Islamabad, August 20: Pakistan today launched the indigenous production of pilotless drones, days after Prime Minister Yousuf Raza Gilani pressed the US to transfer the sensitive technology for a more potent type used by the American military to target the Taliban.
The Pakistan Aeronautical Complex at Kamra in Punjab province has commenced producing Falco unmanned aerial vehicle (UAV) in collaboration with Selex Galileo of Italy, which has also designed the pilotless planes. The co-production project was inaugurated by Air Marshal Farhat Hussain Khan.
During the meeting of US envoy to the region Richard Holbrook on August 17, Gilani had asked the US to provide drone technology to Pakistan to enable its armed forces to take action against terrorists.
? ? The Falco will be used “keeping in view the current regional and global challenges” and will greatly enhance the operational capability of the Pakistan Air Force, Air Marshal?Khan said.
He described the addition of the UAV co-production facility as “a major step towards the long-term goal of self-reliance in military aviation industry”.
? ? ? ?Other officials said the Falco will “address the present and future surveillance and reconnaissance needs of the Pakistan Air Force”. The UAV production facility was established over the past two years. .
—PTI