US drone factory proposal for Thailand remains under detailed study
Thailand is studying feasibility, value for money and a technology-transfer framework following a US visit by the Permanent Secretary for Defence, Surasant Kongsiri says.
- Thailand's Ministry of Defence has confirmed that no agreement has been made or approval granted for the establishment of a US drone manufacturing plant.
- The proposal is currently undergoing detailed feasibility studies, value-for-money assessments, and consideration of a technology-transfer framework.
- The study is part of Thailand's national policy to promote its domestic defence industry and achieve long-term self-reliance in unmanned-system technology.
RAdm Surasant Kongsiri, the Ministry of Defence’s spokesperson, spoke at the ministry on Thursday (August 13, 2026) to clarify the issue of allowing the US to establish a drone manufacturing plant in Thailand.
He said a visit to the US by the Permanent Secretary for Defence had provided an opportunity to obtain information, view the technology and build confidence that Thailand had the capacity to develop and support low-cost unmanned-system technology such as LUCAS.
He confirmed that no agreement or binding commitment had been made, that there was no requirement to produce any particular system and that no approval had been granted for a US drone manufacturing plant to be established in Thailand.
All steps remain at the stage of detailed feasibility studies, value-for-money assessments and consideration of a technology-transfer framework that would deliver the greatest benefit to Thailand.
Surasant stressed that Thailand has pursued a policy of promoting its defence industry, with unmanned-system technology (drones/UAVs) among the areas considered for development.
The government and the Ministry of Defence give the development of the defence industry the highest priority, with the goal of achieving “long-term self-reliance”.
It is therefore necessary to study and learn about technology from countries with expertise through various approaches, including an offset policy, technology transfer, co-production, a production base (Defence Industrial Base: DIB) and joint investment, to strengthen the capabilities of Thailand’s armed forces and industrial sector.
