Introduction

The Institute of Avionics and Aeronautics (IAA) at the Air University has been established as a Centre of Excellence (CoE) for postgraduate studies and Research & Development (R&D) in aviation related fields. The institute aims to support the nascent aeronautical as well as other associated high-tech industries in Pakistan through multi-disciplinary research in navigation systems, guidance and control systems, active and passive surveillance systems, digital signal processing, microwave circuit design, communication systems, system integration, solid mechanics, fluid/aero dynamics, aerospace propulsion systems, spacecraft systems, Micro-Electro-Mechanical-Systems (MEMS), and information security.

The Institute of Avionics and Aeronautics consists of two departments: The Department of Mechanical and Aerospace Engineering and the Department of Avionics Engineering.

The Department of Mechanical and Aerospace Engineering (DMAE) offers BE, MS and PhD degrees in Mechanical Engineering and MS & PhD degrees in Aerospace Engineering. The Bachelor of Mechanical Engineering program focuses on fundamentals of mechanics, solid mechanics, mechanical design, thermo-fluids, controls, instrumentation, manufacturing and design, keeping in line with the current industrial demands. The graduates of the DMAE are well equipped to join and contribute to the aerospace industry, power plant industry, traditional mechanical industry, HVAC industry, automotive industry and process industry. The DMAE also offers research opportunities to MS and PhD students in the area of solid mechanics, fluid dynamics, advanced materials, manufacturing, propulsion, flight dynamics and controls, Micro-Electro-Mechanical-system (MEMS), astronautic and space engineering. Having well-equipped labs to help students consolidate the knowledge they gain in theory, the DMAE puts in all endeavors to prepare its graduates for effective contribution towards the social and economic well-being of the nation and the society at large.

The Department of Avionics Engineering offers MS and PhD degrees in both Avionics Engineering and Information Security. Matching the challenges of the multi-disciplinary field of Avionics Engineering, the department maintains high-tech labs including Avionics Integration Lab, Electro Optics Lab, Communication Security and Embedded Systems Lab, ECM and Radar Lab. Additionally, in Signal Processing Research Centre (SPRC) has been established to foster theoretical and applied research in the domain of wireless communication such as signal processing, digital communication, 5G technologies, among other areas.

At IAA, the expertise of the relevant professionals has been combined with the academic setting of the Air University in the heart of Islamabad, making IAA a unique setup for exploring new perspectives and conducting research in the fields of avionics, aerospace, mechanical and information security engineering. In addition to the resident faculty, a number of PhD qualified engineers, with rich practical experience in the relevant fields, are also associated with IAA as adjunct faculty members.