Equipping the airship bought in the US for patrol and surveillance work in the lower South with a pair of state-of-the-art spy cameras will face further delays, the army says.

Hot air: US-built airship is in limbo

Spokesman Sansern Kaewkamnerd yesterday said deployment had been complicated by the US reluctance to supply the two high-resolution surveillance cameras for the plane-shaped balloon.

"High-definition security cameras are considered to be warfare equipment and cant be acquired without going through strict procedures," Col Sansern said.

"The US first needs to be confident that the cameras will not be misused or fall into the wrong hands when they arrive.

"Internal coordination between the manufacturer of the airship and the US administration is required before the endorsement for the export of the cameras.

Students at Ban Talohsumae School in restive Yala’s Krong Pinang district head to class for the first day of the new term. Schools in the southern border provinces reopened yesterday amid tight security for pupils and teachers along school routes. MUHAMMAD AYUB PATHAN

"That should take some time. And I do not know how long it will take."

The army signed a contract for the purchase of the airship with Aria International Inc this year. The deal was announced on April 30.

An army source yesterday said the army would consider terminating the purchase if the cameras could not be delivered.

The purchase contract requires the 350 million baht Aeros 40D airship to come equipped with a surveillance camera for use during the day and an infrared camera for night-time operations.

Col Sansern hoped the delivery of the cameras would not be blocked.

Army staff are being trained on how to control the airship.

The project, initiated by army chief Anupong Paojinda, was originally scheduled for launch last month.

The airship arrived in Thailand without the cameras three months ago."We can actually afford to wait because the construction of the airship hangar in Pattani has just started," Col Sansern said.