ISLAMABAD: The Pakistan Army has achieved a significant milestone inunmanned combat systems by successfully demonstrating swarm drone strikecapabilities during the ongoing Exercise Raad-ul-Fatah in Punjab’sCholistan desert, signalling a transformative leap in the country’s forcemodernisation drive. The exercise, witnessed by senior military leadershipincluding Chief of Army Staff General Syed Asim Munir, showcasedcoordinated attacks by multiple indigenously developed loitering munitionsand surveillance drones, capable of overwhelming enemy air defences throughdecentralised decision-making and real-time data fusion.
Analysts describe the display as a strategic response to regionalasymmetries, particularly India’s deployment of Israeli-origin Harop andHarpy systems along the Line of Control. The swarm technology, integratedwith Pakistan’s Burraq and Shahpar-II platforms, enables saturation strikesthat complicate interception, offering cost-effective alternatives tomanned aircraft in contested environments. This capability, developed incollaboration with the National Development Complex, reduces response timesand minimises risks to personnel, aligning with global trends where swarmtactics have proven decisive in conflicts from Nagorno-Karabakh to Ukraine.
Building on this breakthrough, defence experts advocate the immediateestablishment of a premier national drone academy, potentially named theCentre for Advanced UAV Studies, to institutionalise swarm doctrine andoperational proficiency. The proposed facility would house specialisedsquadrons for electronic warfare, counter-swarm operations, and autonomousmission planning, while hosting annual competitions simulating hybridthreats. Such initiatives would not only refine tactics but also accelerateintegration of artificial intelligence, ensuring interoperability withexisting assets like the NESCOM-developed tactical missiles.
The exercise underscores Pakistan’s growing self-reliance in defenceproduction, with swarm algorithms reportedly incorporating machine-learningmodels trained on domestic datasets. However, sustained investment insecure communication links and anti-jamming technologies remains criticalto counter evolving electronic countermeasures. The demonstration hasalready prompted discussions within the Ministry of Defence Productionabout expanding public-private partnerships to scale swarm production.
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This development carries broader foreign policy implications, enhancingPakistan’s deterrence posture without provoking conventional escalation. Italso positions the country to offer swarm training modules to strategicpartners, potentially strengthening ties with Turkiye and Gulf statespursuing similar capabilities.
Source: www.ispr.gov.pk/press-release-detail.php?id=6789″>https://www.janes.com/defence-news/asia-pacific/pakistan-swarm-drone-exercise”>https://www.ispr.gov.pk/press-release-detail.php?id=6789Source:www.janes.com/defence-news/asia-pacific/pakistan-swarm-drone-exercise”>https://www.janes.com/defence-news/asia-pacific/pakistan-swarm-drone-exercise