Institute of Optronics
The Institute of Optronics (IOP) (Urdu: ادارہَ تحقیق و صنعتِ بصری اسلحہ) is an administrative research weapons engineering institute located in Rawalpindi, Punjab Province of Pakistan. The IOP is noted for its production of advanced military technologies produced for the Pakistan Defence Forces (PDF).
History
The Institute of Optronics (IOP) was established in 1984 as a project led Ministry of Defence (MoD) of Government of Pakistan. The project was led by then-Director-General of the DESTO Lieutenant-General Talat Masood who supervised the construction of the institute.
After it was made fully functional, the IOP's were handed over to civilian management. Dr. Akram Hussain Abidi, a scientist in the field of optical physics and former NASA senior scientist, was its pioneer, Director-General. Presently the organization is working under the Ministry of Defence Production, Government of Pakistan.
ROLE and TASK of IOP include Undertaking Research & Development, and production of
- NVDs
- Laser Rangefinders
- Thermal Imaging Systems
- Battle Field Surveillance Systems
- Other Commercial, Industrial, and Military Optronics' Products