UQAB NG
Global Industrial & Defence Solutions · Pakistan · also known as Uqab-NG · Updated
UQAB NG is a catapult-launched, net-recovered tactical UAV built by Global Industrial & Defence Solutions (GIDS) of Pakistan, designed for day and night reconnaissance and surveillance without the need for a runway. GIDS's product listing described it as a low-weight, compact system for real-time surveillance missions.
Overview
GIDS designed UQAB NG for clients needing a long-endurance, high-ceiling tactical reconnaissance UAV that can operate from unprepared sites, using hydro-pneumatic catapult launch and recovery into a hoisted net, with an emergency parachute as a backup. GIDS's manufacturer page, which listed the system alongside the company's Shahpar family of tactical and medium-altitude UAVs, has since been reorganised and no longer lists UQAB NG by name; the specifications below reflect GIDS's most recent published listing for the type.
Design and capabilities
GIDS gave UQAB NG a 6.2 m wingspan and a 4 m length, with a maximum take-off weight of 105 kg. The manufacturer stated a range of 150 km line-of-sight, an endurance of more than 8 hours, and a service ceiling of up to 18,000 ft AMSL (about 5,486 m). Navigation uses an RTK-based tri-constellation DGNSS receiver with a magnetic-compass dead-reckoning backup, and flight control runs on a dual-core DSP processor with a STIM MEMS inertial measurement unit.
The standard sensor payload pairs a daylight camera offering 27.7x optical zoom with a cooled infrared sensor offering 14x optical zoom and a 12 km laser rangefinder, along with onboard target tracking and AI-based multiple-target recognition with geo-referencing. GIDS listed dual-band encrypted data and video links, a Stanag-compliant ground control station, mission playback and data logging, and an automatic return-to-base or landing function if the battery runs low or the datalink fails.
Operational history
GIDS has not publicly named an operator for UQAB NG, and no independent reporting of its use was found. GIDS markets a broader family of tactical and medium-altitude UAVs, including the Shahpar series, to the Pakistani armed forces and export customers, but the company's public materials do not state a specific customer or introduction date for UQAB NG itself.
Frequently asked questions
What is the UQAB NG used for?
GIDS markets it as a tactical UAV for real-time day and night reconnaissance and surveillance.
How is the UQAB NG launched and recovered?
It uses a hydro-pneumatic catapult launch and is recovered into a hoisted net, with an emergency parachute as a backup.
What is the UQAB NG's range and endurance?
GIDS states a 150 km line-of-sight range and an endurance of more than 8 hours.
What is the UQAB NG's service ceiling?
GIDS lists a service ceiling of up to 18,000 ft AMSL, about 5,486 m.
What sensors does it carry?
A daylight camera with 27.7x optical zoom and a cooled infrared sensor with 14x optical zoom and a 12 km laser rangefinder, with onboard target tracking and recognition.
Who makes the UQAB NG?
Global Industrial & Defence Solutions (GIDS) of Pakistan.
