During an official visit to Turkey, Pakistan Air Force Chief Zaheer Ahmed Babar Sidhu met with the CEO of Baykar, the Turkish drone powerhouse behind the Bayraktar family. The two sides agreed to jointly develop advanced next-generation drone technology, a move that signals a significant expansion of defense collaboration between the two countries. Baykar's established know-how in unmanned systems, coupled with Pakistan's growing focus on modernizing its air power, sets the stage for a multi-faceted partnership that could cover research and development, co-production, and technology transfer. While the initiative promises to bolster Pakistan's deterrence capabilities and diversify its defense supply chain, it also raises questions about IP rights, regulatory approvals, and the long-term implications for regional security and export markets. In my view, the alignment could be transformative if anchored by clear governance, robust oversight, and adherence to international humanitarian and non-proliferation norms, ensuring domestic capacity-building and responsible use of the technology.

Source: Statement from @ZardSi

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Published: May 22, 2026, 7:25 am