Expeditionary Group Four (NEG4), serves as a key component in the Republic Thai Navy's Research & Development (R&D) initiatives. Stationed at Phuket Naval Base, the vessel is pivotal not only in safeguarding Thai maritime interests but also in participating in various experimental projects befitting a carrier of its caliber. In the R&D endeavors of 2004, dubbed Testing No.001, HTMS Uthong Narubet will undertake operations involving a squadron of Elbit Hermes 450 drones, currently on loan from the Republic Thai Army. As per the operational history provided by the Republic Army, the Hermes boasts a short takeoff range and can be aided by the carrier's ski-jump. The objective of this testing is to assess the effectiveness and feasibility of deploying Hermes drones from a Chakri Narubet-class light aircraft carrier.

XII. Command and ControlX

2.1 Guidance

This operation is conducted under the guidance of Admiral Wisa Tasanaroeng, Commander of the Naval Expeditionary Group Four, and approval from Defense Minister Sutin Klungsang.

XIII. Operational ForcesX

Republic Thai Navy Second Fleet

• Naval Expeditionary Group Four (NEG4)
  • [1] Chakri Narubet-class light aircraft carrier
    • HTMS Uthong Narubet
      • 1,076 Crews
    • Testing Drone Squadron
      • [22] Elbit Hermes 450 drones
    • Testing Aramament
      • [70] Pair(s) of Spike-ER missile

XIV. ExecutionX

4.1 Initial Deployment

All personnel will be reported to the respective base with all necessary equipment per the Defense Ministry documents.

4.2 Communication

Effective communication among all the units must be maintained. Any unidentified or suspicious activity must be reported to the command center immediately.

4.3 Rules of Engagement

Engagement will be per the established Rule of Engagement (ROE) with the application of international laws. The use of force must be proportionate, and only used in self-defense or to deter identified threats after all non-lethal methods have been exhausted unless specified otherwise by the ROE.

4.4 Support

Logistic support, including fuel, supplies, and maintenance, will be provided by the respective naval bases.

XV. CoordinationX

5.1 Inter-agency

Liaise with maritime agencies such as the Navy, Coast Guard, and Air Force to ensure maximum coverage and sharing of intelligence.

5.2 International

In case any foreign vessels or units are involved, contact must be established with the respective embassies or consulates and the situation must be reported to the Ministry of Foreign Affairs.

XVI. ConclusionX

The Defense Ministry has mobilized all necessary resources for the deployment of Testing No.001/2004. The Defense Ministry expects that its contribution will represent its dedication to ever adapting to the best practice to protect national maritime interests.

[Signature]
Sutin Klungsang
Defence Minister

[Signature]
Thaksin Shinawatra
Prime Minister, Republic of Thailand

Document Clearance:
The Office of the Prime Minister
The Ministry of Foreign Affairs
The National Intelligence Agency
The Republic Thai Air Force Command Center
The Republic Thai Navy Command Center
The Republic Thai Armed Forces Special Warfare & Operation Command

Distribution List:
The Office of the Prime Minister
The Ministry of Foreign Affairs
The National Intelligence Agency
The Republic Thai Air Force Command Center
The Republic Thai Navy Command Center
The Republic Thai Police
The Republic Armed Forces Headquarters
The Republic Thai Air Defense Command
The Naval Special Warfare Command
The Air Force Security Force Command

 

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Secret unless contextual possible.​

Immediately after the issue of the Testing No.001/2004, private logistic contractor transported twenty-two Elbit Hermes 450 from a warehouse near Bangkok to Southern Thailand, heading toward the Phuket province. With the funding of more than thirtheen million USD for this experiment, the Republic Army was able to provide seventy 70 Spike-ER guided missile as testing munitions for the Republic Navy. The Republic Army would transport these guided missiles with their existing supply chains, coupled with the robust highway and logistic infrastructure of Thailand. Within twelve hours, all guided missiles and drones would arrive at the Phuket Naval Base around two in the morning local time. Given the late nature of such arrival, protocols and measures were already in place to ensure seamless integration of loaned equipment from the republic Army. An increased portion of stationed Republic Navy active-duty serviceperson in the Phuket Naval Base would be on night patrol duty, in which they encountered the shipment of their testing equipment. Republic Army personnels responsible for knowledge transfer would assist the Republic Navy personnel to store their equipment within the Navy warehouse. After ensuring that all equipment was in optimal condition, the Republic Army personnel would take a rest within the facility of the naval base while the Republic Navy personnel continued their night duty.

