The Case for Accelerating Pakistan's Combat Drone Program Through Partnership with Türkiye's Kızılelma
Summary
Pakistan Air Force Chief of Air Staff, Air Chief Marshal Zaheer Ahmed Babar, recently conducted an official visit to Türkiye, where a notable highlight was his exclusive meeting with Baykar Technologies CTO Selçuk Bayraktar, signaling the deepening strategic importance of this particular defence partnership. The discussions centered on aerospace innovation, unmanned aerial systems, and next-generation defence technologies, reflecting a shared commitment to advancing collaborative development in these domains. The PAF already has an established relationship with Baykar, having previously procured both the Bayraktar Akıncı HALE UAV and the Bayraktar TB2 MALE UAV, making Pakistan one of Baykar's early international customers. Building on this foundation, Baykar established a presence at Pakistan's National Aerospace Science and Technology Park (NASTP), contributing to the co-development of the KaGeM V3 and YiHA loitering munitions, and subsequently launched a local subsidiary, Baykar Technologies Pakistan. This subsidiary is now reportedly in active discussions with the PAF regarding the establishment of an assembly or co-production facility for drones, suggesting the partnership is evolving toward deeper industrial and technological integration.
Key Takeaways
- 1. The PAF CAS's exclusive meeting with Baykar among all Turkish defence OEMs underscores Baykar as Pakistan's most strategically prioritized Turkish defence partner
- 2. Pakistan's procurement of both Akıncı and TB2 UAVs establishes a foundation for more advanced unmanned combat aerial vehicle (UCAV) collaboration, potentially including the Kızılelma
- 3. The establishment of Baykar Technologies Pakistan as a local subsidiary represents a significant step toward indigenous drone production capability
- 4. Co-development of loitering munitions at NASTP demonstrates that the partnership is moving beyond procurement toward genuine technology transfer and joint development
- 5. Potential assembly or co-production arrangements for drones could substantially enhance PAF's long-term aerial warfare capacity and reduce dependence on foreign-sourced platforms