PAC upgrading Super Mushshak aircraft for counter-insurgency operations

[HAIDER]

Pakistan Aeronautical Complex (PAC) is upgrading its Super Mushshak training aircraft to make it compatible for counter-insurgency operations, Jane's 360 reported.

The plane, historically used as a training aircraft, has been integrated with a new glass cockpit and reconnaissance (ISR) capabilities by fitting the aircraft with electro-optic/infrared sensor turrets and an L3 Wescam MX-10 surveillance device.

After initial aerodynamic and structural analysis, one Chinese-built precision-guided bomb was mounted under each wing of one of the aircraft earlier last month, as the next phase of the initiative seeks to arm the Super Mushshak.

Complete Integration will take another three to four months, which includes flight tests and drop tests.
DAWN.COM

Missiles and gunpods of the Pakistan Aeronautical Complex's aircraft

The MFI-395 is fitted with six hardpoints under the wing pylons. The inner two stressed hardpoints can carry up to 150kg each. The remaining four carry rockets, gunpods and Bofor Bantam anti-tank missiles.

 

[HAIDER]

New product from L-3 to target the small helicopter market. This product is 37 pounds and under 14 inches in height. Built-in vibration isolator and GPS.

• 720p or 1080p HD video
• MIL-STD-1553B, ARINC 429, RS-232/422
• 2mb EO Camera
• SMPTE HD digital video & NTSC or PAL analog video outputs

 

[Kurlang]

PAC upgrading Super Mushshak aircraft for counter-insurgency operations

Pakistan Aeronautical Complex (PAC) is upgrading its Super Mushshak training aircraft to make it compatible for counter-insurgency operations, Jane's 360 reported.

The plane, historically used as a training aircraft, has been integrated with a new glass cockpit and reconnaissance (ISR) capabilities by fitting the aircraft with electro-optic/infrared sensor turrets and an L3 Wescam MX-10 surveillance device.

After initial aerodynamic and structural analysis, one Chinese-built precision-guided bomb was mounted under each wing of one of the aircraft earlier last month, as the next phase of the initiative seeks to arm the Super Mushshak.

Complete Integration will take another three to four months, which includes flight tests and drop tests.

The Super Mushshak is an advanced variant of the Mushshak basic trainer.

The aircraft is already in service with Saudi Arabia, Oman, Iran and South Africa. Nigeria bought the aircraft in early 2016 while Qatar bought the trainers in June 2016. The latest buyer of 52 Mushshak planes is Turkey.

Basic flight training is provided on the aircraft for aspiring pilots.

The aircraft has a service ceiling of 22,000 feet, and a maximum speed of 268km/h. Range of the aircraft is reported at 814 kilometres.

 

[Silver Fox XN]

Pakistan looks at COIN role for Super Mushshak aircraft
Alan Warnes, Kamra - IHS Jane's Defence Weekly
19 May 2017
The state-owned Pakistan Aeronautical Complex (PAC), in Kamra, northern Pakistan, is looking at counter-insurgency (COIN) roles for its Super Mushshak training aircraft.

The move comes after the company successfully integrated a new glass cockpit into the aircraft and sold units of the basic trainer to Nigeria (10 units), Qatar (8), and Turkey (52) over the past year.

PAC is fitting weapons onto its Super Mushshaks. This aircraft is armed with two Chinese FT-10s PGBs in late April. (Alan Warnes)

The company is now adding intelligence, surveillance, and reconnaissance (ISR) capabilities by fitting the aircraft with electro-optic/infrared (EO/IR) sensor turrets, with one Super Mushshak already equipped with an L3 Wescam MX-10.

PAC chairman Air Marshal Arshad Malik told Jane's, "We have had several customers enquiring about integrating an ISR system; so we are looking at options.

"While sitting in the cockpit's right seat, the turret operator would control the camera and watch the video feed on the glass screen. At the same time the imagery could be downlinked to the battle commander on the ground. It's a very simple system," the air marshal added.

The second initiative is to arm the Super Mushshak. After initial aerodynamic and structural analysis, one Chinese-built 25 kg FT-10 precision-guided bomb (PGB) was mounted under each wing of one of the aircraft on 29 April.

Complete integration of the weapons is expected to take another three to four months, which will also cover the design and manufacture of the pylons, quality checks, flight test, and eventually a test drop.

The PAC chairman pointed out that to ease the pilot's workload, "PAC is in the process of incorporating servos for the autopilot, too". The newly designed system would assist the pilot in controlling the aircraft should there be any aerodynamic instability after dropping one or both bombs.

An expert at the PAC Kamra's design, technology, and integration department admitted that it would take some time to verify and physically validate the findings of aerodynamic analysis.

 

[Tea addict]

Very economical in the longer run And will also save airframe life or other important aircrafts.
But what effective weapon can they carry at only 300kg armament load?

 

[Army research]

This is awesome considering it can serve as a trainer and coin craft for nations like Nigeria. Absolutely amazing and surprising

 

[mdcp]

Very good move, we need to add night vision capabilities and good for border petrol. We must close our borders to be peaceful and this is right step forward

 

[Silver Fox XN]

Very economical in the longer run And will also save airframe life or other important aircrafts.
But what effective weapon can they carry at only 300kg armament load?

Its going to get FT-10 missile as mentioned by Janes. Means it can target a terrorist vehicle or small compound in IBOs

 

[Inception-06]

They should have done this a long time ago. But it's not to late.

 

[Silver Fox XN]

Let hit some Tangos

 

[Zarvan]

In the end we would be going for these. But if they really want Super Mushak to take this role than they need to add weapons like this or instead use Drones

 

[Army research]

In the end we would be going for these. But if they really want Super Mushak to take this role than they need to add weapons like this or instead use Drones

Why would we? We can't get everything man for god stake stop. This would be a trainer + coin craft not for us but nations like Nigeria. It will boost exports while supporting local ops say in Baluchistan. For gunship role we got MI 35 and Zulu's in bound

 

[Silver Fox XN]

In the end we would be going for these. But if they really want Super Mushak to take this role than they need to add weapons like this or instead use Drones

This costs more buddy! Where as SMK is a very cheaper solution. Plus as Janes mentioned that its for COIN not CAS

 

[Zarvan]

Why would we? We can't get everything man for god stake stop. This would be a trainer + coin craft not for us but nations like Nigeria. It will boost exports while supporting local ops say in Baluchistan. For gunship role we got MI 35 and Zulu's in bound

If Super Mushak is being designed to carry only two Missiles and no rockets than it's of no use better focus on making bigger Drones

 

[BRITISH]

smart work