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Pakistan test-fires indigenously made drone, laser-guided missile
* COAS says armed drone ‘Burraq’ and laser-guided missile ‘Barq’ are multiplier of force in anti-terror campaign and operations
RAWALPINDI: Pakistan on Friday successfully test-fired its indigenously developed armed drone ‘Burraq’ and laser-guided missile ‘Barq’.
Chief of Army Staff General Raheel Sharif witnessed the test on static and moving targets with impressive pinpoint accuracy. The all-weather drone and laser-guided missile have multiplied armed forces’ capability against the terrorists, said an ISPR press release. The COAS commended engineers and scientists for their untiring efforts to acquire state-of-the-art technology. He termed the tests of ‘Burraq’ and ‘Barq’ a great national achievement and a momentous occasion. “It is a force multiplier in our anti terror campaign and operations.”
The COAS congratulated the nation, scientists and technicians involved in the development of own drone. “Let us join hands to take Pakistan forward in all fields,” he added. Prime Minister Nawaz Sharif also congratulated the nation on the successful test-fire of armed drone and laser-guided missile. In a message, he appreciated the armed forces of Pakistan as well as the scientists and engineers who contributed towards the indigenous development of the state-of-the-art drone and missile. He said attaining the milestone of drone capability would add a new dimension to Pakistan’s defense capability.
Last month, the US government established a policy for exports of military and commercial drones, including armed ones, and said it plans to work with other countries to shape global standards for the use of the controversial weapons systems. The State Department said it would allow exports of lethal US military drones under strict conditions, including that sales must be made through government programs and that recipient nations must agree to certain ‘end-use assurances’. The policy, the details of which are classified, came after a two-year review amid growing demand from US allies for the new breed of weapons that have played a key role in US military action in Afghanistan, Iraq and Yemen.
MQ-1 Predator UAVs armed with Hellfire missiles have been used by the US as platforms for hitting ground targets. Armed Predators were first used in late 2001 from bases in Pakistan and Uzbekistan, mostly aimed at assassinating high profile individuals (terrorist leaders, etc.) inside Afghanistan. Since then, there have been many reported cases of such attacks taking place in Afghanistan, Pakistan, Yemen, and Somalia. The advantage of using an unmanned vehicle rather than a manned aircraft in such cases is to avoid a diplomatic embarrassment should the aircraft be shot down and the pilots captured, since the bombings take place in countries deemed friendly and without the official permission of those countries.
Courtesy www.dailytimes.com.pk