By Noah Shachtman
America's killer drones are getting all the attention, in the fight against Pakistani militants. But Pakistan's military has plenty of unmanned aerial vehicles, or UAVs, too. And they're being used to spy on suspected insurgents, and listen in on their phone calls.
Since 2002, Pakistan has dramatically expanded its robotic fleet in the sky, Defense News reports. The Pakistani Air Force has two UAV squadrons -- and is looking to build up to six.
"Al-Qaida and Taliban fighters use not just mobile and satellite phones for communication, but also sophisticated military radios," Defense News notes. So companies like East West Infiniti are building SIGINT [signals intelligence] for small drones and robotic blimps, to capture those conversations. Designed for militaries unable to afford high-end, dedicated SIGINT platforms, East West's Whisper Watch system can detect and monitor electronic emissions up to 250 kilometers away and then retransmit to a ground station located out of harms way.
Karachi-based Integrated Dynamics actually exports its Border Eagle surveillance drone to the United States for border patrol duties. The company also makes drones the turbojet-powered Tornado decoy, which can fly up to 200 kilometers, and emit false radar signals to "confuse enemy air defenses into thinking they are attacking aircraft," Defense News says.
Note: Pakistani UAV gear were on display in November, at IDEAS, Pakistan's big military trade show.
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9 comments:
This is not a phony web site to scare Mr. Jadev and Associates ... Riaz??
We want peace!!!
The drone attacks are indeed a menace and the ultimate consequence isfar more troubling that it could be imagined.
I have tried to depict the scenario in my blog: http://blog-bilo.blogspot.com/2008/11/pakistan-engulfed-in-terror-war.html
^^ I have heard this story a long time ago of this Pak-based mini-UAV company. Its totally cool that US Border Patrols are using Pak-made drones.I hope we Indians can bridge the gap with help from master of UAVs..the Israelis ;-).Indian Special Forces are reportedly in process of inducting these kinda of mini-UAVs for tactical reconnaissance. Hopefully, we can see all these gizmos in action in short while in much awaited Ind-Pak military match across the border.
And Jaydev is a peace loving terrorist, secular extremist, blood sucking compatriot, liberal bigot from Kerala...Uhhhh..Phew.
checkout movie "Eagle Eye (2008)"..The opening scene in the movie is US special forces using these mini-uavs to identify taliban commander in a convoy which when confirmed, they call in the (abnormally fast) Reaper(Predator-B) attack drones to assassinate him. I guess UAVs are the future then.
Jaydev - for you, even babpu (Gandhi) was and Arundhati Roy is a cross border terrorist. You don't need drones for the manner in which you killed police officer Kirkerey or for that matter anyone who differs in his point of view with you. No wonder, the "big bald bigot" a.k.a Riaz wrote that 21st century challenges piece. The bad news for you is that there are millions back there on each side who will provide you with a crushing defeat.
Jaydev,
Thx for the suggestion.
I guess counter-insurgency and anti-terror wars will depend more and more on tactics involving reliable signal intelligence and armed drones. But most nations, incl US and Israel, are not going to succeed by military means alone. A more comprehensive strategy is needed to defeat insurgents and terrorists.
A website called Democracy Arsenal asks the following about this post:
Fine, Pakistan is, in some sense, technologically advanced. None of Tech Lahore's indicators, though, discuss what I would call underlying structural factors. In other words, these are primarily dependent rather than independent variables, meaning that it is unlikely that the feedback loops are going to run from technology to politics or culture, whereas politics will obviously be an engine of reform in non-political sectors.
Here's what I think:
Without going into the specific accomplishments in Pakistan during Musharraf-Aziz regime, I believe it can be safely said that the communications revolution (accompanied by dramatic growth in vociferous electronic and new media) as well as a significant enlargement of the middle class in Pakistan helped sow the seeds of the end of arbitrary actions by President Musharraf. In other words, Musharraf pulled a Gorbachev ( a la perestroika that unleashed uncontrolled energies) by enabling powerful resistance to arbitrary rule. Some of these changes are durable and I hope will make our rulers more accountable. There will still be abuse of power but the sunlight will shine brightly on it to the detriment of the abusers. Eventually there will be real participatory democracy with appropriate checks and balance imposed by a much larger and more powerful and aware middle class essential for true democratic governance in Pakistan.
Drones and UAVs now have a very lethal role to play. They are much advanced and have a greater capability of carrying payloads. So, their usage would increase by time, my friend.
For a detailed study about UAVs, their employment, and future prospects, visit >Unmanned Aerial Vehicles - A DETAILED STUDY
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