SoluNox Pvt Limited: Developing a Local Micro-Turbine Engine for UAVs

[Pandora]

This initiative should be financially supported. Even if it is not viable right now we but we can develop a good industry for our UAVs and cruise missile engines.

 

[Zulfiqar]

I am an unemotional person (mostly due to my up bringing), however, there are some things that make my "blood boil" (my heart beat faster with anger). The realization of how much potential and good people Pakistan destroys by predatory business practices by our strategic organizations.

You are 200% right, we need a defence industry policy that is actually implemented, and we need to classify these startups as a strategic asset and for God's sake SUPPORT THEM. It is quickly becoming a matter of our survival if we look at our immediate neighborhood.

I didn't say classify them as "strategic industry" because SPD will just use that to pull those companies under the "scorty curtain." The policy needs to be very sharp.

Plus they need to do away with stupid PPRA rules for procuring items from such startups/businesses.

I know a guy who supplies dual use item to one of the strat orgs. He has to provide bank guarantees as well apart from taking the risk of importing such items where his name/money is at stake.

So not only the guy has to use his own money to procure the things but also has to mortgage his property/deposit cash margin to get guarantees issued from banks.

How can startups flourish in such environment where instead of funding R&D they instead ask for security/guarantees from the startup. Human capital/sweat equity is a major value driver in any startup. SPD guys should realise that.

One needs to look at Israel and their startup scene.

 

[The Accountant]

Plus they need to do away with stupid PPRA rules for procuring items from such startups/businesses.

I know a guy who supplies dual use item to one of the strat orgs. He has to provide bank guarantees as well apart from taking the risk of importing such items where his name/money is at stake.

So not only the guy has to use his own money to procure the things but also has to mortgage his property/deposit cash margin to get guarantees issued from banks.

How can startups flourish in such environment where instead of funding R&D they instead ask for security/guarantees from the startup. Human capital/sweat equity is a major value driver in any startup. SPD guys should realise that.

One needs to look at Israel and their startup scene.

Agreed but then how to cater with the fradulent activities?

 

[Zulfiqar]

Agreed but then how to cater with the fradulent activities?

I agree that we can't do away with PPRA completely. However, we can reduce the requirements (especially for provision of LGs e.t.c) for prequalified vendors that have a history of performing good work or if the respective department is reasonably sure about the ability of that entity to perform work (same can be cross checked by 3rd party operational/technical due diligence of the company instead of securing through LGs).

Pre-event risk management is always better than risk management by recourse to secondary means.

That LG is hardly of any use if the company goes into litigation against govt and fights the case for years and then finally pays that same amount 5-8 years down the line without interest ( a recent event that I know of, one of many such instances).

Similarly LGs requirement need to be eliminated for public sector enities working on govt projects.

An example that I can quote is that one of the public sector defence production units had to supply weapons/equipment e.t.c to Army.

That entity had to provide LGs of around PKR 14.5 M$ to army to secure those contracts (owing to PPRA and other rules). We issued those LGs on behalf of that entity for 100% liquid collateral. In essence they had to let go off that huge amount (by placing the same with banks and only earning interest) for a period of 1-2 years just to secure a fresh contract. The opportunity cost being that they could have utilized the same amount for capacity enhancement or other more profitable ventures.

Since the both entities (Army and that unit) come under the Govt so the govt should have enough confidence that its own sub-organs will honour the contract and waive the requirement for LGs.

If the entity does not perform then encashment of LG is essentially a pointless exercise as the funds are just being moved from one pocket to another of that same person. It also still does not remove the main cause of the problem down the line i.e a bad hire.

There are a lot of inefficiencies that I have observed while dealing in such transactions but that is a discussion for another day.

 

[JamD]

@Bilal Khan (Quwa) @Bilal.

Another private company working on turbine technology is AeroEngineCraft. @Goenitz this is Sir Omer's family basically.

Hopefully, enough momentum is built by these people.

 

[Goenitz]

@JamD
Man.. I hope they are successful.

The balancing is a very difficult job. I think Sir Qazi (physicist) gone when you came in. He gave us a task to find a balancing method for the nano IST satellite (erratic mass distribution). It was very difficult.

First time when I studied valve, I was surprised the amount of faculties poured in that simple device. Unfortunately, the teacher who taught injector couldn't do a well job. But, if only our people knew how important is automobile research. It can pave way for so many things. Like we are stuck with 1500 hp Al-khalid engines and cannot improve w/o foreign help.

Fun fact, my final year thesis (the copy paste one ) was about integral panels. Like that turbine blade. Brig Attiq on demonstration day told us about its importance, that it has excellence performance for dynamic load and vibration. So they are used in missiles, impellers, etc.

