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Pakistan flexes UAV muscles at IDEAS:
Gordon Arthur, Karachi, Pakistan
James Hardy, London Section:
2012-Nov-14
Pakistan's Global Industrial & Defence Solutions (GIDS) used the International Defence Exhibition and Seminar (IDEAS) in Karachi in early November to highlight its range of unmanned aerial vehicles (UAV), one of which showed signs of close co-operation with China.
The Shahpar shares some design features with the CASC CH-3 UAV. (Robert Hewson) The 470-kg medium-range Shahpar bears more than a passing resemblance to the China Aerospace Science and Technology Corporation (CASC) CH-3. IHS Jane's reported in 2010 that China was preparing to deliver 20 systems, along with the CASC FT-5 65 kg-class 'small diameter bomb', to Pakistan in 2011. It is unclear whether the Shahpar is one of those 20 systems, an indigenously developed variant of the CH-3, or a separate programme.
According to the company, the Shahpar is powered by a 100 hp Rotax piston engine with a maximum speed of 150 km/h, has an endurance of 7 hours, and is capable of day/night surveillance. GIDS officials added that it had completed qualification tests and was ready for production.
The Shahpar is the most modern UAV in the GIDS stable. (Gordon Arthur) The Shahpar will complement GIDS' Uqab tactical UAV. Fitted with a gyro-stabilised gimbal with colour day camera and a thermal imager with target tracking and locking capabilities, the Uqab has been in service with the Pakistan Army since 2007 and recently entered service with the Pakistan Navy in a coastal surveillance role. The navy is also acquiring an Uqab-derived UAV called the Huma, which is truck-launched using a rocket booster and recovered by the use of a parachute. A GIDS spokesman said the navy is currently conducting trials of the UAV, which has a ceiling of about 4,600 m.
GIDS also exhibited its 4 kg Scout Mini: a hand-launched UAV with a 15 km range and endurance of 45 minutes that is designed for use with a two-man team and is in the process of being commissioned by the army.
COMMENT
It is unclear what the relationship between the CH-3 and the Shahpar is, but UAV analysts point to the large number of similarities between the two platforms and previous reports of CH-3 sales to Pakistan. That Islamabad and China are "all-weather friends", the bromide used by officials from both sides, adds to the belief that some kind of joint venture has taken place.
Meanwhile, the navy's deployment of the Uqab UAV, which has been in service at Pakistan Naval Station (PNS) Mehran in Karachi since July 2011, provides it with a step up in capabilities and may go some way to filling the cap caused by the destruction of two Lockheed Martin P-3C Orion maritime patrol aircraft at PNS Mehran by militants in May 2011.
While those two aircraft were subsequently replaced by the delivery of two P-3Cs in 2012, it is likely that the P-3C fleet will be smaller than originally intended and so UAVs will give commanders more operational flexibility.
JDW
Gordon Arthur, Karachi, Pakistan
James Hardy, London Section:
2012-Nov-14
Pakistan's Global Industrial & Defence Solutions (GIDS) used the International Defence Exhibition and Seminar (IDEAS) in Karachi in early November to highlight its range of unmanned aerial vehicles (UAV), one of which showed signs of close co-operation with China.
The Shahpar shares some design features with the CASC CH-3 UAV. (Robert Hewson) The 470-kg medium-range Shahpar bears more than a passing resemblance to the China Aerospace Science and Technology Corporation (CASC) CH-3. IHS Jane's reported in 2010 that China was preparing to deliver 20 systems, along with the CASC FT-5 65 kg-class 'small diameter bomb', to Pakistan in 2011. It is unclear whether the Shahpar is one of those 20 systems, an indigenously developed variant of the CH-3, or a separate programme.
According to the company, the Shahpar is powered by a 100 hp Rotax piston engine with a maximum speed of 150 km/h, has an endurance of 7 hours, and is capable of day/night surveillance. GIDS officials added that it had completed qualification tests and was ready for production.
The Shahpar is the most modern UAV in the GIDS stable. (Gordon Arthur) The Shahpar will complement GIDS' Uqab tactical UAV. Fitted with a gyro-stabilised gimbal with colour day camera and a thermal imager with target tracking and locking capabilities, the Uqab has been in service with the Pakistan Army since 2007 and recently entered service with the Pakistan Navy in a coastal surveillance role. The navy is also acquiring an Uqab-derived UAV called the Huma, which is truck-launched using a rocket booster and recovered by the use of a parachute. A GIDS spokesman said the navy is currently conducting trials of the UAV, which has a ceiling of about 4,600 m.
GIDS also exhibited its 4 kg Scout Mini: a hand-launched UAV with a 15 km range and endurance of 45 minutes that is designed for use with a two-man team and is in the process of being commissioned by the army.
COMMENT
It is unclear what the relationship between the CH-3 and the Shahpar is, but UAV analysts point to the large number of similarities between the two platforms and previous reports of CH-3 sales to Pakistan. That Islamabad and China are "all-weather friends", the bromide used by officials from both sides, adds to the belief that some kind of joint venture has taken place.
Meanwhile, the navy's deployment of the Uqab UAV, which has been in service at Pakistan Naval Station (PNS) Mehran in Karachi since July 2011, provides it with a step up in capabilities and may go some way to filling the cap caused by the destruction of two Lockheed Martin P-3C Orion maritime patrol aircraft at PNS Mehran by militants in May 2011.
While those two aircraft were subsequently replaced by the delivery of two P-3Cs in 2012, it is likely that the P-3C fleet will be smaller than originally intended and so UAVs will give commanders more operational flexibility.
JDW