PAF begins production of FALCO UAV

In a simple but impressive ceremony, the commencement of Falco UAV Co-Production Project was inaugurated at Pakistan Aeronautical Complex (PAC) Kamra today. Air Marshal Farhat Hussain Khan, Chairman PAC Board was the chief guest at the occasion.

Falco is an advanced tactical Unmanned Aerial Vehicle (UAV) designed by Selex Galileo, Italy and will be co-produced by Pakistan Aeronautical Complex, Kamra. Falco UAV would address the present and future surveillance and reconnaissance needs of Pakistan Air Force.

Speaking on the occasion, Air Marshal Farhat Hussain said that the addition of UAV co-production facility would be a major step towards the long-term goal of self reliance in military aviation industry. He lauded the efforts of engineers and technicians of Pakistan Aeronautical Complex, Kamra who had worked unrelentingly for the last two years to establish the facility. Highlighting the enormity of the task, he said that establishing a UAV facility at Pakistan Aeronautical Complex Kamra was a challenging task requiring dedication beyond expectations. He further said that Falco UAV will be utilized, keeping in view the current regional and global challenges and will greatly enhance the PAF operational capability. Air Marshal Farhat lauded the cooperation of the Italian company involved in the project due to which Pakistan would now become part of an exclusive club of countries who have indigenous capability to manufacture a modern tactical drone.

Earlier, Managing Director Aircraft Manufacturing Factory, Air Vice Marshal Aminullah Khan and Managing Director F6 RF, Air Commodore Nadeem Aslam, presented an appraisal of the project activities. Managing Director AMF also appreciated Air Headquarters and Government Ministries for their unwavering support to the project.

He specifically mentioned the state-of-the-art machines and equipment inducted for the project and said that these technologies are unique in country and represent a quantum leap in the capability of Pakistan Aeronautical Complex in the field of Composites. He also said that induction of this technology has opened a new dimension in the field of aviation manufacturing at PAC and would be utilized for other futuristic requirements of aviation industry.

Jane's Defence Weekly

Farhan Bokhari JDW Correspondent - Islamabad


The Pakistan Aeronautical Complex (PAC), Pakistan's chief aircraft manufacturing facility, has formally launched plans to part-produce the Falco unmanned aerial vehicle (UAV), a system already acquired by the Pakistan Air Force (PAF) from Italian company Selex Galileo. The project, unveiled on 20 August, will result in some of the Falco's parts being manufactured domestically to reduce reliance on Italian imports.

The new programme marks an important step towards achieving an indigenous UAV capability - something seen as increasingly important to the PAF as it expands its role in the country's war against militants across North West Frontier Province (NWFP). Air Chief Marshal Rao Qamar Suleman, the chief of staff of the PAF, told Jane's earlier in August about the PAF's growing role in supporting anti-terrorism operations. UAVs are understood to be central to these efforts. Earlier this year, the Pakistani military successfully blocked an advance by Taliban militants in and around the northern Swat valley, with the PAF "carrying out several strikes on Taliban strongholds" following UAV surveillance, according to a senior Pakistani security official.

The PAC chairman Air Marshal Farhat Hussain Khan said at the project's opening ceremony that continued use of the Falco "would greatly enhance the PAF's operational capability". Western defence officials in Islamabad told Jane's that Pakistan would eventually seek another armed UAV or work with Selex Galileo to develop a weaponised version of the Falco. "Today, the Falco UAV is principally for [reconnaissance] and intel-gathering purposes," said one official. "But I am sure the Pakistanis will eventually try to go for UAVs armed with missiles."

The launch of the Falco project precedes the PAC's roll-out, expected later this year, of the first locally built JF-17 fighter, an aircraft jointly developed by the PAC and China's Chengdu Aircraft Corporation (CAC). The PAF plans to acquire at least 250 JF-17s to form the backbone of its fighter fleet. "The Falco UAV and the JF-17 both fit into the same philosophy, which is to reduce reliance wherever possible on imports," said the Western official. "Over time, Pakistan seems to be getting into handling more and more sophisticated technology."

Falco UAV Finds Pakistan A Most Suitable Environment

The Pakistan Air force has initiated the start of the Falco UAV Co-Production Project. The project was inaugurated at Pakistan Aeronautical Complex (PAC) Kamra last Thursday, with Air Marshal Farhat Hussain Khan, Chairman, PAC Board, was the featured guest at the occasion. Falco is an advanced tactical Unmanned Aerial Vehicle (UAV) designed by Selex Galileo, Italy, and will be co-produced by Pakistan Aeronautical Complex, Kamra. The Falco UAV will address the present and future surveillance and reconnaissance needs of the Pakistan Air Force. Speaking on the occasion, Air Marshal Farhat Hussain said the addition of UAV co-production facility would be a major step towards the long-term goal of self reliance in military aviation industry. He lauded the efforts of engineers and technicians of Pakistan Aeronautical Complex who had worked diligently for the last two years to establish the facility. He further stated that Falco UAV will greatly enhance the PAF operational capability. Earlier, Managing Director Aircraft Manufacturing Factory, Air Vice Marshal Aminullah Khan and Managing Director F6 RF, Air Commodore Nadeem Aslam, presented an appraisal of the project activities. The induction of this technology has opened a new dimension in the field of aviation manufacturing at PAC and would be used for other requirements of aviation industry. The roll-out of the first co-produced Falco UAV from Pakistan Aeronautical Complex should occur in the near future.

Posted in: Pakistan,UAV