Türkiye to open combat aerial drone assembly plant in Pakistan to expand defense industry ties.

Tûrkiye is preparing to establish a combat drone assembly facility in Pakistan, according to information disclosed by Bloomberg on December 5, 2025. The move underscores a deepening defense partnership and expands Ankara's strategy to place production lines inside key allied states.

Tûrkiye is moving ahead with plans to set up a combat drone assembly site in Pakistan, Bloomberg reported on December 5, 2025, citing sources familiar with ongoing industrial coordination between the two governments. The initiative marks one of the most direct integrations of Turkish unmanned systems production into a foreign partner's territory, reflecting Ankara's long-running push to distribute manufacturing across friendly nations. Pakistani officials have previously signaled interest in greater local content for imported systems, and the proposed facility aligns with that goal by tightening supply chains and improving sustainment access.
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In 2021, Pakistan strengthened its defense capabilities by acquiring Bayraktar TB2 drones from Türkiye, marking a key step in the growing military-technical cooperation between the two countries. (Picture source: X Social Network)

The planned facility will focus on assembling Turkish-made unmanned aerial vehicles, most likely Baykar's flagship platforms such as the Bayraktar TB2 and potentially the more advanced Akıncı. For Pakistan, this development offers more than just tactical capabilities. It marks a shift from being a recipient of defense hardware to a co-producer, embedding itself deeper in Tûrkiye’s growing drone supply chain and enabling localized support, faster deployment, and potentially domestic upgrades in the future.

The Turkish-Pakistani drone relationship began in earnest in 2021 when Pakistan formally acquired Bayraktar TB2 drones from Baykar. These combat-proven MALE (Medium-Altitude Long-Endurance) UAVs, which gained prominence on the battlefields of Syria, Libya, and most notably Ukraine, were quickly integrated into the Pakistan Air Force’s inventory. Since then, Islamabad has steadily expanded its interest in Turkish drone technology, receiving heavier payload Akıncı drones in 2023 and negotiating for loitering munitions and other smart weapons packages.

Tûrkiye’s drone industry has undergone a remarkable transformation over the past decade, evolving from a modest program with limited domestic capability into one of the world’s most dynamic and sought-after drone manufacturing sectors. At the heart of this transformation is Baykar, the privately-owned defense firm that designed the Bayraktar TB2, which entered service in 2014 and rapidly became the backbone of Tûrkiye’s UAV operations. Originally developed to give Turkish forces indigenous ISR and strike capabilities amid export restrictions from Western suppliers, the TB2’s successful operational track record quickly turned it into an export commodity.

Between 2018 and 2025, Baykar signed contracts with more than 30 countries, including Ukraine, Poland, Qatar, Azerbaijan, Ethiopia, and several North African states. The company's growth mirrored Ankara’s foreign policy objectives, using drone exports to deepen security ties with partner nations, often outside traditional NATO circles. The rise of Turkish drones has significantly shifted the global UAV market, challenging long-established suppliers such as the United States, Israel, and China with a lower-cost, battle-proven alternative.

Perhaps the most defining moment for Turkish drone credibility came during the early phases of the Russian-Ukrainian war. Ukraine’s use of Bayraktar TB2 drones in 2022 to target Russian artillery positions, air defense systems, and logistics convoys played a strategic role in halting Russian advances around Kyiv. Viral footage of TB2s striking high-value Russian targets not only captured global attention but also gave Turkish drones visibility that no marketing campaign could have achieved. This battlefield validation triggered a surge in international demand, with many countries citing Ukraine’s effective use of the TB2 as a key factor in their procurement decisions.

Baykar capitalized on this momentum by accelerating the development of next-generation platforms. The Bayraktar Akıncı, a high-altitude, long-endurance UCAV capable of carrying air-to-ground and air-to-air munitions, entered service in 2021 and has since been exported to multiple countries, including Pakistan. More recently, Baykar unveiled the Kızılelma, a jet-powered, stealth-capable unmanned fighter aircraft currently undergoing flight trials. The rapid pace of development signals Tûrkiye’s intent to dominate not just the tactical drone market but the future of autonomous air combat.

This drone assembly initiative in Pakistan is not an isolated transaction. It fits into a wider mosaic of defense cooperation between the two countries, which also includes Turkish-designed MILGEM-class corvettes for the Pakistan Navy, submarine modernization, and joint training programs. In fact, according to open-source assessments and defense export trackers, Tûrkiye has now emerged as Pakistan’s second-largest arms supplier after China, delivering a blend of naval, air, and ground systems tailored to Islamabad’s operational requirements.

For Tûrkiye, this facility offers a strategic industrial advantage. It enables Baykar and other Turkish defense firms to bypass production bottlenecks, reduce costs through regional manufacturing, and reinforce Tûrkiye’s reputation as a self-reliant drone power exporting turnkey solutions to non-Western markets. This comes at a time when Turkish drone exports have soared, with deals signed across Africa, the Middle East, Central Asia, and Europe. Establishing forward production bases is the next phase in that growth trajectory.

For Pakistan, the presence of a Turkish drone facility on its soil promises increased self-sufficiency, better sustainment logistics, and the possibility of technological transfer that could eventually lead to indigenous adaptations. It also sends a geopolitical message, positioning Pakistan as a reliable partner in the emergent drone ecosystem that Ankara is shaping outside of traditional NATO channels.

At the operational level, local assembly may accelerate procurement cycles, allowing the Pakistan Armed Forces to more rapidly field new UAV systems. Given regional tensions and ongoing aerial standoffs, especially along the eastern border with India, such a capability could alter regional drone parity and strategic posturing in the years ahead.

Tûrkiye’s drone diplomacy continues to evolve from transactional arms sales into embedded defense-industrial cooperation. The upcoming drone facility in Pakistan is not just a manufacturing plant. It is a signal of Ankara’s long-term strategic bet on Pakistan as a defense partner. It also underscores the growing global influence of Turkish UAVs, which have become symbols of affordable yet highly effective combat technology for middle-power militaries seeking advanced air capabilities without depending on Western defense constraints.

As of this writing, neither Baykar nor Pakistan's Ministry of Defence Production has officially confirmed the facility’s location or construction timeline. However, sources familiar with the matter suggest that preliminary site selection and negotiations are already underway. More announcements are expected in early 2026.

Written by Alain Servaes – Chief Editor, Army Recognition Group
Alain Servaes is a former infantry non-commissioned officer and the founder of Army Recognition. With over 20 years in defense journalism, he provides expert analysis on military equipment, NATO operations, and the global defense industry.