Turkey and Pakistan Advance Discussions for Combat Drone Assembly Facility

Deepening Defense Ties Through Drone Collaboration

Turkey is engaged in advanced discussions with Pakistan to establish a facility for the assembly of combat drones within Pakistan. This initiative is part of Ankara's broader strategy to expand its rapidly growing defense industry into new international markets and bolster military cooperation with key allies. The talks, which have reportedly made significant progress since October 2025, were initially reported by Bloomberg, citing anonymous Turkish officials familiar with the negotiations.

The proposed project would involve the export of advanced stealth and long-endurance drone platforms from Turkey for local assembly in Pakistan. While specific models were not officially confirmed, Turkish manufacturers like Baykar, known for its Bayraktar TB2 and advanced Akıncı drones, are prominent in this sector. Turkish Aerospace Industries (TAI) has also previously collaborated with Pakistan on components for its Anka drone.

Strategic Benefits for Both Nations

For Turkey, the establishment of such a facility aligns with President Recep Tayyip Erdoğan's vision to broaden the nation's defense footprint across the Middle East, South Asia, and other emerging markets. The country's defense and aerospace industry has seen a remarkable surge in exports, reaching a record $7.5 billion in the first 11 months of 2025, a 30 percent increase from the previous year, as announced by Haluk Görgün, head of the Presidency of the Defense Industry (SSB).

For Pakistan, this cooperation represents a significant step towards enhancing its indigenous defense production capabilities and shifting from being solely a recipient of defense hardware to a co-producer. This would provide Pakistan with:

• Access to advanced unmanned aerial vehicle (UAV) technology.
• Localized support and faster deployment of critical defense assets.
• Potential for future domestic upgrades and technological advancements.

The move comes at a sensitive time for Pakistan's security environment, marked by recent tensions including a ceasefire with India and ongoing concerns regarding militant activity along its border with Afghanistan.

Existing and Future Military Cooperation

The drone assembly discussions build upon a long-standing and robust defense partnership between Turkey and Pakistan. Previous collaborations include:

• Turkey's construction of corvette-class warships for the Pakistan Navy.
• Modernization of a significant portion of Pakistan's F-16 fighter jets.
• Pakistan's acquisition of Bayraktar TB2 drones in 2021 and Akıncı drones in 2023.
• Joint work on UAV components between Turkish Aerospace Industries (TAI) and Pakistan's National University of Sciences and Technology (NUST) and National Engineering and Scientific Commission (NESCOM).

Furthermore, Turkey has expressed interest in Pakistan joining its KAAN fifth-generation fighter jet program, signaling a desire for even deeper integration of their defense industries. Both nations have historically sought to reduce reliance on external suppliers by strengthening indigenous production capabilities.

While Turkish officials spoke anonymously due to the sensitivity of the matter, and both Turkey's defense ministry and Pakistan's information minister declined to comment or did not respond to inquiries, the advanced stage of these discussions underscores the strategic importance both countries place on this defense collaboration.