Pakistan-based Integrated Defense Systems (IDS) and Advanced Computing and Engineering Solutions say they anticipate at least another 18 months of spiral development on their respective Eagle Eye PI, Eagle Eye PII and Huma-1 tactical unmanned air vehicle systems before national army production decisions are due.
Both firms, which exhibited at DSEi as part of Pakistan's National Engineering and Scientific Commission, say they are regularly conducting demonstrations for the Pakistani army in response to ongoing requests for capability modifications. A final statement of requirement is still to be finalised by the service, with Islamabad currently taking delivery of 12 Galileo Avionica Falco tactical UAVs to meet its urgent operational requirements.
The parallel indigenous development efforts are intended to ensure ongoing national technical and manufacturing capability in the UAV sector. The truck-launched Huma-1 has been flying since 2003 and is intended to operate as a battlefield surveillance and reconnaissance asset.
It has a 14.4ft (4.4m) wing span, 130kg (285lb) maximum take-off weight, zero length take-off using a rocket booster and is recovered by parachute. IDS says that, in addition to Huma-1, it is now working on a larger derivative that will provide increased payload and endurance but will remain within the tactical air vehicle category.
The Eagle Eye PI/II systems are both runway dependent. With a 16.5ft span and 130kg MTOW, the former flew for the first time in 2002, while the 18.9ft span, 175kg PII followed in 2005. All three Pakistani designs use a high-wing monoplane airframe with twin tail booms and a pusher propeller.
Source: Flight International
