Pakistan Air Force Gets One More Turkish Drone to Enhance Strategic Capabilities

The exact number of drones included in the acquisition remains undisclosed. These advanced drones will strengthen the PAF's aerial reconnaissance and strike capacities, aligning with its ongoing efforts to modernize its arsenal and maintain its regional advantage. Pakistan has previously received drones from Turkish Baykar Defence, including Bayraktar TB2 drones.

The Akinci UCAV is a state-of-the-art combat drone with impressive features. It has a wingspan of 20 meters and a maximum take-off weight of 5.5 tons, with a payload capacity of over 1.35 tons for guided bombs, missiles, and other munitions. Equipped with advanced sensors and radars, the Akinci can operate autonomously and has a satellite communication system for seamless command and control over long distances. Powered by two Ukrainian AI-450T turboprop engines, the Akinci drone can achieve a maximum speed of 195 knots and has a range of over 6,000 kilometers. It can operate at an altitude of 40,000 feet and stay airborne for up to 24 hours, providing exceptional endurance and mission flexibility. The Akinci UCAV can carry various types of missiles, including MAM-L, MAM-C, MAM-T, and stand-off (SOM-A) cruise missiles.

In October 2022, approximately 44 PAF personnel completed training to operate Akinci drones. Meanwhile, India is also developing its own high-altitude long-endurance UCAV (HALE) called Archer-NG, based on technologies developed during the long-delayed Tapas UAVs development. India's long-endurance UAV development program started in the early 2000s with a target for induction in 2016, but faced significant delays, with the Tapas UAV's first flight taking place only in 2016. It took another five years until 2021 for the Tapas UAV to achieve an altitude of 28,000 feet with an endurance of 18 hours. In July 2022, the Indian government ordered Hindustan Aeronautics Limited (HAL) to manufacture six Tapas UAVs for evaluation trials, and the UAV was unveiled at Aero India 2023 in February 2023.

In the meantime, India has been using Israeli Heron-TP drones as a stopgap for its long-range surveillance roles. India is also planning to purchase eighteen MQ-9B Sea Guardians UCAV from the United States, which are capable of carrying laser-guided missiles and bombs with the ability to destroy static and moving enemy targets. Both Pakistan and India are actively pursuing the development and acquisition of advanced UCAVs to enhance their military capabilities in the region. Overall, these developments reflect the growing importance of unmanned aerial vehicles in modern warfare and the ongoing efforts of both countries to maintain their strategic edge.