Air Weapons Complex
{{Short description|Pakistani state owned defence company}}
{{Use dmy dates|date=May 2024}}
{{Use Pakistani English|date=May 2024}}
{{Infobox company
| type = State-owned Enterprise
| industry = Aerospace, Defence
| founded = 18 February 1992
| hq_location = Wah, Punjab
| hq_location_country = Pakistan
| area_served = Pakistan
| key_people =
| owner = MoD
| parent = NESCOM
}}
The Air Weapons Complex (AWC), operated under the National Engineering and Scientific Commission (NESCOM), is a Pakistani research and development entity. Established in 1992 by the Pakistan Air Force, it specialises in advancing airborne applications of explosive engineering.{{cite web |url=https://fas.org/nuke/guide/pakistan/facility/kamra.htm |title= Kamra |website=Federation of Atomic Scientists }}{{cite web|url=http://www.globalsecurity.org/wmd/world/pakistan/kamra.htm|title=Kamra - Pakistan Special Weapons Facilities|first=John|last=Pike|website=www.globalsecurity.org}}
The AWC plays a pivotal role in developing and integrating aerospace war-fighting technologies, catering specifically to the needs of the Pakistan Air Force. Notable achievements include the design and development of air-launched cruise missiles (ALCM) and collaborative efforts with leading defence contractors like NESCOM, DESTO and the NDC.Doug Richardson, “Pakistan tests Hatf 8 air-launched cruise missile,” Jane’s Missiles and Rockets, 1 September 2007; “Pakistan missile test,”{{cite web |title=Air Weapons Complex (AWC) {{!}} Facilities {{!}} NTI |url=https://www.nti.org/learn/facilities/635/ |website=www.nti.org |publisher=NTI Air |access-date=21 August 2020}}
Products
=Airborne systems=
- Airborne Video Tape Recorder (AVTR) system
- Airborne Digital Data Recorder system
- Infra-red search and track (IRST) system
- GNSS navigation system
- Mechanical gyro and iFOG-based inertial navigation system (INS)
- MOHAFIZ counter-measures dispensing system
- Laser guidance for Mk.80 series bombs (license-manufactured design from the US){{cite web |url=http://articles.janes.com/articles/Janes-Radar-and-Electronic-Warfare-Systems/Air-Weapons-Complex--AWC-Pakistan.html |title=Air Weapons Complex, Pakistan |website=articles.janes.com |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20110811212737/http://articles.janes.com/articles/Janes-Radar-and-Electronic-Warfare-Systems/Air-Weapons-Complex--AWC-Pakistan.html |archive-date=11 August 2011 }}
=Air-launched weaponry=
- Practice bombs (6 kg, 11 kg)
- 250 kg Pre-fragmented bomb
- 250 kg Mk.82 general-purpose bomb
- 500 kg Mk.83 bomb
- 1000 kg Mk.84 bomb
- Mk.80 series general-purpose bomb tail units (low drag or high drag speed-retarding devices)
- HAFR-1, HAFR-2{{cite web|url=http://articles.janes.com/articles/Janes-Air-Launched-Weapons/Air-Weapons-Complex-AWC-Pakistan.html|title=Defense & Security Intelligence & Analysis: IHS Jane's - IHS|website=articles.janes.com|url-status=dead|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20110811211353/http://articles.janes.com/articles/Janes-Air-Launched-Weapons/Air-Weapons-Complex-AWC-Pakistan.html|archive-date=11 August 2011}} and RPB-1 anti-runway weapons{{cite web|title=Hafr-1 and -2 RBP-1 Runway Penetration Bomb, Pakistan|url=http://articles.janes.com/articles/Janes-Air-Launched-Weapons/Hafr-1-and-2-RPB-1-Runway-Penetration-Bomb-Pakistan.html|access-date=11 May 2011|url-status=dead|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20110617075828/http://articles.janes.com/articles/Janes-Air-Launched-Weapons/Hafr-1-and-2-RPB-1-Runway-Penetration-Bomb-Pakistan.html|archive-date=17 June 2011}}
- H-2 SOW
- H-4 SOW
- Ra'ad ALCM{{cite news| url=https://www.bbc.co.uk/news/world-south-asia-13235412 | work=BBC News | title=Pakistan tests ballistic missile | date=29 April 2011}}
- Ra'ad-II ALCM
=Electronics=
- Air Defence Automation System (C4I system) - given to Bangladesh, installed by AWC engineers circa 2005.{{cite web|url=http://pakistantimes.net/2005/03/18/top6.htm |title=Bangladesh adopts Pakistan-made air defence system |publisher=Pakistan Times (pakistantimes.net) |access-date=27 May 2011 |url-status=usurped |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20090107102020/http://pakistantimes.net/2005/03/18/top6.htm |archive-date=7 January 2009 }}
- Electronic fuses for air-launched weapons (impact and proximity fuses)
- Real-time ACMI system
- Voice/Fax/Data encryption system
=Other=
- Multi-Spectral Camouflage Net - camouflages against night-vision, infra-red, radar and millimeter wave sensors as well as visual detection. Stated to reduce an object's radar cross-section (RCS) by 86% on average and reduce average detection range by 43.8%.{{cite web |url=http://www.acig.org/artman/publish/article_4.shtml |title=Article 4 |access-date=30 April 2013 |url-status=usurped |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20140728000323/http://www.acig.org/artman/publish/article_4.shtml |archive-date=28 July 2014 }}
Technical Expertise
- Software Development for Mission Critical Systems
- Nondestructive Testing Software and Mechanical Support
- Electronic System Design and Production
- Prototyping and Production of Specialized Mechanical Assemblies
- Mechanical Components Precision Manufacturing
- TQM Practices
- Mil-Spec Qualifications
- CAD/CAM Support
UAV project
The Air Weapons Complex embarked on a project for the indigenous development of UAVs (unmanned aerial vehicles) in mid-1998. The Sky Tracker and Sky Navigator software suites were developed for the ground-based tracking of UAVs. The software retrieves the GPS position data from the UAV via a radio data-link 17 and uses it to show the position of the UAV as a 2D plot along with other essential data such as, speed, altitude, heading, etc. This plot can be overlaid onto area maps as well. This information is used by the pilot for flying the UAV from the ground-based command station.{{cite web|url=http://articles.janes.com/articles/Janes-Unmanned-Aerial-Vehicles-and-Targets/AWC-Mk-I-and-Mk-II-Pakistan.html|title=Defense & Security Intelligence & Analysis: IHS Jane's - IHS|website=articles.janes.com|url-status=dead|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20120402185130/http://articles.janes.com/articles/Janes-Unmanned-Aerial-Vehicles-and-Targets/AWC-Mk-I-and-Mk-II-Pakistan.html|archive-date=2 April 2012}}
References
{{Reflist}}
{{Pakistan Air Force main}}
{{coord missing|Pakistan}}
{{authority control}}
Category:Pakistan federal departments and agencies
Category:Defence companies of Pakistan
Category:Military research of Pakistan