Pakistan’s premier defense conglomerate, Global Industrial & Defence Solutions (GIDS) has significantly expanded the range of payloads offered in its UAV portfolio for use with the Shahpar-2/3.
The newly expanded portfolio includes Electronic Support Measures (ESM) systems, featuring an ELINT payload called Ribat Airborne and SAR Radar. Additionally, GIDS is working on a maritime suite for the Shahpar-3.
The Ribat ESM ELINT payload can detect RF emissions in the 0.5–18 GHz range, weighing 30 kg, including internal hardware and antennas. This allows it to detect both the Radars and EW Emissions as well as emissions from Ships, etc.
In addition to the Ribat ELINT ESM, GIDS has also introduced an airborne COMINT payload, which includes a 5-antenna array and falls within the same weight category as the Ribat ESM. The system is able to detect Comms signals and provide ESM for various uses including CT Ops.
Furthermore, GIDS has launched a Synthetic Aperture Radar (SAR) payload for the Shahpar-3. The SAR offers detection capabilities up to 60 km, with a range of resolution modes from 30 cm to 5 m, and weighs 35 kg in total. The SAR supports various modes, including StripMap, SpotLight, GMTI, MMTI, ACD, and CCD, among others.
Additionally, GIDS has been working on developing a maritime suite for the Shahpar3. For this purpose, GIDS is developing an ultra-light torpedo that can be dropped from the UAV. The torpedo has a 1km detection range for the seeker and can go to depths up to 400k while achieving a speed of 40Knots.
The initial targeting data for the torpedo would be fed in from other MPAs or a Shahpar-3 carrying Sonobuoys. While GIDS did showcase Sonobuoy next to Shahpar-3, it is still working on developing a Sonobuoy dropping pod for them that can be carried by the UAV.
These efforts indicate that GIDS is now expanding towards developing enhanced niche payloads for the UAVs rather than just offering them with just A2G missiles or EO/IR sensors as has been the case before.
