New indigenous multi-role drone unveiled at IDEAS

ISLAMABAD: The 10th International Defence Exhibition and Seminar (IDEAS) 2018 being held in Karachi has witnessed unveiling of a new indigenous multi-role drone built by Global Industrial and Defence Solution (GIDS).

The drone was introduced by Pakistan Navy Vice Chief of Naval Staff Vice Admiral Kaleem Shaukat, one of the chief guests of the exhibition being organised under the aegis of the Defence Export Promotion Organisation at the Karachi Expo Centre.

Named Shahpar, the drone is capable of lying at an altitude of 17,000 feet for up to seven hours. GIDS describes Shahpar as a medium-range tactical unmanned aerial vehicle (UAV) with autonomous take-off and landing.

It is said to be able to carry various types of payloads integrated for reconnaissance and day and night surveillance. Shahpar’s other features include accurate lateral, longitudinal trajectory control, mission planning, management and control, geo-referencing and geo-pointing for terrestrial targets. The drone’s cameras can focus up to a radius of 250 kilometres and can operate in any weather.

Meanwhile,malaysiashowedinterest in Pakistani warplane JF-17 Thunder at the exhibition. A Malaysian military delegation is visiting the IDEAS 2018 for the irst time. Its presence is conspicuous among the visitors.

Chief of Malaysia’s Royal Air Force Dato’ Affendi told a Pakistani TV channel: “We are attending the IDEAS for the irst time, and we are immensely impressed by the standards of exhibition of defense products.” He said Pakistan has made an amazing progress in the ield of aircraft manufacturing.