Drone alliance

According to SIPRI, Pakistan ranks among the top ten importers of major arms globally, yet remains largely dependent on foreign suppliers for critical defence technologies.

Let that sink in. Despite strides in indigenous projects like the JF-17, Pakistan’s drone capabilities – increasingly central to modern warfare – are still at risk of being outsourced to volatile supply chains and unpredictable foreign policies.

Many would assume that our existing defence partnerships are enough. After all, Pakistan’s collaboration with China has delivered success stories like the JF-17 Thunder, a locally co-produced fighter jet that has strengthened our air power and even opened export markets. But drones are not just the next frontier – they are the battleground of today. The future of conflict is unmanned, fast, and deeply technological.

And here lies the uncomfortable truth: relying solely on a single supplier, however dependable they may seem today, is a dangerous game. According to IPRI, interruptions in supply chains – as seen globally in recent years – could severely hamper Pakistan’s operational readiness. Should Pakistan place its national security at the mercy of another nation’s export policies?

Pakistan has long championed strategic autonomy, and drones present a golden opportunity to reclaim it. Consider this: Turkish Bayraktar drones, once underdogs, now dominate headlines for their effectiveness and affordability. Building a diversified portfolio of drone partnerships – from China, Turkey and others – will ensure Pakistan does not find itself stranded in times of crisis.

But beyond procurement lies an even greater prize: co-development. Pakistan’s experience with the JF-17 shows the transformative power of joint production. By manufacturing 58 per cent of the fighter jet’s components locally, we not only reduced dependence but also cultivated a domestic defence industry, created jobs, and gained invaluable technical know-how. The same model can – and must – be applied to drones.

Imagine a future where Pakistan is not just a buyer but a co-developer of next-generation UAVs. These drones could patrol our borders, assist in counterinsurgency operations, and support disaster relief efforts, all while being built in our factories, by our engineers, for our needs.

And the benefits do not end at defence. UAV technology has vast civilian applications: precision agriculture, flood monitoring, and search-and-rescue missions in climate disasters, which Pakistan is no stranger to. The World Bank has highlighted the role of drones in disaster management, showing how they significantly improved response times during floods in South Asia. For a country like Pakistan, facing increasing climate vulnerabilities, this is not a luxury – it is a necessity.

An alliance focused on drone R&D can help mitigate another silent threat: technological blackmail. When a nation depends on imported military technology, it inherits hidden risks – software vulnerabilities, cyber-espionage, and, worst of all, export bans during times of geopolitical tension.

Europe itself has raised concerns about potential ‘kill switches’ embedded in the F-35 jet, which could allow external actors to disable critical systems remotely. By participating in the design and production process, Pakistan can safeguard its sovereignty and reduce exposure to these external risks.

A Global South Drone Alliance – a coalition of emerging economies pooling resources and expertise – would be a game-changer. According to SIPRI, non-Western nations now account for nearly 40 per cent of global military spending. Countries across Asia, Africa, and Latin America could share costs, accelerate innovation, and avoid the pitfalls of dependency on any single hegemon. Not only would this multiply technical capabilities, but it would also democratise access to the technologies shaping tomorrow’s wars and industries.

Sceptics may argue that Pakistan’s economy is too constrained to invest heavily in such ventures. But defence innovation is not just an expenditure – it is an investment in national resilience. Defence exports, like the JF-17 sale to Azerbaijan, reportedly worth $1.6 billion, prove that local production can generate foreign exchange and offset costs. With the right partnerships, Pakistan’s drone industry could become an export powerhouse.

Pakistan today stands at a crossroads. We can continue down the familiar path of reactive defence spending and fragmented procurement strategies, or we can seize the initiative. By embracing diversified partnerships and championing co-development, Pakistan can secure its skies, strengthen its economy and ensure that its future is not outsourced to the whims of foreign suppliers.

We must ask ourselves not whether we can afford to build such alliances, but whether we can afford not to.

The writer is an MBA candidate at the University of Toronto and a defence enthusiast. He studied MSc Finance and Accounting at Imperial College London.