‘Pakistan has developed pilotless drone technology’

Friday, December 11, 2009 By By our correspondent

Karachi Federal Minister for Defence Production Abdul Qayyum Khan Jatoi has said that Pakistan has developed the technology of pilotless drone aircraft on its own and now discussions are on with China to further improve this important defence capability. The federal minister said this on Thursday while talking to newsmen after attending the keel-laying ceremony held here for indigenous building of the Chinese origin F-22 P Frigate for Pakistan Navy. The ceremony marked achievement of another milestone towards the Pakistan Navy’s goal for greater self-reliance in enhancing its defence capabilities. The keel-laying ceremony of the ship was held at the Karachi Shipyard & Engineering Works (KS&EW) where the Chief of Naval Staff, Admiral Noman Bashir, was also present, besides senior naval officers, representatives of the Ministry of Defence, and delegates from China. Earlier, the federal minister expressed his pleasure at witnessing remarkable turnaround of the Karachi shipyard, especially promotion of its facilities for indigenous defence production. Jatoi was also impressed by seeing all departments of the shipyard performing actively. He appreciated the quality of the work, skills, and hard work of workers of the Karachi Shipyard. In his welcome address at the ceremony, Managing Director, KS&EW, Vice-Admiral Iftikhar Ahmed Rao underlined salient features of the F-22P frigate building project. The first of the frigates, the PNS Zulfiqar, has recently been inducted in the Pakistan Navy Fleet whereas two ships are in different stages of construction in China and will be handed over to Pakistan in 2010. The fourth ship being built at the Karachi Shipyard is expected to be completed by 2013. The F-22 P frigate is a Sword Class Ship equipped with long range surface-to-surface and surface-to-air missiles, depth charges, torpedoes, latest automatic 76mm guns, Close-in-Weapon System (CIWS), sensors, radars, Sonars, electronic warfare paraphernalia, and advanced command and control systems. The ship is 123 metres long and has a displacement of 3000 tons. It also carries anti-submarine Z9EC helicopters.

Source: http://www.thenews.com.pk/print1.asp?id=212723