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■ Trials and development Cyber Shark, Sapura: This UAV has been demonstrated to the Malaysian military, although its current development status remains unknown. Cyber Quad, Sapura: This micro UAV could form part of the Malaysian Army’s Soldier Advanced Kombat (sic) Technology Integrated infantry soldier programme. Aludra Mk.5, CTRM: This fixed-wing UAV has a six hour endurance. It is understood to be used by a government agency in an unspecified role. Its development is ongoing. Aludra SR-08, CTRM: Man-portable (backpack) UAV with autonomous and semi-autonomous functionality. Can be set up and launched in circa five minutes for tactical reconnaissance missions. Aludra SR-10, CTRM: This hand-launched UAV has a one-hour endurance and is currently performing flight testing. CTRM has said that it is keen to demonstrate to the Malaysian Army as of early 2016. Intisar-100, CTRM: This vertical take-off and landing UAV has been designed for military and commercial applications and is available for acquisition. Intisar-300, CTRM: This rotary UAV has completed flight tests and the aircraft can be equipped with interchangeable payloads such as conventional or infrared optronics mounted on a gyrostabilised gimbal. NEW ZEALAND ■ Fielded Kahu, SKYCAM UAV NZ: This mini UAV has a two-hour endurance and a 13.4 nautical mile (24.8 kilometre) range. It supported New Zealand’s deployment to assist US-led combat operations in Afghanistan. To date, two have been acquired. ■ Trials and development SwampFox, SKYCAM UAV NZ: With a 50 minute endurance, this UAV is designed to support aerial cartography. PAKISTAN ■ Fielded Uqab-II, Global Industrial and Defence Solutions (GIDS): This tactical UAV commenced deployment with the Pakistan Navy in July to support maritime interdiction operations in coastal areas. Uqab, GIDS: This UAV has been operational since 2008 with the Pakistan Army and Pakistan Navy. Offering six hours’ endurance, 30 are now in service with the Pakistan Army, with one squadron of aircraft in service with the navy. Burraq, National Engineering and Scientific Commission (NESCOM): Development of this strategic UAV commenced in 2009 with its introduction into the army and the air force occurring in November 2013, with eventual army plans to procure 24 UAVs. In March 2015 the Pakistan Army announced the successful firing of a NESCOM Barq air-to-surface missile from the UAV against static and moving targets. The armed UAV has been used during counter-insurgency missions in the Tirah Valley and Shawal Valley in 2015. Shahpar, GIDS: This tactical UAV was revealed to the public in November 2012, and it entered service with the Pakistan Air Force (PAF) and army in November 2013. Falco, Leonardo/Finmeccanica: The Falco UAV entered service with the PAF in 2007 with the aircraft also being produced under licence by the Pakistan Aeronautical Complex from 2009. Pakistan was the first export customer for the UAV.
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The Falco is compatible with a wide suite of payloads, making it particularly suitable for missions of persistent surveillance, target detection, localisation, identification and designation, up to dangerous, dull and dirty missions.
Bravo+/Jasos-II, AWC: This UAV has been operational with the PAF since 2004, in support of operational deployments and training programmes. CH-3, CASC: 20 of these UAVs were reportedly acquired from the PRC (People’s Republic of China) by the Pakistani Army in 2006, with the Pakistan Navy signing an acquisition contract in June 2012 to buy the UAV for shore surveillance. ScanEagle, Insitu/Boeing: Pakistan purchased an undisclosed number of ScanEagles from the US under a foreign military sale in September 2015. They are due for delivery by August 2016. ■ Trials and development S-100 Camcopter, Scheibel: This VTOL UAV was tested onboard a Pakistan Navy ‘Amazon’ class frigate in March 2008. As of mid-2015, there have been no further developments regarding the acquisition of this aircraft by Pakistan. RQ-7 Shadow-200, Textron: In 2010, the PAF ordered twelve of these UAVs from the United States for an estimated $150 million. Textron
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Proven with nearly one million flight hours, the Shadow UAV carries a range of payloads for single-sorties or multi-mission operations including optronics, communications relay and optional laser designation.
PEOPLE’S REPUBLIC OF CHINA ■ Fielded BZK-005, Beijing University of Aeronautics and Astronautics: This UAV is believed to have been used by the People’s Liberation Army Navy (PLAN) since 2009. In June 2015 local media reports stated that at least three of the UAVs are operating in the East China Sea from Daishan Island in Hangzhou Bay.
| Asian Military Review |