National Engineering and Scientific Commission
The National Engineering and Scientific Commission is a military research organization of Pakistan, responsible for carrying out research and development in many areas including information technology, fluid dynamics, aerodynamics, aerospace engineering, electrical engineering, mechanical engineering and chemical engineering, with specialties in the design and production of communication systems and aerodynamic vehicles for the Pakistan Armed Forces. It is under the administrative control of the Strategic Plans Division of Pakistan's National Command Authority and is headquartered in Islamabad, Pakistan.
In 2007 it was reported that NESCOM had exported products worth approximately $40 million annually to various countries in the Middle East, South East Asia and Africa. According to then-Chairman Samar Mubarakmand, NESCOM had developed various communication systems and electronic counter-measures systems for the Pakistan Air Force and Pakistan Navy.
History
National Engineering and Scientific Commission was formed in 2001 by amalgamating the National Development Complex, Air Weapons Complex, Maritime Technologies Complex and the Project Management Organization.In the early 2000s, NESCOM rapidly achieved several firsts. Among them, was the development of the Shaheen family of missiles, the Babur ground-launched cruise missile and the Ra'ad air-launched cruise missile.
Organization
In 2004, it was revealed by then-Director Samar Mubarakmand that NESCOM had a staff of around 96,000. It was revealed that NESCOM was organized into divisions, with each division being headed by a top scientist of international repute having around 600-1000 engineers and technicians under his supervision.The following organizations are grouped together under NESCOM:
- National Development Complex - responsible for the development of Pakistan's ground-based, solid-fueled ballistic missiles and cruise missile systems
- Air Weapons Complex - responsible for the development of air-launched cruise missiles and other air-to-air and air-to-surface ammunition
- Maritime Technologies Complex - responsible for the development of maritime defense systems including radars, sonar equipment, weapon launch systems.
- Project Management Organization - responsible for the development of UAV and UCAV systems for use by the Pakistan Armed Forces
Projects
Strategic Missile Systems
Ballistic Missile Systems
- Nasr - solid-fueled tactical ballistic missile system with a range of 70 kilometres.
- Abdali - solid-fueled short-range ballistic missile system with a range of 180 km.
- Ghaznavi - short-range ballistic missile system with a range of 290 km.
- Shaheen-I - solid-fueled ballistic missile system with a reported range of 700 km. The Shaheen was Pakistan's first solid-fueled missile. The missile project began in 1995 and the development and design was carried out by NESCOM's predecessor, the National Development Complex.
- Shaheen-IA - an upgraded version of the Shaheen-I with a range of 900 km. The upgrade was supposedly carried out by NESCOM in the early 2000s and supposedly included a terminal guidance system, improved radar-avoidance capability and stealth features.
- Shaheen-II - solid-fueled medium-range ballistic missile system with a reported range of 2,500 km.
- Shaheen-III - solid-fueled ballistic missile system with a reported range of 2,750 km.
MIRV Ballistic Missile Systems
- Ababeel - solid-fueled multiple independently targetable reentry vehicle -capable ballistic missile system with a reported range of 2,200 km.
Cruise Missile Systems
- Ra'ad - air-to-surface cruise missile system with an original range of 350 km, and an upgraded Ra'ad-II, reported range of 550 km.
- Babur - ground-launched cruise missile system with a reported range of 750 km. A submarine-launched version, Babur-III was tested with a reported range of 450 km.
- Harbah - land based anti ship and land attack cruise missile derived from Babur Cruise missile.
- Zarb - land based anti ship cruise missile with a reported range of 300 km.
Laser-guided Missile Systems
- Barq - laser-guided air-to-surface missile carried on the Burraq UCAV.
Precision Munitions
- H-2 SOW - precision-guided munition
- H-4 SOW - precision-guided munition
Unmanned Aerial vehicles
- Burraq - unmanned combat aerial vehicle armed with laser-guided missiles
Naval systems
MSL
- MSL Advanced Towed Array Sonar - a towed array sonar developed by Maritime Systems Ltd. and MTC to replace old systems in service with the Pakistan Navy and for export. Project started during the 1990s, Commodore Sarfraz appointed as program chief. System was designed to cope with Arabian Sea environment and is stated to be superior to foreign systems being offered for export. Expected to be installed on Agosta 70 and Agosta 90B class submarines currently in service with the Pakistan Navy, also being integrated with the Agosta 90B's SUBTICS combat management system, as well as future vessels to be acquired by the Pakistan Navy such as new submarines and corvettes.
- Naval Training Simulator - programmable training system. Simulates maritime sensors and weapon systems of aircraft, warships and submarines under any weather or sea conditions. Installed on the Jalalat II class fast attack craft of the Pakistan Navy.
- Shore-based/ship-based electronic warfare system
- Ship-borne display consoles