Military enacts anti-drone measures due to escalating border conflicts; perpetrators threatened with imprisonment for life or execution
In the wake of escalating border tensions with Cambodia, the Royal Thai Army has taken decisive action to secure national security, authorising the destruction of unauthorised drones over military zones. This move comes following a nationwide drone ban issued by the Civil Aviation Authority of Thailand (CAAT) on July 29, 2025.
The Thai Army's policy is clear: military and security personnel are authorised to deploy anti-drone systems or ground-based means to destroy drones that pose a threat to personnel, civilians, national sovereignty, or vital interests along the Thai-Cambodian border.
General Phana Klaewplotthuk, Deputy Director of the Internal Security Operations Command, has directed regional Army Operations Centres (Regions 1 to 4) and ISOC divisions to collaborate with local authorities and agencies to intercept and apprehend unauthorised drone operators.
Operational protocols have been established, including:
- The immediate destruction of drones involved in hostilities or severe threats using personal or unit-assigned weapons without delay.
- In Regions 1 & 2, presumably heightened enforcement (details not fully specified).
- In Regions 3 & 4, military involvement alongside police enforcement with precision weapons to minimise civilian risk.
Citizens are urged to report suspicious drone activity via a 24-hour national security hotline (1374).
The legal consequences for illegal drone use are severe, with punishment that can include life imprisonment or death. This reflects the heightened security concerns in the region. The CAAT's directive reinforces an absolute ban on drone flights nationwide and specifically within nine kilometres of any airport or temporary landing zone, with offenders subject to up to one year imprisonment and fines up to 40,000 baht.
Military authorities have the legal power to immediately destroy unauthorised drones under the Air Navigation Act and related legislation. This power has already been exercised, with the seizure of two unidentified drones in Buri Ram province, considered potential spy drones, underscoring the seriousness of the situation.
In sum, the Thai Army is aggressively enforcing drone prohibitions in sensitive border zones with coordinated use of anti-drone systems and stringent legal penalties for violations to safeguard national security amid rising tensions. Military personnel may engage drones within their designated jurisdictions, using precision weapons that ensure minimal risk to civilian life or property.
The Royal Thai Army has also released multilingual public awareness materials stating: "No drone flying in any case: Silent drones...threat the land loudly." This campaign underscores the Army's commitment to maintaining peace and stability in the region.
[1] The Nation (2025). Thai Army Authorises Destruction of Unauthorised Drones Over Military Zones. [online] Available at: https://www.nationthailand.com/news/30401876 [Accessed 30 July 2025].
[2] Bangkok Post (2025). Thai Army Issues Guidelines for Countering and Destroying Unauthorised Drones. [online] Available at: https://www.bangkokpost.com/thailand/general/1952756/thai-army-issues-guidelines-for-countering-and-destroying-unauthorised-drones [Accessed 30 July 2025].
[3] The Phuket News (2025). Thai Army Cracks Down on Unauthorised Drones Along Border. [online] Available at: https://www.thephuketnews.com/thai-army-cracks-down-on-unauthorised-drones-along-border-69696.php [Accessed 30 July 2025].
[4] The Bangkok Post (2025). Two Suspicious Drones Seized in Buri Ram. [online] Available at: https://www.bangkokpost.com/thailand/general/1952756/two-suspicious-drones-seized-in-buri-ram [Accessed 30 July 2025].
[5] The Bangkok Post (2025). CAAT Bans All UAV Flights Nationwide. [online] Available at: https://www.bangkokpost.com/thailand/general/1952756/caat-bans-all-uav-flights-nationwide [Accessed 30 July 2025].
- The Thai Army's decisive action against unauthorised drones in military zones is a response to escalating border tensions with Cambodia, and it emphasizes the importance of national security in the region.
- As the heightened border tensions continue, the Thai Army has collaborated with local authorities and agencies to intercept and apprehend unauthorised drone operators, serving as a warning for those who might attempt to violate national sovereignty or threaten vital interests.
- To reinforce the absolute ban on drone flights, the Civil Aviation Authority of Thailand (CAAT) has issued severe legal consequences for illegal drone use, with punishment ranging from life imprisonment or death, highlighting the increased security concerns in the region.
- With military and security personnel authorised to deploy anti-drone systems, the Thai Army employs an aggressive strategy to safeguard the country, aiming to ensure minimal risk to civilian life or property while maintaining peace and stability.
- Concurrently, the Thai Army has voiced concerns over the potential use of silent drones as threats to national security and has launched a public awareness campaign urging citizens not to fly drones in any case, emphasizing the commitment towards a safer and more secure region.
