Pakistan’s new tactical intelligence, surveillance and reconnaissance (ISR) UAV

[.]

Pakistan’s GIDS considers developing MALE UAV
Global Industrial & Defence Solutions (GIDS)’ director of sales and marketing, Asad Kamal, told IHS Jane’s that the company is working on upgrading its Shahpar unmanned aerial vehicle (UAV) and examining the notion of developing a new medium-altitude long-endurance (MALE) UAV.

As per Kamal, the upgraded GIDS Shahpur is being positioned to supplant Pakistan’s tactical intelligence, surveillance and reconnaissance (ISR) UAVs, namely the Leonardo Falco and EMT LUNA.

IHS Jane’s states that the Shahpur can carry 50 kg in ISR equipment, such as an electro-optical and infrared (EO/IR) pod. It has an endurance of seven hours and a line-of-sight radio data-link range of 250 km. The UAV “features a canard and swept-wing configuration with a pusher propeller, a belly-mounted gimballed payload, and a tricycle undercarriage.”

Kamal added that GIDS is examining the prospect of developing a MALE UAV. GIDS is currently waiting for information from the armed forces before placing the program in motion, but the company is intent on elevating Pakistan’s competency in UAV development and manufacturing.

Although Pakistan operates several tactical UAV systems, such as the National Engineering and Scientific Commission (NESCOM) Burraq armed drone, MALE UAV platforms such as the China Aerospace Science and Technology Corporation (CASC) CH-5 would be a logical next step. In fact, the Pakistani military was examining the Chengdu Aircraft Industry Group (CAIG) Wing Loong in June 2016.

Notes & Comments:

The development of a MALE UAV would be a significant step. Although MALE UAVs vary in capability, with designs ranging from the tactically-focused CH-4 to the 60-hour capable of CH-5, indigenous development could require at least a decade. For example, the Turkish Aerospace Industries (TAI) Anka was initiated in 2004, with its maiden flight in 2010, and service entry as recently as 2016.

Second, GIDS would require an anchor in launch orders – and investment – from the Pakistani military to make an indigenous MALE UAV sustainable. If the Pakistani military requires MALE UAVs in the near-term, it will likely procure an off-the-shelf system.

However, as not all MALE UAVs are the same, especially in terms of endurance and payload, the armed forces could define separate requirements. Where the Army, Navy and/or Air Force could defer to CASC for a long-haul option (e.g. CH-5), the armed forces could task GIDS to develop a smaller attack UAV (akin to the CH-4 or Anka). Development overhead can also be distributed if GIDS collaborates with Pakistan Aeronautical Complex (PAC), Integrated Dynamics and/or a foreign company, such as TAI or Denel Group.
http://quwa.org/2017/02/23/pakistans-gids-considers-developing-male-uav/
http://quwa.org/2017/02/23/pakistans-gids-considers-developing-male-uav/

 

[Readerdefence]

Wing long II
Courtesy by Deino from sinodefence

 

[Arsalan]

@Deino what is the payload for Wing Long II?
Is it anything comparable to Reaper which boasts a massive 1300Kg capacity (approximately)

Wong Long have payload of around 100 Kg and it is very low compared to Reaper. If it is anything around 600kg-800kg i think it will be pretty impressive and efficient.

 

[Deino]

@Deino what is the payload for Wing Long II?
Is it anything comparable to Reaper which boasts a massive 1300Kg capacity (approximately)

Wong Long have payload of around 100 Kg and it is very low compared to Reaper. If it is anything around 600kg-800kg i think it will be pretty impressive and efficient.

Officially it is said to be much lower - 480 kg - but there are reports that these are for the export version only.

 

[Arsalan]

Officially it is said to be much lower - 480 kg - but there are reports that these are for the export version only.

Even 480 is a marked improvement on the current version.

So it means that CH-5 will be the heaviest (in terms of payload carrying capability) UAV in Chinese inventory once it is fully operational.

Thank you.

