Since the war on terror started in Afghanistan back in 2001, the
United States Air Force has employed various different UAV platforms to
target insurgents and the Taliban. Both on Afghan soil as
well as in Pakistani territory, with the covert approval of the
Pakistan government. Observing the efficacy of UAV platforms like the
Predator, the Pakistani military establishment requested
the United States to equip it with UAVs so that the war on terror
could be prosecuted with more efficacy on the part of the Pakistani
military. However these requests were denied repeatedly
and America cited the potential use of these UAV platforms in
military theaters outside the Afghan Pakistan border (i.e. India) as a
flimsy excuse. Faced with these denials, but unwavering in its
resolve to achieve its objectives, Pakistan undertook a domestic UAV
development program. Even prior to Predator requisition requests being
turned down, the Pakistani military had already
invested in various autonomous target drones, built both by the
private and public sectors. Here at TechLahore, we covered Pakistani drone developments a couple of years ago.
In fact, we
pointed out that the level of sophistication was such that – in a
rather ironic twist -private Pakistani drone manufacturers were
exporting UAVs even to the United States homeland
security department for oversight applications on the US-Mexico
border.
Since then, much has happened. Pakistan entered into a deal with the
Italian firm, Selex-Galileo, for the licensed production of fairly
capable UAV aircraft at the Kamra Aeronautical facilities.
In addition, the Pakistan Navy also acquired rotorcraft drones from
foreign sources. Separately, the Pakistan Army has pursued partnerships
with China and has incented local manufacturers to
continue to develop more advanced platforms within the country. One
of the more promising UCAV projects currently in progress in Pakistan is
the Burraq armed drone. Burraq is
envisioned as a high endurance, long-range, over the horizon, armed
UAV aircraft. For the last four years it has been under development and
rumors are now surfacing that it may be ready for
deployment. At the recent Zhuhai airshow in China, in which the
Pakistan Air Force participated with its JF-17 Thunder fighter aircraft,
Chinese manufacturers also displayed miniaturized
lightweight missiles that were particularly suited for carriage on a
drone. Various parts of this sprawling Pakistani drone development
program are coming together, in partnership with China
– weapons development, control systems development, propulsion,
airframe, ground stations and much else. The Burraq will only the first
in a line of capable, armed Pakistani drones.
And soon. The Burraq, it seems, will be flying in early 2012.
The Pakistani UAV program is a wonderful example of the breadth of
technological capability that exists in the country, its ability to
collaborate internationally without relying on
problem-ridden dealings with America, and the benefits of investing
in local development and local manufacturing as opposed to wiring a ton
of money to a foreign country and importing somebody
else’s equipment (Saudi Arabia style). As with the JF-17 Thunder
fighter aircraft, Pakistan will discover that the flexibility of owning
and running a domestically developed military platform
allows unending customization, full control of capabilities, and
absolutely no worries with regards to security or someone else knowing
its true performance, or even inhibiting the
capabilities by doctoring the IFF system or other internal
electronics. Not only that, but for private technological firms based in
Pakistan a program of this nature creates tremendous economic
opportunity. A variety of different inputs, ranging from materials
to software to optics to electronics and propulsion technologies are
required to build a high-tech UAV. A sophisticated military
program such as the Burraq will lead not only to an improvement in
Pakistan’s defensive and offensive military capabilities, but also in
significant benefits for the economy and local
industry.
We hope that in future, with military programs such as Burraq, the
continued development of the spectacularly successful JF-17 Thunder
fighter aircraft and its various space technology
ventures, Pakistan will continue to create domestic research and
development capabilities which will ensure a brighter future for its
people and a credible defense against any would-be aggressor.
Pakistani Federal Minister for Defense Syed Naveed Qamar said Asian Defence at the exhibition that Pakistan UAV technology is at an early stage and the aircraft have been used only for air surveillance.
