Pak starts production of indigenous drone 'Falco'

Islamabad, Aug.21 (ANI): Pakistan has started production of indigenous unmanned aircrafts commonly known as drones from its leading aeronautical factory in Kamra in Punjab province.

The Pakistani version of drone called Falco is being produced in collaboration with an Italian company at the Kamra based Pakistan Aeronautical Complex (PAC), the Daily Times reports.

"Falco is an advanced, tactical UAV designed by Selex Galileo Italy. It would address current and future surveillance and reconnaissance needs of the Pakistan Air Force (PAF)," a Pakistan Air Force (PAF) spokesperson said.

Islamabad has been pushing United States to provide the drone technology, if not the aircrafts, so that it could carry out operation against the Taliban and other extremist groups on its soil.

While Pakistan says the missile hits are proving counterproductive in the war on terror with more civilians being killed, America maintains that the drone strikes are proving to be very effective against the militants based in the lawless tribal regions along the Pakistan-Afghanistan border.

During his meeting with the visiting US Special Envoy for Afghanistan and Pakistan, Richard Holbrooke, earlier this week, Prime Minister Yousuf Raza Gilani had urged the US to provide drone technology to Pakistan.

Gilani, during the meeting, told Holbrooke that Pakistanis were concerned about the US drone attacks inside their country, and that the missile hits were proving counterproductive in the war on terror.

Gilaini said the strikes by unmanned predators are promoting 'anti-Americanism' in Pakistan.

"Drone attacks remain a matter of public concern in Pakistan. The US should provide drone technology to Pakistan, enabling its armed forces to take action against terrorists," he said. (ANI)