Karachi: Pakistan is secretly making its own armed drones after the US refused to provide the unnamed aircrafts due to the “sensitive nature of the technology”.
But initial tests of Pakistan’s drones show they are not as much accurate and have advanced technology as possess by US Predator and Reaper drones that have ability to carry missiles like the Hellfire.
The US has held talks with Pakistan about providing unarmed surveillance drones, but Islamabad already has several types of these aircraft in operation, and the discussions have gone nowhere, The Associated Press reported.
Pakistan Prime Minister Raja Pervez Ashraf hinted at looking for help from China while inaugurating a defense exhibition, International Defence Exhibition (IDEAS) 2012, in southern city of Karachi.
The report said that Pakistan’s largest drone, the Shahpur, has a wingspan of about seven meters and can carry 50 kilograms. On the other hand, the US Predator has a wingspan more than twice that and a payload capacity over four times as great.
Moreover, US Hellfire missiles are said to have pinpoint accuracy. But the rockets used by Pakistan have a margin of error of about 30 meters at best, and an unexpected gust of wind could take them 300 meters from their intended target, sources told the agency on the condition of anonymity.
Photo: AP
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