Manufacturing drones a distant dream for Pakistan

Karachi, Aug. 6 (ANI): Manufacturing unmanned aerial vehicles (UAVs), like the CIA's Predator and Reaper, is going to be a distant dream for Pakistan.

Previously, the refrain in Pakistan's local drone manufacturing industry and armed forces was that the country didn't have a satellite of its own. Thus, it was next to impossible to even think about acquiring, or building such complex aircraft.

However, as Pakistan's first ever fully functional communication satellite, Paksat-1R, celebrates its first anniversary on August 12, the question arises whether it could be used for military purposes, reports The Express Tribune.

Pakistan already has a wide range of locally manufactured unmanned aircraft such as the Pakistan Navy's recently inducted Uqaab series. But none of them are armed, or designed for long endurances.

Dr. Haroon Javed Qureshi, managing director of a local UAV manufacturer, said: "We are not using the right methodology and lack the vision or drive. The moment military and government establishments leave this to the (private companies in the local drone manufacturing) industry, we may actually have a system that can be called the Pakistani Predator."

Locally manufactured unmanned aircraft in Pakistan face limitations beyond a 200-kilometre radius from their point of control. Ground stations stop receiving any video or data from the drones, which also affects the ability to control and manipulate cameras, sensors and armaments on board the aircraft.

Aerospace design engineer from MIT and Integrated Dynamics CEO Raja Sabri Khan stresses the link is not the only factor in developing Predator-level drones.

"The satellite provides a long range monitoring and control link between the operator and the drone; it does not replace the essential systems required to operate and manufacture the drone," he said. (ANI)