Royal Thai Navy Deploys Drones & Forces to Defend Eastern Maritime Border

Picture courtesy of Amarin.

The Royal Thai Navy has stepped up its operations to protect Thailand’s sovereignty along its eastern maritime border with Cambodia. On 20 June, Vice Admiral Apach Phanon, Commander of the First Naval Area Command and Rear Admiral Rangsarn Bhuapueak, Deputy Commander, inspected readiness operations involving unmanned aerial vehicles (UAVs) and naval forces at the Naval Logistics Base in Khlong Yai, Laem Ngop District, Trat Province.

The visit marked a full-scale assessment of the Navy’s capacity to respond to border threats and included joint exercises between warships and UAVs. These exercises tested battlefield communications, tactical target sharing, and shore bombardment coordination using naval artillery. Units involved included HTMS Naresuan, UAV units under the First Naval Area Command, the Marine Corps’ Mobile Company 1 and local operational units stationed around Ko Kut.

The primary objective of the exercise was to evaluate operational capabilities across personnel, equipment and command protocol, ensuring swift and effective responses to any threat. The Royal Thai Navy affirmed its commitment to defending Thailand’s national interests and maritime sovereignty, with emphasis on being a force the public can trust and take pride in.

Vice Admiral Apach reassured the Thai public of the Navy’s unwavering dedication, stating:

“Thai naval officers stand ready to defend the nation’s sovereignty at all costs. The First Naval Area Command is fully prepared for any emergency that may arise in defence of Thai territory and waters.”

As a gesture of support and morale, he also distributed drinking water and non-perishable food supplies to personnel and various naval vessels continuing their patrol and operational missions in the region.

  Adapted by ASEAN Now from Amarin 2025-06-22