image source, Getty Images
Shopper II drone made in Pakistan
Drones used only for surveillance have been in Pakistan’s possession for a long time. But Pakistan’s weapons manufacturers are raising eyebrows for the first time at the ongoing arms show in Karachi, where they are displaying attack drones.
After four years, this arms exhibition in Karachi was attended by the heads of Pakistan’s three armed forces.
Apart from China, Turkey, companies from many other countries are participating in this exhibition which started on November 18.
Self-sufficiency of drones
Pakistanis heard the name of drone for the first time when US drones started targeting terrorists in Pakistan’s border areas.
The US has carried out several drone strikes in Pakistani areas bordering Afghanistan. Many were killed in this.
Pakistan took its first step into the world of drones by starting production of surveillance drones (for intelligence).
These drones used for surveillance have been seen at previous arms exhibitions.
Asad Kamal, CEO of Global Industrial and Defense Solutions, a state-owned Pakistan firm, says the government of Pakistan has made it clear to them that they need to gradually develop technologies domestically that depend on foreign countries. This will save foreign exchange, he said.
At the last exhibition of “Ideas” in 2018, the surveillance drone Barak was presented to the world. Its job is only to create videos and take high-resolution photos.
“After that we started working on our next project. The military needed the ability to not only see a target, but to surround it and destroy it if necessary. After that we researched and started work on Shopper-2 drone,” explained Asad Kamal.
“When you integrate a technology or acquire it from another country, if after some time that country stops providing you with the technology, your product becomes incomplete. Then you can’t use it either. Or it cannot be recovered. The basic technology of this drone was developed in Pakistan,” he added.
Pakistan-made attack drone Shopper-2
image source, Getty Images
Shopper-2 can fly at a speed of 120 knots. Its take off speed is 80 knots to 85 knots.
Pakistan’s pioneer unmanned aerial vehicle is the Shopper-2. It has now been integrated into Pakistan’s Army, Navy and Air Force.
The government wants to display it in exhibitions and sell it to other countries.
“Shopper-2” can fly a thousand kilometers and hit its target. This drone can communicate with the satellite. It works successfully in any activity day or night. The drone locates its target with a laser and then targets it with a missile,” explains Asad Kamal.
Shopper-2 can fly at a speed of 120 knots. Its take off speed is 80 knots to 85 knots. Its flight speed is 80-85 knots.
It has a radius of about 1050 kilometers and a data link range of 300 kilometers. The drone also has the ability to restart its engine while in flight.
Global Industrial & Defense Solutions’ other drone products include the Shopper-1, the ICAB drone series. They have different speeds, distances and weapons carrying capabilities.
Ababil Drone Series
The chiefs of Pakistan’s three armed forces also visited the exhibition being held in Karachi.
Pakistan’s arms industry had earlier developed a surveillance drone named ‘Ababil’. Now these drones have also been converted into attack drones. They are also now equipped with weapons.
It may be recalled here that the local people in the tribal areas of Pakistan named the drone as ‘Ababil’.
”The Ababil series of drones are indigenously manufactured. All these drones are capable of operating both day and night,” Riyaz Ahmed, head of the Pakistan Ordnance Factory’s drone division, told the BBC.
“The Ababil Five drone can carry a payload of up to five kilograms. It can carry two mortar shells. The size of one mortar is 16 mm and the other is 18 mm. It has a range of up to thirty kilometers. Its speed is forty five kilometers per hour. This drone can fly for an hour and a half,” he said.
He noted that the Ababil V-5 can take off and land vertically anywhere. This high-speed drone can fly at a speed of 120 km per hour and can perform surveillance missions for two to three hours. It also has storage capacity. The drone can carry five kilograms of ammunition. It can be used to attack any target.
The Ababil-10 unmanned aerial vehicle can carry a 10 kg weapon. Cannot hit targets up to 30 kilometers away. It can fly up to a height of 3000 meters, whereas after it reaches a height of one kilometer it cannot be seen by the human eye. All three drones can be operated by a single operator.
”There are three ways to control them. The first is a portable unit. It can take off from anywhere. The second is a dual control unit with two operators. One will control the shooting camera. Another is a map. He will operate the drone with help,” Riaz Ahmed said.
The third way is for single use. It has dual screens. One of them has a camera feed and the other one has the facility to provide directions with the help of maps.
Weather and temperature energy
New technology is measured or tested in two ways, says Salman Khan, a spokesman for the Pakistan Ordnance Industry.
Pakistan has glaciers, deserts, seas and plains. Asad Kamal, CEO of Global Industrial and Defense Solutions, says that war is not about weather and terrain.
“Pakistan Army has very tough requirements. And we have terrain from minus degree to hot desert terrain. So any weapon that joins our army, it can join any army in the world,” he noted.
”These drones are also being tested in the northern parts of the country. They are also tested in rain and desert. After that they successfully complete the test flight and join the forces of Pakistan Army, he says.
New technology is measured or tested in two ways, says Salman Khan, a spokesman for the Pakistan Ordnance Industry. One is what are the needs of the person using these weapons. Both the manufacturer and the user of the weapon evaluate it and it is technically tested.
Apart from this, it is also evaluated what is the existing technology and what new products should be procured if it is to be developed within Pakistan.
Which countries buy arms from Pakistan?
Turkey’s drones are also on display at the arms fair. These drones are used by the Turkish military as well as its allies.
These are used for everything from targeting a specific person to launching a missile.
Apart from this, several types of drones and new weapons of the Chinese Ministry of Defense were also on display at the exhibition. They also have models of new drones. China’s drones can be equipped with a variety of weapons.
Pakistan is one of the countries that manufacture, sell and buy military weapons in the world.
According to Asad Kamal, CEO of Global Industrial and Defense Solutions, Pakistan has exported arms made in Pakistan to more than 16 countries.
These include Bangladesh, Sri Lanka, Central Asian countries, Malaysia, Algeria in Africa, Congo, South American country Peru etc.
The company is also interested in exporting Shopper-2. At the same time, the Pakistan Ordnance Industry says that its ‘Ababil series’ will soon be used by the Pakistan Army and some foreign representatives have also shown interest in it.
According to its spokesperson, the Pakistan Arms Factory has sold weapons worth more than thirty million dollars to more than forty countries.
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