IDEAS 2012: Pakistan, China showcase UAVs
Pakistan’s Advance Engineering and Research Organisation (AERO) – part of the state-owned Global Industrial and Defence Solutions (GIDS) conglomerate – showcased its Shahpar UAV at the exhibition.
The autonomous canard-pushing UAV boasts an endurance of seven hours and can relay data in real time out to a range of 250km.
The drone can carry up to 50kg in payload, which can be configured for reconnaissance and day/night surveillance missions
China’s Aerospace Long-March International Trade Company (ALIT) also unveiled its CH-4 unmanned combat air vehicle (UCAV) series.
The UCAV, being offered for export, also boasts a maximum operational range of 250km while being guided from a ground control station.
Defence analysts suggest that this range could be infinitely extended if it is guided via satellite.
According to ALIT’s assistant president Yang Yunli, the UCAV, which features a wingspan of around 18 feet and a maximum payload capacity of three tones, can fly continuously for 30 hours.
He said it comes equipped with a forward looking infra-red (FLIR) sensor, enabling it to navigate at night.
Yunli added that while initial versions can carry up to four missiles, later versions will have the ability to carry a bigger offensive payload.
When asked how the CH-4 would compare to the American Predator UCAV, he claimed the two are equally capable.
Published in The Express Tribune, November 12th, 2012.
COMMENTS (7)
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I was amazed to see , that Pakistan has indigenously started to manufacture Reconicessence and surivillance based UAVs. In the present scenario Pakistan defence and Intelligence forces are in great need of such ingenious solutions . I would also like to mention that ingenious production even if not very good is much much better than buying a litter better foreign technology. So Hats Off to these great companies like GIDS, ID and AERO.
waste of time and waste of money. surely profits made through selling instruments of death are unislamic. pakistan doesnt need to export weapons as well as terror. BUILD SOME SCHOOLS INSTEAD.
@Mohammad Ali Siddiqui: Yes especially the tense situation in Karachi.
can it intercept and kill other drones too?
Congratulations China on ending Americans' monopoly in UAV technology. I hope Pakistan will seek this technology from China very soon.
I have been to IDEAS 2012 and have seen the drones.
Apartment from China, the Pakistani Company has also made quality drones that can be used for surveillance for security reasons.
It entirely depends upon law enforcing agencies to buy these predators from Pakistani or Chinese companies and use these in order to control the law and order situation.
The cost of the predators are so cheap that the law enforcement agencies cannot get any kickbacks from the predators sellers, therefore in my opinion they will prefer to conduct the manual way of surveillance, the cost of which is much more than doing the surveillance job through drones.
Oh Yes, IDEAS 2012 this year was a mental torture for Karachities, roads were blocked, heavy traffic jams and alot of fuel wastage due to diversions.