Pakistan’s NRTC has signed a three-year agreement with Türkiye’s Pasifik Teknoloji for 100,000 Merküt FPV drones, 500 Deli tactical kamikaze systems and additional unmanned platforms. The deal includes local assembly and production, potentially strengthening Pakistan’s ability to replenish its drone inventory and develop indigenous manufacturing capacity.
Pakistan is taking another major step towards expanding its unmanned warfare capabilities after the National Radio and Telecommunication Corporation (NRTC) signed a landmark three-year agreement with Türkiye’s Pasifik Teknoloji for the supply, distribution and local assembly or production of more than 100,000 unmanned systems.
The agreement, signed on September 18, 2026, includes 100,000 Merküt first-person-view (FPV) kamikaze drones, 500 Deli tactical kamikaze unmanned aerial vehicles (UAVs), 10 Alpin unmanned helicopters, 25 Dumrul mini unmanned helicopters and 250 Korgan autonomous ground support and observation units.
The agreement was formally disclosed by Pasifik Teknoloji through Türkiye’s Public Disclosure Platform (KAP) on September 19.
Unlike conventional defence procurement arrangements focused primarily on importing finished equipment, the agreement specifically includes local assembly and production in Pakistan. This could provide an important foundation for developing domestic manufacturing capacity, technical expertise and a more sustainable supply chain for unmanned systems.
The three-year arrangement follows an earlier framework agreement announced in May 2026. According to Pasifik Teknoloji, field tests, end-user evaluations, simulation exercises and pilot training were completed before the parties moved towards the final agreement.
Pakistan’s 100,000 Merküt FPV Drone Order
The most significant component of the agreement is the procurement of 100,000 Merküt FPV kamikaze drones.
Developed by Türkiye’s SAVX Teknoloji, a subsidiary within the Pasifik Teknoloji group, Merküt is a compact, first-person-view unmanned aircraft designed for tactical strike missions.
The platform represents a different category of military capability from conventional surveillance drones and larger armed UAVs. FPV systems are generally smaller, relatively inexpensive and designed for missions where individual aircraft may be expended.
According to the manufacturer’s published specifications, the Merküt has an endurance of approximately 20 minutes and an operational range of around eight kilometres. Its design includes a guided fragmentation munition and safety mechanisms.
The manufacturer has also discussed further development involving electronic warfare resistance, fibre-optic communications and additional targeting technologies. These should be distinguished from the baseline specifications of the system covered by the agreement.
The scale of Pakistan’s order is particularly significant.
An acquisition of 100,000 FPV platforms suggests that Islamabad is looking beyond maintaining a limited inventory of sophisticated unmanned aircraft. Instead, the emphasis is increasingly on the availability of large numbers of smaller systems that can be manufactured, distributed and replenished.
Why Local Drone Production Matters for Pakistan
The agreement’s industrial dimension could prove as important as the number of drones being acquired.
Pakistan’s NRTC brings an established electronics manufacturing and research infrastructure to the partnership. Its capabilities include military communications, software-defined radios, electronic warfare solutions, radar technologies, robotics, data links and anti-drone systems.
According to NRTC’s official website, the organisation has more than 150 in-house researchers, collaborates with over 15 universities and operates manufacturing facilities supporting electronics production.
This existing technological base could provide opportunities for integrating unmanned systems into Pakistan’s wider defence-industrial ecosystem.
Local assembly and production could gradually reduce dependence on overseas suppliers for certain manufacturing and maintenance requirements. However, the extent of localisation will depend on the agreement’s implementation, access to technical documentation, component sourcing and the manufacturing responsibilities assigned to Pakistani facilities.
The distinction between assembling imported components and manufacturing complete systems domestically will be particularly important.
If the partnership develops into deeper technology transfer and domestic component production, Pakistan could gain more than an additional supply of drones. It could establish a repeatable industrial process capable of supporting future procurement requirements.
Deli Loitering Munitions Add Another Layer
The agreement also includes 500 Deli tactical kamikaze UAVs.
Unlike small multirotor FPV platforms, the Deli family represents a separate category of tactical loitering munition. These systems are intended to combine aerial reconnaissance and strike functions within a single unmanned platform.
