ISLAMABAD — In a significant development that could reshape Pakistan’s electronic warfare (EW) capabilities, credible defence sources have indicated that the country is in discussions to acquire the KORAL or KORAL-2 Electronic Warfare System from Turkey’s leading defence contractor, Aselsan.
This potential acquisition comes as part of deepening military-industrial cooperation between Islamabad and Ankara, reflecting a broader strategic alignment between the two brotherly Muslim nations. The move is seen as a leap forward for Pakistan’s electronic warfare and cyber defence ecosystem, placing it on par with leading regional and NATO-standard capabilities.
Developed by Aselsan, the KORAL and KORAL-2 are among the most advanced mobile land-based electronic warfare systems in the world. Designed primarily to detect, intercept, jam, and deceive enemy radar and communication systems, KORAL has been extensively integrated within the Turkish Armed Forces and deployed in various conflict zones, notably in Syria and Libya.
Although many of its capabilities remain classified, open-source defence reports suggest that KORAL operates within a 1,000 km radius, capable of:
Disrupting radar signals and enemy tracking systems.
Intercepting and jamming RF (radio frequency) and satellite communications.
Spoofing GPS, IFF (Identification Friend or Foe), and encrypted comms.
Hacking into drones, USVs (Unmanned Surface Vehicles), and UGVs (Unmanned Ground Vehicles).
The system is modular, typically deployed across up to 10 heavy-duty trucks, making it highly mobile and suitable for theatre-level operations. Its capabilities essentially render enemy forces “deaf, blind, and lost”, as described by Turkish defence analysts, without even launching kinetic attacks.
Read Top Stories
Should the deal materialize, it would mark Pakistan’s most significant acquisition in the electronic warfare domain to date. Defence experts see this as a critical step in countering the growing electronic and cyber warfare capabilities of India, especially in contested regions such as Kashmir and along the LoC.
Operated by Pakistan’s Air Force, Army Signal Corps, and Cyber Command, the KORAL system could integrate seamlessly with existing platforms such as the JF-17 Block III, Bayraktar TB2 drones, and long-range radars — enhancing Pakistan’s network-centric warfare doctrine.
Furthermore, the system would offer Pakistan a non-lethal, preemptive option to neutralize threats before conflict escalates, through soft kill methods, potentially blinding incoming air raids, intercepting adversary drone feeds, and disrupting battlefield communications in real time.
This development also signals growing defence and strategic cooperation between Türkiye and Pakistan, with both countries collaborating on various projects including the MILGEM-class corvettes, T129 ATAK helicopters, KAAN (TF-X) 5th-gen fighter jet, and joint ammunition and drone technologies.
The KORAL acquisition, if finalized, would further solidify this partnership and push Pakistan’s defence doctrine into a new era of electronic dominance and cyber warfare preparedness.
While no official statement has been issued by the Ministry of Defence, experts believe that the induction of a system like KORAL will redefine Pakistan’s deterrence posture—giving it a powerful edge in the unseen but decisive spectrum of electronic warfare.