In the next morning, around five in the morning, many of the stationed active-duty serviceperson had already begun their day as part of their service to the Republic of Thailand. Given the fatigue caused by the long-distance travel by the Republic Army personnel, their commanding officer had allowed them to rest adequately while the commanding officer himself engaged in a discussion with the local commander. By eight in the morning, the Republic Army personnel would have already finished their morning personal activity while their commanding officer had seamlessly coordinated the mission with the local commander. Various Republic Navy servicepeople gathered along with the Republic Army as their commanding officers reiterated to them the nuances of Testing No.001/2004. To the end of the address, 1,076 servicepeople, most from the Republic Navy personnel serving the HTMS Uthong Narubet, would assume their duty onboard the light carrier. A small yet sizable portion of the boarding crews would be the Republic Army personnel responsible for ensuring seamless integration of drones and missiles to the drone systems.

As the current Framework of Defense Readiness Postures (FDRP) of the Republic Thai Armed Forces was the Peace Time Readiness of PTR, most Republic Navy servicepeople were conducting routine patrols, maintaining seafaring and combat readiness, and overseeing regular maintenance of naval vessels and equipment. HTMS Uthong Narubet was among a few ships of the Phuket Naval Base to dispatch into the ocean that day after she successfully carried 22 drones–––8 on her decks and 14 in her hangar. During that process, the Republic Navy gained invaluable knowledge that the Hermes wingspan of 10.5 meters was roughly the same size of their both aircraft lifts. While a normal aircraft of helicopter enjoys an ample space during their movements, the Hermes with shorter in length offered a unique challenge from their wide wingspans. Nevertheless, the remaining space between the Hermes and the wall had proven to be adequate for a safety transportation of the lifts given that the fully armed drone only exert five percent pressure of what the lift could transport. For this reason, the first criteria of feasibility assessment in operating Hermes from a carrier was given a green mark.

Around two in the afternoon, the light carrier was able to depart from her home base to test the effectiveness of transporting Hermes within the carrier under sea conditions. The carrier would sail alone as the Republic Navy did not have enough funds to support the escorting operation. However, the carrier operated within the range of the Thai territorial water, meaning that she was well in protection of a nearby patrolling fleet. During her sailing in the Andaman Sea that day, crews onboard were testing how they could effectively transport Hermes inside the carrier. The Republic Army service people also transfer their knowledge in operating the Hermes to the carrier sailors, which had proven to be a success given their culture that focused on interoperability. By the end of the first day, the Republic Navy would now acquire the knowledge on how to transport and carry Hermes, both armed and unarmed, on the carrier. She would sail back to her home base by eight in the evening.​

 

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Secret unless contextual possible.​

On the second day of Testing No.001/2004, the Republic Navy and Republic Army personnel would engage in the experiment to study the feasibility of and possible integration of the Hermes system into the carrier infrastructure. All engineers and operators of the ship that day would be present to test the compatibility of the two systems. Leveraging the existing robust infrastructure of the Republic Armed Forces in communication system, the Republic Navy utilize the linking system of the Armed Forces’ Situational Awareness Display (SAD) with the Republic Navy’s Maritime Awareness Domain (MAD). While the two systems were developed by two different branches, the Republic Navy had been using the SAD since its inception given it is the overarching system of the Armed Forces. Furthermore, the Republic Army implemented its Tactical Picture Display (TPD) feature to the carrier, which was also an exclusive derivation from the SAD system akin the MAD system. Nevertheless, given the interconnectedness of the Republic Armed Forces communication system, the TPD and SAD remained under the additional mode of the SAD in the Republic Armed Forces Headquarters.

As the Hermes’ system came online from the HTMS Uthong Narubet, it was immediately noticed by those monitoring the SAD. With the carrier now designated as operating 22 Hermes systems, including weaponry, it was confirmation that the system integration was successful. However, Testing No.001/2004 remained far from its conclusion. Throughout the day, the Republic Army and Republic Navy personnel worked together to identify any errors of the integration. The remaining time was dedicated to the testing of operating Hermes on the carrier’s deck. Toward the end of the second day, the carrier would remain within her home base with a decreased number of onboarding personnel. Those descending from the carrier were tasked to set up a measure to minimize collateral damage in case of failed launching. They would install crash barriers along the edge of the carrier deck to prevent the Harmes from sliding off and falling directly into the water of the ground. A large safety net would be deployed across the carrier deck and around the carrier that is strong enough to cushion the fall. Arresting gears would be in place to suddenly stop Hermes in case of a failed launch. Furthermore, soft landing pads would be placed at and around the potential falling areas of the Hermes. These would be the activities of the second day.

