POF Eye

Lore & Background

The POF Eye was developed by Pakistan Ordnance Factories, with the overall designing and finalizing taking six months. Chairman of the POF board, Lt. Gen. Syed Sabahat Husain, told delegates at IDEAS 2008 that the product might meet the requirements of law enforcing agencies to curb terrorist activities. A live demonstration was shown to delegates. The project was designed and supervised by Dr. Muhammad Ayaz Khan, who gave a press briefing on its features in 2008.

Unlike the Cornershot, which is chiefly made of plastic, the POF Eye is constructed entirely of metal. Its lower receiver is based on POF's MP5 clones, and the stock is similar to the Galil. The weapon includes a small high-resolution camera, laser sight, and a colour LCD monitor for observing targets from various vantage points. The video camera enables forces to scan an area and broadcast footage in real time to the operating team or a Command Post monitor. Its head can turn 75 degrees. As of 2016, the Eye can use an image transmission package with an IR camera having a range of 20 meters; video transmission has a range of 400 meters. An LCD screen can be mounted on the back of a person with an ocular device strapped to the helmet, and a battery pack worn on a vest or similar gear can be easily changed in the field.

The POF Eye is available in several variations, mountable with a standard 9 mm semi-automatic pistol, a sub-machine gun, or a grenade launcher. As of 2014, it had been sold to Pakistani security forces. In 2015, General Tan Sri Raja Mohamed Affandi, the then-Malaysian Army chief, visited POF to examine the weapon. On 13 February 2018, the Eye was featured in a POF documentary.

Reader's Guide

The POF Eye represents a specialized approach to urban combat and anti-terrorist operations, designed specifically for SWAT and special forces teams in hostile situations such as counter-terrorism and hostage rescue. Its development by Pakistan Ordnance Factories, with a six-month design period, reflects a focused effort to address the needs of law enforcement agencies in curbing terrorist activities. The weapon's all-metal construction distinguishes it from similar systems, and its integration of a high-resolution camera, laser sight, and LCD monitor allows operators to observe and engage targets from concealed positions. The ability to mount various weapon types—a 9 mm semi-automatic pistol, sub-machine gun, or grenade launcher—provides flexibility for different mission requirements. The system's video transmission capability, with a range of 400 meters, and the option for an IR camera with a 20-meter range, enhance situational awareness. The POF Eye saw adoption by Pakistani security forces by 2014 and attracted international interest, as evidenced by the Malaysian Army chief's visit in 2015. Its inclusion in a POF documentary in 2018 further documented its role. The weapon's design, supervised by Dr. Muhammad Ayaz Khan, and the training sessions conducted by POF for local law enforcement agencies underscore its intended purpose as a tool for specialized tactical units.

Did You Know?

• The POF Eye was first revealed at IDEAS 2008 in Karachi.
• The weapon is constructed entirely of metal, unlike the plastic Cornershot.
• It can be mounted with a grenade launcher, sub-machine gun, or 9 mm semi-automatic pistol.

Origins & Development

The POF Eye was developed by Pakistan Ordnance Factories as a purpose-built hand-held weapon for engaging targets around corners. According to designer Ashfaq Ahmad, the overall design and finalization process spanned roughly six months. The project was supervised by Dr. Muhammad Ayaz Khan, who held the position of chief member on POF's board of directors. The weapon made its public debut at the 5th International Defence Exhibition and Seminar (IDEAS 2008), held at the Karachi Expo Centre in November 2008. During the event, POF Chairman Lt. Gen. Syed Sabahat Husain briefed visiting delegates, explaining that the new product was intended to help law-enforcing agencies curb terrorist activities. A live demonstration was conducted for the assembled audience, and numerous domestic and international participants expressed keen interest in the newly introduced anti-terrorist weapon. POF subsequently outlined plans to accept supply orders from prospective local and international buyers once mass production commenced.

Design & Technical Features

Whereas the Cornershot relies largely on plastic components, the POF Eye is fabricated wholly from metal. Its lower receiver draws on the design language of MP5 clones, while the stock resembles that of the Galil rifle. The system incorporates a small high-resolution camera, a laser sight, and a colour LCD monitor that lets operators observe targets from multiple vantage points. The camera head rotates through 75 degrees, enabling an operator to scan an area before pinpointing a specific threat. Footage can be broadcast in real time to the operating team positioned behind cover or to a Command Post monitor. By 2016, the Eye had been updated to support an image transmission package featuring an infrared camera with a 20-metre range, while video transmission extends to 400 metres. An LCD screen is mounted on the back of an operator, paired with an ocular device strapped to the helmet. A battery pack, worn on a vest or similar gear, can be swapped in the field. The weapon is available in several variants, accepting a standard 9 mm semi-automatic pistol, a sub-machine gun, or a grenade launcher.

Operational Role & Deployment

The POF Eye was conceived specifically for urban combat, anti-terrorist operations, and police SWAT engagements. Its primary mission profile involves counter-terrorism and hostage rescue scenarios where operators must neutralize threats without exposing themselves to direct line-of-fire. To prepare Pakistani law enforcement agencies for the weapon, POF conducted dedicated training sessions to familiarize personnel with the system's handling and capabilities. As of 2014, the Eye had been sold to Pakistani security forces, marking its transition from exhibition showcase to operational equipment in the hands of domestic operators. The weapon's design philosophy centers on giving special forces teams a safe means to engage hostile targets in confined or complex environments. The real-time video feed capability allows a broader team to maintain situational awareness while a single operator manipulates the camera head through its 75-degree arc. The ability to swap between a pistol, sub-machine gun, or grenade launcher gives operators tactical flexibility depending on the situation they face in the field.

International Interest & Legacy

The POF Eye attracted significant attention beyond Pakistan's borders from the moment it was unveiled. At IDEAS 2008, numerous domestic and international delegates expressed keen interest in the newly introduced anti-terrorist weapon, and POF indicated plans to accept supply orders from prospective buyers both locally and abroad. In 2015, General Tan Sri Raja Mohamed Affandi, the then-chief of the Malaysian Army, visited Pakistan Ordnance Factories to personally examine the Eye, underscoring the weapon's appeal to foreign military leadership. On 13 February 2018, the system was featured in a POF-produced documentary, further cementing its place in the factory's portfolio. The weapon's entirely metal construction, modular weapon-mount options, and integrated real-time video transmission package set it apart from the plastic-bodied Cornershot it was inspired to improve upon. For Pakistan, the Eye represented a notable step in indigenous defence manufacturing, demonstrating the country's capacity to develop specialized tactical equipment for both domestic security forces and potential export markets.