All are great feats in my opinion. Sometimes, I think if I can gamble to give seed money to these orgs

 

[Bilal.]

@Bilal Khan (Quwa) @Bilal.

Another private company working on turbine technology is AeroEngineCraft. @Goenitz this is Sir Omer's family basically.

Hopefully, enough momentum is built by these people.

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Looks bigger than SoluNox one. I hope the thrust target is 1-2 KN with further scaling down the line.

 

[S.Y.A]

I agree that we can't do away with PPRA completely. However, we can reduce the requirements (especially for provision of LGs e.t.c) for prequalified vendors that have a history of performing good work or if the respective department is reasonably sure about the ability of that entity to perform work (same can be cross checked by 3rd party operational/technical due diligence of the company instead of securing through LGs).

Pre-event risk management is always better than risk management by recourse to secondary means.

That LG is hardly of any use if the company goes into litigation against govt and fights the case for years and then finally pays that same amount 5-8 years down the line without interest ( a recent event that I know of, one of many such instances).

Similarly LGs requirement need to be eliminated for public sector enities working on govt projects.

An example that I can quote is that one of the public sector defence production units had to supply weapons/equipment e.t.c to Army.

That entity had to provide LGs of around PKR 14.5 M$ to army to secure those contracts (owing to PPRA and other rules). We issued those LGs on behalf of that entity for 100% liquid collateral. In essence they had to let go off that huge amount (by placing the same with banks and only earning interest) for a period of 1-2 years just to secure a fresh contract. The opportunity cost being that they could have utilized the same amount for capacity enhancement or other more profitable ventures.

Since the both entities (Army and that unit) come under the Govt so the govt should have enough confidence that its own sub-organs will honour the contract and waive the requirement for LGs.

If the entity does not perform then encashment of LG is essentially a pointless exercise as the funds are just being moved from one pocket to another of that same person. It also still does not remove the main cause of the problem down the line i.e a bad hire.

There are a lot of inefficiencies that I have observed while dealing in such transactions but that is a discussion for another day.

pathetic situation really, i know of people who went bankrupt just because AF didnt pay them on time. and adding insult to injury, by the time the payment is made, inflation and $ has gone up, resulting in a very low margin or no profit at all.

 

[CriticalThought]

@Bilal Khan (Quwa) @Bilal.

Another private company working on turbine technology is AeroEngineCraft. @Goenitz this is Sir Omer's family basically.

Hopefully, enough momentum is built by these people.

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This looks a crude manufacturing job given the limited budget of this startup. This is where PAC and its engineering facilities with NC Lathes, laser welding etc needs to kick in. These kind of people need to be provided access to such facilities along with raw materials such as the right stell alloys.

 

[HAIDER]

MICRO-TURBINE ENGINE FOR UAVS - SoluNox (Pvt) Ltd

MICRO TURBINE ENGINEFOR UAVS SoluNox MGTE UM1-1 Gas turbine engine is an essential power plant in modern day high speed UAS (Unmanned Aerial System) for various applications SOLUNOX had taken an initiative, to indigenously develop our own Gas Turbine Engine Read More

solunox.com.pk

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I recently came across a private company out of Karachi that appears to be developing a locally produced micro-turbine engine for UAVs/target drones. To the best of my knowledge this is the first actual turbine engine product I've seen out of the Pakistani private sector. The engine looks unpolished and rough, which is actually a good thing because it points to the fact that this is not just an import.

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Their CEO was on a webinar recently as well:

They also have a catapult:
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@Bilal Khan (Quwa) @SQ8 @HRK @The Eagle @PAR 5 @Akh1112 @kursed @Falcon26 @Armchair

Most probably used for cruise missile booster engine.

 

[JamD]

Most probably used for cruise missile booster engine.

Booster is a solid rocket motor, not a turbine. Also, these guys aren't doing too well I think. They are venturing into solar panels and quads and what not so the turbine business isn't doing much for them. So I doubt anyone is using their turbines.

 

[HAIDER]

Booster is a solid rocket motor, not a turbine. Also, these guys aren't doing too well I think. They are venturing into solar panels and quads and what not so the turbine business isn't doing much for them. So I doubt anyone is using their turbines.

But it's smaller then in use turbo boosters.

 

[JamD]

But it's smaller then in use turbo boosters.

I don't follow, can you expand and what you're saying?

 

[RadarGudumluMuhimmat]

I don't follow, can you expand and what you're saying?

I think he'is mean this

 

[HAIDER]

I don't follow, can you expand and what you're saying?

basic booster for Kh55