ISLAMAMAD: The Pakistan Army has successfully concluded Exercise MaidenStrike, a high-intensity field training manoeuvre focused exclusively onintegrating cutting-edge drone technologies into conventional and specialoperations warfare, military sources confirmed on Sunday.
Conducted in punishing terrain mirroring potential future battlefields,troops from strike formations executed live-fire missions employing swarmsof unmanned combat aerial vehicles for real-time target acquisition, battledamage assessment and terminal guidance of precision munitions. Theexercise placed special emphasis on beyond-line-of-sight operations,electronic warfare resistance and rapid retargeting capabilities incontested environments.
Multiple classes of drones, ranging from miniature tactical quadcopters tomedium-altitude long-endurance platforms, were deployed simultaneously tocreate overlapping sensor networks that left no dead zones for hostileforces. In one demonstrated scenario, forward observation teams usedhand-launched loitering munitions to identify and destroy moving armouredcolumns within minutes of detection while remaining undetected themselves.
Military observers noted that the exercise validated new doctrinal conceptswhere drone operators embedded at brigade level can call in strikes withthe same speed traditionally reserved for tube artillery, effectivelymultiplying combat power without exposing manned assets to enemy fire.Anti-drone countermeasures were also rigorously tested, with electronicjamming units attempting to disrupt command links only to be countered byfrequency-hopping and autonomous navigation algorithms.
The successful execution of Maiden Strike comes amid escalating regionaltensions and rapid proliferation of drone warfare across neighbouringborders. Defence analysts interpret the exercise as a clear signal thatPakistan has not only closed the gap in unmanned systems but now possessesthe ability to dominate the electromagnetic spectrum and airspace in anyfuture conflict.
Commanders stressed that the integration of artificial intelligence-enabledtarget recognition systems reduced engagement timelines dramatically whileminimising collateral damage, marking a generational leap in Pakistan’sprecision-strike capability. The exercise concluded with a spectacularnight assault where dozens of drones illuminated and neutralised simulatedenemy strongholds under complete blackout conditions.
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Senior officers present at the closing ceremony described the displayedcapability as a strategic deterrent that fundamentally alters thecost-benefit calculus for any potential aggressor contemplatingcross-border incursions.
Source: www.ispr.gov.pk/press-release-detail.php?id=6923″>https://www.ispr.gov.pk/press-release-detail.php?id=6923
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