Their inclusion diversifies the procurement beyond the large Merküt order.
The exact Deli variant allocation under the agreement has not been publicly specified. Consequently, specifications associated with individual Deli-2 or Deli-S configurations should not automatically be attributed to all 500 systems.
For Pakistan, the acquisition provides an opportunity to expand its unmanned inventory across different platform categories rather than relying exclusively on one type of drone.
Alpin and Dumrul Expand Unmanned Helicopter Capabilities
The agreement also covers two different unmanned helicopter platforms.
Alpin unmanned helicopter
The procurement includes 10 Alpin unmanned helicopters developed by Türkiye’s Titra Technology.
Alpin is a vertical take-off and landing (VTOL) unmanned helicopter designed for missions requiring heavier payload capacity and operations without conventional runways.
Pasifik Teknoloji describes its Alpin-2 platform as capable of carrying up to 200 kilograms of payload, with an overall localisation rate of approximately 80% in the newer version.
Potential applications include logistics, cargo transportation, surveillance and support operations in locations where conventional aircraft may face infrastructure limitations.
Dumrul mini unmanned helicopter
The agreement additionally includes 25 Dumrul mini unmanned helicopters.
Dumrul is an electrically powered, compact unmanned helicopter developed for tactical reconnaissance and other specialised missions.
Its inclusion adds another category of reusable unmanned aircraft to the procurement package, complementing the much larger number of expendable FPV drones.
Korgan Autonomous Ground Support and Observation Systems
Another important component is the procurement of 250 Korgan autonomous ground support and observation units.
Korgan is a drone-in-a-box concept designed to support automated unmanned aircraft operations. Such systems can combine aircraft storage, charging infrastructure, observation equipment and automated operational support.
Their inclusion indicates that the agreement is not limited to purchasing airborne platforms. It also addresses some of the ground infrastructure required to support unmanned operations.
For Pakistan, integrating these systems into its existing surveillance and communications architecture could provide additional opportunities for automated observation and monitoring.
The number of Korgan units in the final September agreement is 250, compared with 500 mentioned in the original May framework announcement.
Pakistan-Türkiye Defence Cooperation Enters a New Phase
The agreement represents another development in the expanding defence relationship between Pakistan and Türkiye.
Both countries have pursued cooperation across naval programmes, military technology, aerospace and defence manufacturing.
However, the latest arrangement has a distinctive industrial dimension because it specifically includes local assembly and production in Pakistan.
For Türkiye, the agreement provides an opportunity to expand its defence technology exports and establish a manufacturing relationship with an established Pakistani defence-sector organisation.
For Pakistan, it offers access to another portfolio of unmanned systems while creating an opportunity to develop domestic production and support capabilities.
The agreement also comes as governments worldwide are reassessing the role of relatively inexpensive unmanned platforms in modern military operations.
Conflicts in Ukraine and the Middle East have demonstrated the growing importance of drones, counter-drone technologies, electronic warfare and the ability to maintain equipment supplies during prolonged military engagements.
For Pakistan, the strategic challenge is not simply acquiring large numbers of drones. It is building the industrial, technical and organisational capacity required to operate, maintain and replenish them.
What the Agreement Means for Pakistan’s Future Drone Industry
The most important measure of this agreement will be its implementation over the next three years.
The disclosed contract does not yet establish the exact delivery schedule, total financial value or percentage of components that will be manufactured in Pakistan.
These details will determine the actual economic and strategic benefits of the arrangement.
Nevertheless, the inclusion of 100,000 FPV drones alongside loitering munitions, unmanned helicopters and autonomous ground systems demonstrates the breadth of Pakistan’s planned unmanned systems procurement.
The partnership could also create opportunities for Pakistani engineers, electronics manufacturers and technology companies to participate in future production and maintenance activities.
A successful transition from imported equipment to sustained local production would represent a significant development for Pakistan’s defence-industrial ambitions.
Ultimately, the Pakistan-Türkiye drone agreement should be viewed not merely as a large procurement contract, but as a potential step towards building a more scalable unmanned systems manufacturing ecosystem.
Its long-term significance will depend on how effectively Pakistan converts the three-year agreement into domestic production capacity, technical expertise and a reliable supply chain.
