Integrated Dynamics, a privately owned unmanned aircraft company, has sold ten unmanned aerial vehicle systems to the Pakistan Armed Forces for perimeter surveillance, during the International Defence Exhibition and Seminar being held in the coastal city of Karachi.
Raja Sabri Khan, Chief Executive of Integrated Dynamics, said that ten Skycam systems had been bought by the Pakistan Armed Forces. The Skycam is a hand-launched micro-unmanned aircraft that can fly at an altitude of 300+ metres over a range of 5 to ten kilometres. A complete Skycam system comprises two UAS with cameras, a ground control station, data and communication links and antennas. The Skycam costs $1 000. Speed is 10-30 km/h and endurance is 30 minutes.
Karachi-based Integrated Dynamics in the past produced UAS primarily for the Pakistani military but is now moving into the civil arena, where it is focusing on markets like law enforcement, surveillance, surveying etc. The company manufactures 15 different UAS, most of which are small – the smallest weighs just 800 grams.
Khan said that his company has exported its products to such places as the United States, Australia, Spain, Libya and South Korea. The Border Eagle system is being used by the United States for border patrol. Khan added that potential South African customers had approached the company regarding the use of its UAS for anti-poaching missions. However, no sales have yet been forthcoming from South Africa.
Khan emphasised the peaceful nature of UAS, saying the vast majority are built without weapons. The company has launched its Drones for Peace initiative, which is a collaboration between academia and Integrated Dynamics to showcase the peaceful uses of UAS and other unmanned aircraft to the general public.
A wide variety of Integrated Dynamics’ UAS were on display at IDEAS 2012, including its Skycam 1 and 2 lightweight vehicles and Hummer vertical take-off and landing UAS. These are being promoted under the Drones for Peace project. The UAS can carry cameras or thermal sensors. Both platforms weigh less than 2 kg.
Some of Integrated Dynamics UAS include the Desert Hawk, Border Eagle, Hornet, Hawk, Vision, Shadow and Vector systems, designed for conventional landing and take-off, but which can be modified for ramp-launch and parachute recovery systems.
Target and decoy UAS include the mini jet-powered Tornado decoy, piston Nishan Mk II and jet-powered Nishan TJ-1000. Integrated Dynamics’ main civilian products are the Rover and Explorer systems, which can be operated in both UAS and RPV (Remotely Piloted Vehicle) modes.
Pakistan’s UAS industry is fairly well developed and is expanding rapidly. Several companies produce UAS, including Pakistan Aeronautical Complex (Uqaab, for the Pakistan Army and Ababeel and Baaz target drones), Air Weapons Complex (Bravo+/Jasoos II for the Pakisitan Air Force) and Integrated Defence Solutions (Huma-1). In collaboration with Selex Galileo, Pakistan Aeronautical Complex has started manufacturing the Falco UASS.
Privately owned UAS firms include Satuma (Surveillance and Target Unmanned Aircraft), which produces UAVs like the Flamingo, Jasoos, Bravo+ and Mukhbar.
Source: Defence Web