Global Industrial & Defence Solutions (GIDS) demonstrates LIVE Firing of its latest Unmanned Aerial Vehicle (UAV) Shahpar II (Block II) in Bahawalpur city of Pakistan to high level military delegates from 11 friendly countries.
Global Industrial & Defence Solutions (GIDS) is a Pakistani state-owned defence conglomerate, and the country’s largest defence manufacturer, offering products for military applications. GIDS has exported to 16+ countries and is currently under engagement with 30+ countries across the globe.
The promotional demonstration shows Shahpar II drone firing Burq laser guided Air to Ground missiles at still and moving targets with great accuracy. GIDS hopes to capture the attention of these countries militaries in a new push to market it’s drone solutions. Nigerian and Kenyan delegates attended the demonstration.
The Shahpar II Block II UAV successfully lazed and locked its target from 14,000 ft and destroyed it using its indigenously developed Burq Air to Ground missiles.
The demonstration also showcased the latest version of Zumr series of Payloads the Zumr 2 HD . The international delegates were much impressed with the thermal imager results and the stability of the footage coming live from the drone.
GIDS management has also revealed that by April 2024 it will be testing its other air-delivered ordnances like the BURQ-II with 20kg warhead , lighter versions of Burq and its Laser Guided Bombs designed for unmanned aerial vehicles.
The management claims Shahpar II Block II to be more capable and affordable than the widely renowned Turkish drone Bayraktar TB-2.
CEO GIDS highlighted that Shahpar II Block II is being marketed as a more potent and affordable solution with much affordable operating costs than its Turkish counterparts Bayraktar TB-2 drones, Iranian Mohejar-Series drones, and the Chinese CH-3 and CH-4 Rainbow drones.
The Shahpar-ll is an unmanned combat aerial vehicle (UCAV) built by Global Industrial Defence Solutions of Pakistan. It is currently in production following the completion of a test and qualification phase.
The Shahpar II drone has a length of 8 meters, and a wingspan of 9.45 meters. It can carry an internal payload of 53 Kilograms, and and external payload of 190 Kilograms.
The drone’s maximum speed is stated as 120 knots (200km/hours), and a service ceiling of 23,000 feet (7,010 meters), for surveillance, 21,000 feet (6100 meters) when armed.
According to an engineer of AERO (Advanced Engineering Research Organisation), one of the seven companies forming the GIDS consortium, the only parts of the Shahpar aircraft system not produced in Pakistan are the engine and tires.
The sensor suite, a multi-sensor turret designated “Zumr-II Electro-Optical Infrared (EO/IR)”, is built at an AERO facility near Islamabad. The drone design features a pusher engine with canard foreplanes in front of the wings.
The Shahpar II drone is designed to autonomously take off and land on a runway or land with a parachute. The Payloads are available for reconnaissance and day/night surveillance. Targets on the ground can be geo-referenced and geo-pointed by the avionics. The military standard hardware is built to Environmental Standard 810F. The drone’s ground equipment is capable of mission planning and simulation; mission management and control as well as debriefing of ground crew.
An upgraded version Shahpar-2 block II which was demonstrated boasts higher service ceiling and longer flight time.
On March 23, 2021, Shahpar-II drone was first exhibited publicly during the Pakistan Day parade. It was being developed as an improved version of GIDS Shahpar.
On 28 November 2021, at the 2021 Egyptian Defence Exhibition, ( EDEX), operational specifications were unveiled by GIDS and a promotional video of Shahpar-II drone showing its locating, tracking and targeting capabilities as surveillance and ground attack drone.
The drone’s Zumr-II (EO/IR) turret was also unveiled as an improved and lighter version of Zumr-I (EP) turret. A Targeting and surveillance Turret can be installed as internal payload. The Sharpah II drone can also be equipped with other targeting system available from foreign supplier. The drone can also be equipped with Synthetic Aperture Radar (SAR), Communications and Electronic Intelligence (COMINT/ELINT ) payload.
For sensors and targeting systems, the Sharpah drone has an internal hard-point where it carry 50 kg (110 lb) payload. The Zumr-I weighs 36.5 kg (80 lb), while Zumr-II weighs 49 kg (108 lb). The Sharpah drone has two external hard-points where it can carry Laser guided Air to Ground weapons 60 kg (130 lb) each.
With the success of the demonstration, Pakistan hopes to market the Sharpah II drones to militaries looking to procure low-cost and capable unmanned aerial vehicles, and hopefully without too many shoestrings attached.
It is yet to see how the Sharpah II drone performs in market dominated by Turkish, Iranian, and Chinese low cost drones.
