production facility
ISLAMABAD: Turkey has agreed to establish a state-of-the-art mega dronemanufacturing and research facility in Pakistan under a landmark defencecooperation agreement signed between the two countries. The facility willfocus on producing advanced unmanned combat aerial vehicles, including therenowned Bayraktar TB2 and the newer Akinci platforms, marking asignificant enhancement in Pakistan’s indigenous defence capabilities.
The agreement was finalised during high-level talks between Turkish DefenceMinister Yaşar Güler and Pakistan’s Minister for Defence Production duringthe 16th International Defence Exhibition and Seminar (IDEAS 2024) held inKarachi. Official sources confirmed that the joint venture will beestablished through Baykar Technologies, Turkey’s leading dronemanufacturer, in collaboration with Pakistan’s National Radio andTelecommunication Corporation (NRTC) and other local entities.
The planned facility, expected to be operational within the next threeyears, will include full production lines, maintenance, repair and overhaul(MRO) capabilities, and a dedicated research and development centre.Pakistani officials described the project as a “game-changer” that will notonly reduce dependency on foreign imports but also position Pakistan as aregional hub for advanced unmanned systems technology.
Military analysts note that the collaboration builds on Pakistan’s growingexpertise in drone operations and Turkey’s proven success in exportingcombat-proven UAVs to over thirty countries. The Bayraktar TB2 has gainedinternational recognition for its performance in multiple conflict zones,including Ukraine, Libya, and Azerbaijan.
The agreement also includes provisions for technology transfer, jointtraining programmes, and co-development of next-generation systems tailoredto Pakistan’s strategic requirements. Both nations emphasised that thepartnership reflects deepening strategic trust and mutual commitment tocounter emerging security challenges in the region.
Economic aspects of the project are equally significant, with expectationsof creating thousands of high-skilled jobs and stimulating Pakistan’saerospace and defence industry. The facility is projected to have aninitial investment exceeding $500 million, with potential for expansionbased on export orders.
This development comes amid Pakistan’s push to modernise its armed forcesand enhance self-reliance in critical defence technologies. TheTurkey-Pakistan defence relationship has strengthened considerably inrecent years, with previous collaborations including corvette constructionand helicopter modernisation programmes.
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The establishment of the drone facility is widely viewed as a strategicresponse to evolving regional security dynamics and a testament to theenduring brotherhood between the two Muslim-majority nations.
Source: https://www.dawn.com/news/1875421
Source: https://www.baykartech.com/en/news/
Tags: Turkey, Pakistan, Bayraktar, Drone, Defence, Islamabad, UAV
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