In the next morning, the third day, the Republic Navy and Republic Army servicepeople were ready to test the launching of Hermes systems from the carrier deck. The carrier was positioned in the manner that its ski-jump directly pointed into the open space of the naval base dock. The testing would resolve around the launching of four out of eight Hermes on the carrier deck before landing on the deck again. The first Hermes would be launched from the rear of the deck to maximize its power and speed before reaching the ski-jump, in which it was armed with two Spike-ER guided missile. In a momentous launching, Hermes would steadily move forward the deck with increasing momentum. Meanwhile the carrier’s bridge and flight control tower would actively monitor the Hermes condition. Time seemed to pass slowly as Hermes did not manage to reach its optimal speed for taking off independently at the mark of 120 meters. However, it was also expected that it would be so given the expectation of relying on the ski-jump ramp. As the Hermes entered the curve of the ramp, all eyes were on the single drone a moment away from death or triumph. Fortunately, while the Hermes initially descended due to the increased aerodynamic drag from the ski-jump ramp, the drone had successfully reached the optimal lift-to-drag (L/D) ratio even though the thrust-to-weight (T/W) ratio was not enough to ascend into the air immediately.

The first Hermes miraculously ascended upward steadily as it accelerated in the air under the unexpected yet consistent phenomenon of the law of physics. Various information was recorded to study the aerodynamics of the Hermes in launching successfully on the deck. As the following Hermes could also launch from the deck, the Republic Navy concluded that the Hermes did reach a suboptimal L/D ratio when it reached the ski-jump ramp. However, the inherent engine of the Hermes was designed for a steady loitering and extended ISR mission, which could not provide enough thrust to overcome its weight. Fortunately, the Hermes accelerated after its initial descent as the airflow over its wings became more optimal, allowing the increased lift generated by its wings. In the end, Hermes was able to ascend and reach a speed where the lift can counteract both its weight and the aerodynamic drag. So, the remaining of the day would be dedicated to optimizing the launch strategy.​

 

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Secret unless contextual possible.​

On the fourth day, the Republic Army and Republic Navy servicepeople would board the HTMS Uthong Narubet light aircraft carrier to conduct a testing on launching the Hermes on the deck at sea conditions. The Protocol would be in place to ensure minimal collateral damage such as specialized arresting gears which were installed earlier the previous day. Fourteen Hermes would be stored within the carrier hangar while eight Hermes were parked on the deck. The carrier sailors would follow their normal procedures while sailing within the Thai territorial water. They would slow down and ceased the carrier movement eleven kilometers from the Phuket Naval Base. The first testing would be launching the Hermes from the deck like the previous day, with the addition of operating at sea. As usual, the Hermes was launched from the deck’s rear, in which it would initially descend after taking off from the ski-jump ramp before ascending. All eight Hermes would be launched from the carrier, leaving the deck emptied of drones. However, four Hermes were transported upward the deck. In the meantime, eight flying drones were being controlled from the flight control tower, conducting Intelligence, Surveillance, Target Acquisition, and Reconnaissance (ISTAR) missions unarmed. The Republic Navy would record all information during the trial for assessment, in which they would always keep four Hermes flying while relocating all drones to conduct a mission once. Specific mission profiles were the focus on ISTAR operation within the 50 kilometers radius of the carrier. This testing would lead to the Republic Navy gaining knowledge of the operational flexibility and adaptability of operating drones from a carrier. Moreover, the Republic Navy couldn’t neglect the force multiplier effect of the extend, photographic surveillance and reconnaissance capability provided by the Hermes.​

 

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Secret unless contextual possible.​

On the fifth and final day of Testing No.001/2004, HTMS Uthong Narubet light aircraft carrier will conduct precision strike missions exercise using the Hermes operating from the carrier. After successfully fine-tuning practices in launching the Hermes, the Republic Navy personnels were now confident that it is entirely feasible to operate drones from the deck. Various targets would be set up near the Phuket Naval Base for the purpose of training exercises. The Hermes would be launched from the carrier armed with two Spike-ER guided missiles, in which they would perform ISTAR missions before precisely striking at their targets. The process would be a success, passing all criteria as expected from the Republic Navy higher commands. Toward the end of the day, the Republic Army servicepeople would engage in a party with the Republic Navy sailors to celebrate their victory for themselves, and in extending, their homeland. The operation would be marked as a successful testing of feasibility in operating the Hermes from the Chakri Narubet-class light aircraft carrier. By this time, the Republic Thai Navy would acquire the ability to operate the Hermes system from their carrier efficiently and effectively.​