Institute of Optronics
{{Short description|Defunct military research institute}}
{{Use American English|date=February 2024}}
{{Use dmy dates|date=January 2024}}
{{More citations needed|date=August 2024}}
{{Infobox company
| industry = {{unbulleted list |Defense|Optronics}}
| founded = 1984
| fate = Merged into Research and Development Establishment (RDE)
| successor = Research and Development Establishment (RDE)
| hq_location_city = Rawalpindi, Punjab
| hq_location_country = Pakistan
| area_served = Worldwide
| key_people = Akram S. Hussain Abidi
| products = {{unbulleted list |Night vision devices (NVD)|Thermal weapon sights}}
}}
The Institute of Optronics (shortened as IOP) was a military funded research and development institute located in Rawalpindi, Punjab, Pakistan.{{cite book |last1=Lele |first1=Ajey |title=Asian Space Race: Rhetoric or Reality? |date=20 October 2012 |publisher=Springer Science & Business Media |isbn=978-81-322-0733-7 |pages=280 |url=https://books.google.com/books?id=chtAqyOp9OEC&dq=Institute+of+Optronics+(IOP)&pg=PA52 |language=en}}
Established in 1984 by the Ministry of Defence (MoD), the Institute of Optronics (IOP) conducted research on military lasers, optoelectronics and photonics to support the capabilities of the Pakistan Armed Forces.{{cite web |title=Institute of Optronics (IOP) |url=https://www.epicos.com/company/13872/institute-optronics-iop |access-date=4 February 2024 |website=www.epicos.com |language=en}}
After a reorganization within the Ministry of Defence Production in 2020, the IOP was merged into the newly formed Research and Development Establishment.{{cite book |url=https://books.google.com/books?id=IwBVAAAAMAAJ&q=Institute+of+Optronics+pakistan+AN/PVS-4A+(weapon+sight) |title=Jane's Electro-optic Systems |date=2005 |publisher=Jane's Information Group |isbn=978-0-7106-2620-2 |language=en |access-date=4 February 2024}}{{Cite web |title=Directorate General Research & Development Establishment(DGRDE) |url=https://www.rde.gov.pk/Detail/ZjlkYjNlOTAtZTgzZC00NzY5LThlZmUtY2RhNzEyYzJkZWFi |website=Research and Development Establishment}}
Overview
In 1984, the Ministry of Defence established the Institute of Optronics (IOP) as a research and development (R&D) institute focused on military applications of lasers, optoelectronics, photonics and optronics.{{cite book |last1=Siddiqa-Agha |first1=A. |author1-link=Ayesha Siddiqa |url=https://books.google.com/books?id=beJ8DAAAQBAJ&dq=Institute+of+Optronics+pakistan&pg=PA122 |title=Pakistan's Arms Procurement and Military Buildup, 1979-99: In Search of a Policy |date=20 March 2001 |publisher=Springer |isbn=978-0-230-51352-5 |location=United States |pages=231 |language=en |access-date=4 February 2024}} Set up under military control, the institute's first director was Lieutenant-General Talat Masood from DESTO, located in Rawalpindi Cantonment.{{Cite web |title=Institute of Optronics (IOP) |url=http://www.epicos.com/company/13872/institute-optronics-iop}} The scientific investigations on photonics was led by its principal investigator, Akram S. Hussain Abidi, a physicist with optics specialization who once worked for the NASA at their Goddard Space Flight Center.{{cite book |title=Defence Journal |date=1987 |url=https://books.google.com/books?id=S33fAAAAMAAJ&q=Akram+Hussain+Abidi+nasa |access-date=4 February 2024 |language=en}}{{cite web |title=Institute of Optronics |url=https://www.acronymattic.com/Institute-of-Optronics-(IOP).html |website=AcronymAttic |access-date=4 February 2024 |language=en-us}}
Under Abidi's leadership, the institute acquired expertise in night vision technology through reverse engineering of American models. During the period 1985–1989, the IOP successfully developed and manufactured its first night vision devices (NVDs) based on the AN/PVS-4, AN/PVS-5 and AN/PVS-7 models.{{cite book |last1=Alam |first1=Dr Shah |url=https://books.google.com/books?id=WvapCQAAQBAJ&dq=Institute+of+Optronics+pakistan+AN/PVS-4A+(weapon+sight)&pg=PT70 |title=Pakistan Army: Modernisation, Arms Procurement and Capacity Building |date=1 July 2012 |publisher=Vij Books India Pvt Ltd |isbn=978-93-81411-79-7 |language=en |access-date=4 February 2024}}
Products
- Single Tube Night Vision Binocular {{Cite web |title=OPTRONICS SOLUTIONS |url=https://www.rde.gov.pk/Detail/NGQwZWIxMjYtYjEwZC00ODViLTg4NTAtMzE0OTU1NTAyOGVj |website=Research and Development Establishment}}
- Aviator's Night Vision Goggle For Helicopter
- Thermal Imaging (TI) Based APC Commander & Driver Sights
- Short & Medium Range Thermal Weapon Sight
- Night Vision Weapon Sight For LMG
See also
References
{{Reflist|3}}
External links
- [http://www.modp.gov.pk Official Website of Ministry of Defence Production]
- [https://www.rde.gov.pk/ Research and Development Establishment]
{{Defence industry of Pakistan}}
{{Ministry of Defence Production (Pakistan)}}
Category:1984 establishments in Pakistan
Category:Defunct government departments and agencies of Pakistan