After the 9/11 incident US had carried thousands of drone strikes by using (Unmanned Aerial Vehicle) in the North-West of Pakistan, which causing innocent casualties. Whom they were intended to target was a concern for Pakistan because it hurt the sovereignty of a country.
Pakistan offers their complete support to eradicate the base camp of terrorists by asking the US to give drone technology, however, they refused to do it. Remember the F-16's Aircraft agreement which is enough to understand the dilemma of the US.
Anyhow, the reason for discussing those events is to reflect the background history of acquiring Burraq. As drone technology is exponentially used in the modern era both in combat and surveillance. It is a compulsion for Pakistan to acquire drone technology to compete in modern warfare.
US decision forced Pakistan to consider alternatives and that would be in the form of China, after reviewing the Chinese model it found lacking capabilities that the Pakistani Military intended to acquire. Consequently, assistance from the Pakistan Air Force led the National Engineering and Scientific Commission to locally produced highly advanced drones designated as Burraq - named after the heavenly horse used to carry Prophet Mohammad (P.B.U.H) from Macca to Jerusalem.
Its development began in 2009, later it was officially disclosed to the public in 2013. In the beginning, it was solely used to achieve data through intelligence, surveillance, and reconnaissance. But later in 2015, it was integrated with combat capabilities with later practically demonstrated in operations.
It shares the similarity with American Predator and the Chinese CH-3 series. With that Burraq carries a single 'Barq' air-to-surface laser-guided missile which rembled with American 'Hellfire'.
Pakistan was the 4th country that developed the drone locally with no assistance from other states. Former DG ISPR Asim Saleem Bajwa tweeted in 2015, "first-ever use of Pakistan made Burraq drone today. Hit a terrorist compound in Shawal Valley killing 3 high profile terrorists."
"The future of warfare is getting more and more virtual," said Tufail, a former Air Force pilot. "By using UAVs, the risk of exploding pilots to being shot down is eliminated, besides the possibility of flying missions for days and weeks on end. The bio-support systems like ejection seats, oxygen supply, and pressurization system are obviated, lightening up the aircraft for more range/endurance and payload," he said.
Specifications:
- Country of origin: Pakistan
- Length: 7m
- Width: 9m
- Empty weight: 500kg
- Takeoff Weight: 1000kg
- Speed: 2,015km/h
- Service ceiling: 24,606feet
- Range: 1,000km
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