Tazeen Akhtar – Islamabad
Drones and Unmanned Aerial Vehicles UAVs have changed the war landscape altogether. Pakistan as already a leader in the defense equipment manufacturing has excelled in this field as well. The Field Marshal Syed Asim Munir watched the demonstration of Pakistani made drones while he visited Pakistan Ordnance Factories on 29 Aug 2026.
Pakistan’s military also used Unmanned Combat Aerial Vehicles (UCAVs) against India when the two sides were locked a military confrontation in May 2025. The military also uses armed drones to carry out operations against militants in its western provinces bordering Afghanistan.
The Indian Army has raised its first specialized Baaz Battalion under the Jalandhar-based 11 Corps (Vajra Corps) to conduct advanced drone operations and long-range surveillance along the western front with Pakistan.
The unit serves as an “eye in the sky,” specializing in long-range Intelligence, Surveillance, and Reconnaissance (ISR) rather than direct combat strikes. It handles continuous monitoring, target tracking, and real-time data feeding to ground commanders.
The battalion operates under the Army Aviation Corps, bringing centralized control to flight operations, data exploitation, and maintenance.Current Equipment: The unit flies unmanned aerial vehicles (UAVs) such as the Israeli Heron and Searcher drones, alongside quadcopters.
This is the scene when Chief of Army Staff and Chief of Defence Forces (COAS & CDF) visited Pakistan’s largest defence industrial complex, Pakistan Ordnance Factory (POF) in Wah.
The visit focused on reviewing POF’s production capabilities, export potential and contributions towards the country’s defence industrial base.
During the visit, COAS & CDF was briefed on various aspects of POF’s operations and its role in strengthening national defence through the indigenous development and production of a diverse range of military equipment.
He also witnessed the tests and trials of locally designed and manufactured arms and ammunition, highlighting POF’s commitment to innovation, self-reliance and enhancing Pakistan’s defence production capabilities.
COAS & CDF was presented with an overview on progress of the corporatization process following the enactment of the DIPRA Ordinance.
The Field Marshal was also apprised about the ongoing indigenisation and upgradation efforts through the installation of two new industrial plants, which are likely to commence production by the end of current year.
The visit underscored the military’s commitment to advancing self-reliance, indigenous production and technological innovation in Pakistan’s defence sector.
The Defence Industrial Production and Regulatory Authority (DIPRA) Ordinance, 2026, was promulgated in Pakistan on June 3, 2026, to unify and regulate the country’s defense industrial sector.
Key Features of the Ordinance
Single Regulator: It absorbs the previous Ministry of Defence Production and places both state factories and private firms under one administrative authority.
Military Leadership: By statute, the chairman of DIPRA must be a serving or retired armed forces officer with at least a three-star rank.
Strategic Goals: The framework aims to increase local manufacturing (indigenisation), open closed defense sectors to private companies, and expand national defense exports.
Pakistan’s drone capability relies on a mix of local manufacturing, private-sector expansion, and strategic foreign partnerships with Turkey and China.
Indigenous Production & Local Industry
Local Indigenization: Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif announced that Pakistan’s domestic drone manufacturing has reached over 60 percent indigenization.
Private Sector Involvement: The Ministry of Defence Production has engaged local private firms to help scale production. Companies like the Alsons Group have developed indigenous piston engines for UAVs, while firms like Woot-Tech test rocket-assisted take-off motors for runway-independent loitering munitions.
Funding & Programs: The government launched a $20 million Pakistan Venture Fund alongside the Spark and Elevate programs to boost the local robotics and autonomous tech ecosystem.
Early Systems: Pakistan previously developed domestic platforms like the NESCOM Burraq UCAV (armed with Barq laser-guided missiles) and the Shahpar reconnaissance drone. Recent additions include locally unveiled long-range kamikaze systems like the D-248 and S-369.
Foreign Partnerships & Imported Platforms
Turkish Integration: Pakistan operates advanced Turkish Medium Altitude Long Endurance (MALE) drones—including the Bayraktar TB2 and Anka series—for border surveillance and reconnaissance. Reports also highlight tactical loitering munitions like the Turkish-supplied Pyar Yaha 3 (K2).
Chinese Systems: The military fields quantitative stocks of Chinese strike and reconnaissance platforms, prominent among them being the Wing Loong II and CH-4 series.