 

[razgriz19]

Well they're using a turboprop engine on Wing Loong II compare to a piston banger on Wing Loong, so the pay load should increase substantially

Edit:
Holy crap, i think they're using a Canadian engine on Wing Loong II!
As far as i know there is only one turbine with split exhaust in existence (and the most reliable one in the world)

 

[khanasifm]

HS Jane's understands from AVIC that the UAV is constructed from advanced composites, with the latest official literature quoting an overall length of 11 m, a wingspan of 20.5 m, and a height of 4.1 m. This closely matches the Reaper's dimensions of 10.97 m (length), 20.12 m (wingspan), and 3.81 m (height).

However, despite being almost identical in appearance and size, the Wing Loong II falls short in terms of overall flight performance with a stated maximum speed of 370 km/h and service ceiling of 30,000 ft (9,000 m) compared with Reaper's 444 km/h and 50,000 ft.

The Wing Loong II nevertheless improves on the first-generation Wing Loong I platform with twice the payload capacity at 400 kg and significantly improved endurance of 32 hours.



I am sure the price and availability to markets where US/Western system are not av. compensates for it.

http://www.janes.com/article/65322/avic-unveils-wing-loong-ii-armed-reconnaissance-uav

 

[Readerdefence]

China says it has received its largest foreign drone order - Xinhua
http://uk.reuters.com/article/uk-china-defence-drones-idUKKBN1670E5?il=0
An undisclosed buyer has placed the largest overseas order for China's home-developed military drones, the Xinhua news agency has reported, in a boost for the Chinese arms industry's efforts to increase export volumes.

The order for the Wing Loong II was placed before the next-generation unmanned aerial vehicle (UAV) successfully completed its maiden flight, Xinhua said late on Monday, citing the system's developer Chengdu Aircraft Design and Research Institute.

It did not identify the buyer or the size of the order.

The Wing Loong II, which has wingspan of more than 20 metres (65 feet), is a medium-altitude, long-endurance UAV that has both reconnaissance and strike capabilities.

It conducted a 31-minute flight for the first time on Monday after taking off from a runway in western China.

"Its flight marks China's new generation reconnaissance and strike UAV. Following the United States, China becomes another country capable of developing such new-generation, large reconnaissance and strike UAV," said Li Yidong, chief designer of the series, whose programme is overseen by the state-owned Aviation Industry Corp of China.

China has been stepping up research into military drones in the hope that it can steal market share from the United States and Israel with its cheaper technology and willingness to sell to countries that Western states are reluctant to deal with.

The Wing Loong II's predecessor sells for just $1 million according to Chinese media reports. The U.S.-made MQ-9 Reaper, to which it has sometimes been compared, is priced at around $30 million.

China has previously had limited success exporting manned military aircraft but is hoping to do better with UAVs, given that they are cheaper and easier to manufacture. Foreign buyers for its drones include Nigeria, Pakistan and Egypt.


China's military modernisation has rattled nerves around the region with increasingly assertive moves to bolster its sovereignty claims in the South China Sea and over Taiwan, which it regards as a breakaway province.

It showed off its Chengdu J-20 stealth fighter in public for the first time in November and months earlier put into service a new, domestically developed large transport aircraft.

Apart from this new 4 ton drone, the 611 Chengdu Institute is also working on a 100% composite variant of the family, called the Wing Loong ID . By maintaining exactly the same size as its elder, its MTOW now reaches 1,500 kg, 400 kg more than the Wing Loong I which is made of more traditional materials. Thanks to a lower unladen mass obtained by the total use of composite materials and an updated engine, the external loads of this version are doubled to 400 kg and its ceiling increases to 7,500 meters compared to 5,000 meters previously .

This version could be very interesting for existing customers of Wing Loong I, which will significantly increase the carrying capacity of the "same" drone. They will therefore not need to reform pilots and ground personnel, or modify or create new support infrastructures.

 

[Incog_nito]

CH-5 should be the drone of choice for PAF, PA, and PN.

 

[sparten]

Unlikely to buy a UCAV on turn key basis.

 

[Tank131]

Chinese drone order would likely be KSA in my estimation. No info to prove it. It just seems most likely.

 

[Safriz]

Ch-4 in KSA

 

[mingle]

Chinese drone order would likely be KSA in my estimation. No info to prove it. It just seems most likely.

You r right it's Saudis