GIDS Shahpar-II
Pakistani UCAV with autonomous takeoff, landing, and precision strike capability.
The GIDS Shahpar-II is an unmanned combat aerial vehicle (UCAV) produced by Pakistan’s Global Industrial Defence Solutions (GIDS). It has entered production after completing testing and qualification. The aircraft is a development of the earlier GIDS Shahpar.
The airframe uses a pusher engine with canard foreplanes ahead of the wings. According to an engineer from AERO, one of the seven companies in the GIDS consortium, the only components not made in Pakistan are the engine and tires. The sensor suite—a multi-sensor turret called the Zumr-II (EO/IR)—is built at an AERO facility near Islamabad. The drone can take off and land autonomously on a runway or land using a parachute. Its payloads support reconnaissance and day/night surveillance. The avionics can geo-reference and geo-point ground targets. The hardware meets military standard Environmental Specification 810F. Ground equipment handles mission planning, simulation, mission management, control, and crew debriefing.
An upgraded version, the Shahpar-2 Block II, offers a higher service ceiling and longer flight time. On 24 August 2024, one Shahpar-II crashed in Bhakkar district, Punjab, due to a technical error; the exact cause remains under investigation. Reuters reported that Pakistani sources confirmed the drone’s use during the 2025 India-Pakistan conflict.
The Shahpar-II was first publicly displayed on 23 March 2021 during the Pakistan Day parade. On 28 November 2021, at EDEX 2021, GIDS revealed operational specifications and a promotional video showing the drone’s locating, tracking, and targeting abilities for surveillance and ground attack. The Zumr-II turret was introduced as a lighter, improved version of the Zumr-I (EP) turret. The targeting and surveillance turret is installed as an internal payload, and the drone can also accept targeting systems from foreign suppliers. It can carry SAR, COMINT, and ELINT payloads. Internally, the drone has a hardpoint for a 50 kg payload (the Zumr-I weighs 36.5 kg, the Zumr-II 49 kg). Two external hardpoints can each carry 60 kg of laser-guided weapons or air-to-ground missiles. The promotional video showed the Shahpar-II firing the Barq laser-guided air-to-surface missile at moving and stationary targets with high accuracy.
Quick Facts
- Aircraft Type
- Reconnaissance/Attack
- National Origin
- Pakistan
- Manufacturer
- Global Industrial Defence Solutions
- Designer
- GIDS
- Introduction
- 2021
- Developed From
- GIDS Shahpar
- Developed Into
- GIDS Shahpar-III
Facts from the source article.
Lore & Background
The Shahpar-II was first publicly exhibited on March 23, 2021, during the Pakistan Day parade. On November 28, 2021, at EDEX 2021, GIDS unveiled operational specifications and a promotional video showing the drone's locating, tracking, and targeting capabilities as a surveillance and ground attack drone. The Zumr-II (EO/IR) multi-sensor turret was also unveiled at that time as an improved and lighter version of the Zumr-I turret. The drone has two external hardpoints capable of carrying laser-guided weapons, including the Barq laser-guided missile, and an internal hardpoint for a 50 kg payload. An upgraded version, the Shahpar-2 Block II, has been launched with a higher service ceiling and longer flight time. Development of the Shahpar-III, a medium-altitude long-endurance UAV, is underway with a first flight expected around the end of 2023.
The design features a pusher engine with canard foreplanes in front of the wings. According to an engineer of AERO (Advanced Engineering Research Organisation), the only parts of the Shahpar aircraft system not produced in Pakistan are the engine and tires. The sensor suite is built at an AERO facility near Islamabad. The Shahpar II is designed to autonomously take off and land on a runway or land with a parachute. It is equipped with an autonomous GPS-based tracking and control system, real-time data link (LoS) with 300 km range, and SATCOM data link with 1500 km range. The military standard hardware is built to Environmental Standard 810F. On August 24, 2024, one UAV crashed in Bhakkar district, Punjab, due to a technical error, with the exact cause under investigation. Reuters reported that Pakistani sources confirmed the use of the Shahpar-II during the 2025 India-Pakistan conflict.
Reader's Guide
The Shahpar-II represents a significant step in Pakistan's indigenous unmanned combat aerial vehicle capabilities, being produced by the GIDS consortium with most components manufactured domestically. Its development from the earlier Shahpar model and the subsequent launch of the Block II upgrade demonstrate ongoing refinement of the platform. The drone's ability to carry both internal and external payloads, including the Zumr-II turret and Barq laser-guided missiles, positions it for reconnaissance and precision strike missions. The integration of autonomous takeoff and landing, SATCOM data links, and mid-air engine restart capability enhances its operational flexibility. The reported use during the 2025 India-Pakistan conflict, as confirmed by Pakistani sources to Reuters, indicates its deployment in active combat. The crash in August 2024, attributed to a technical error under investigation, highlights the challenges of fielding new systems. The ongoing development of the Shahpar-III suggests a continued investment in this class of UAV.
Did You Know?
- Only the engine and tires of the Shahpar aircraft system are not produced in Pakistan.
- The Zumr-II (EO/IR) turret weighs 49 kg, while the earlier Zumr-I weighed 36.5 kg.
Frequently Asked Questions
What is the GIDS Shahpar-II?
It is a Pakistani unmanned combat aerial vehicle developed by the seven-company Global Industrial Defence Solutions consortium. The aircraft is the next-generation evolution of the earlier Shahpar design and has transitioned into production after finishing its testing and qualification cycle.
What are the Shahpar-II's key flight and payload specs?
The airframe is 8 m long with a 9.45 m wingspan and a max takeoff weight of 1,075 kg. It can carry 53 kg internally or 190 kg on external hardpoints, and delivers up to 20 hours of endurance in surveillance mode or 12 hours when armed.
Which parts of the Shahpar-II are not made in Pakistan?
According to an AERO engineer, the only imported components are the pusher engine and the tires. Everything else, including the Zumr-II electro-optical/infrared sensor turret, is built domestically, with the turret assembled at an AERO facility near Islamabad.
What combat role does the Shahpar-II perform?
It operates as a precision-strike UCAV with autonomous takeoff, landing, and targeting capability. Its service ceiling reaches 23,000 ft in a surveillance configuration and 21,000 ft when carrying weapons.
How does the Shahpar-II differ from the original Shahpar?
The Shahpar-II is a direct developmental step from the earlier Shahpar, featuring a pusher-engine layout with canard foreplanes mounted ahead of the main wings. It also integrates the Zumr-II multi-sensor turret for improved electro-optical and infrared targeting.
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