GIDS Shahpar-III

The GIDS Shahpar-III is a medium-altitude, long-endurance unmanned combat aerial vehicle developed by NESCOM and sold by GIDS. As the latest addition to the Shahpar family, it is built to rival platforms such as the MQ-9 Reaper.

The drone emerged from Pakistan’s push to strengthen its domestic aerospace industry. GIDS first hinted at the Shahpar-III in a future roadmap on its website, where it was listed as a Group-4+ UCAV. Later, models and technology demonstrators appeared at international defense shows like IDEF-2023. Development reportedly cost around US$100 million.

At the IDEAS-24 exhibition in November 2024, GIDS CEO Asad Kamal and Pakistan’s army chief General Asim Munir publicly unveiled the Shahpar-III. GIDS again classified it as a Group-4+ UCAV and stated it was designed to compete with drones in the same class, including the MQ-9 Reaper.

The aircraft uses domestically produced flight control systems and avionics, including a 1553 architecture dual-redundant flight control computer for improved reliability. It can perform intelligence, surveillance, and reconnaissance (ISR), intelligence, surveillance, target acquisition, and reconnaissance (ISTAR), close air support (CAS), and maritime missions. It can carry Pakistani-made munitions such as Barq missiles and Al Battaar laser-guided bombs, though other weapons can also be integrated.

As of 2026, the Pakistan Air Force is integrating the Shahpar-III as a future operator.

Two variants exist: the Shahpar-III with a 140 hp engine, and the Shahpar-III with a more powerful 170 hp engine. The specifications listed are for the 170 hp configuration.