Drone experts analyze the case of the "mysterious drone" flying over the Thailand-Cambodia border: A critical security issue that cannot be overlooked.
The security situation along the Thailand-Cambodia border became a hot topic that the entire nation was closely monitoring after the incident where the mysterious drone flew close to the military base and communities in Ubon Ratchathani and Sisaket provinces at the end of July 2025, causing significant concern for security agencies and local residents.
One of the most significant reactions to this incident came from a drone expert who was invited by the media to analyze footage from CCTV cameras and the mysterious object, which many believed could be a foreign drone. This drone expert is Mr. Janyawat Chatianulak, the president of the Unmanned Aerial Vehicle Association of Thailand, who played a key role in providing in-depth insights into the characteristics and behavior of drones at a professional level.
The mysterious drone and its risks to security.
The incident began when villagers from Chong Anma, Ubon Ratchathani, reported seeing strange lights at night, floating low over the rice fields. Sometimes, there were as many as three objects, flying in circles in the area, before ascending quickly and disappearing when shots were fired in response from both officials and locals.
After the initial investigation and the release of footage from CCTV cameras, the media contacted a drone expert to analyze the possible nature of the mysterious object. Drone expert Mr. Janyawat Chatianulak stated that the light seen in the CCTV footage "is highly likely to be a drone" based on the characteristics of hovering still, the ability to turn the lights on and off, and the very low altitude compared to the normal flight levels of general aircraft.
Technical issue: Drone or reflection?
In the technical analysis, the drone expert pointed out that the position of the light in the footage was not at a high altitude like typical objects in the sky. The flashing of the light resembled the behavior of a drone with navigational lights that can be controlled to turn on and off. Additionally, the movement of the light in the clip was consistent with the flight range of a drone, flying at an altitude of approximately 80-100 meters.
Although there were observations that it could be light from swaying trees or reflections from other objects, the specific characteristics of the light, which remained steady and showed controlled movement, led the experts to the preliminary conclusion that The possibility that this is a drone is very high.
The movement of the military and relevant agencies.
As the issue of the mysterious drone began to escalate, security agencies, including the Air Force and the Civil Aviation Authority of Thailand (CAAT), issued an order to ban drone flights in 17 high-risk provinces across the country, effective from July 30 to August 15, 2025, with clear penalties specified for violations.
At the same time, the Air Force installed an "anti-drone" system to monitor and detect unmanned aerial vehicles that may enter the military base area, and emphasized that the public should immediately report any suspicious objects of this nature to authorities.
Analysis by drone experts.
As the leader of the Unmanned Aerial Vehicle Association, Mr. Janyawat Chatianulak commented, "This situation cannot be overlooked, and it is necessary to analyze images from various angles, both daytime and nighttime, to check if the area where the light was observed is an open space or if there are obstructions that may affect the image's clarity."
He also emphasized that detailed image analysis, along with the examination of camera angles, light flashing, and altitude, would be key to confirming whether the object is a "drone." If it is, the use of drones in this manner would clearly violate the law and pose a security threat.
Summary: Why is the analysis of the drone expert important?
This incident highlights the importance of having a national-level drone expert like Mr. Janyawat Chatianulak to assist in analyzing and providing knowledge about drone flight characteristics, operations, and risks, which is crucial in the context of security.
Not only at the technical level, but also in terms of developing countermeasures, issuing state regulations, and raising public awareness to deal with threats from technologies that may be misused.
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