- Turkish C-130s made unusual flights to Pakistan bases.
- Deliveries likely included drones and HQ-series air defense systems.
- Pakistan rapidly expanding unmanned aerial warfare capabilities.
A significant movement of Turkish military aircraft has been observed at two major Pakistan Air Force bases over the past 60 hours. Multiple Turkish C-130 Hercules transport planes conducted sorties between Turkey and Pakistan from August 19 to 21, India Today reported, citing intelligence inputs. According to the report, the aircraft were seen landing and taking off from Nur Khan airbase near Rawalpindi and Masroor airbase in Karachi.
As per media reports , the frequency and pattern of these flights are unusual, with several sorties recorded during the three-day period.
Drones and air defence systems in focus
The aircraft movements have drawn attention amid Pakistan’s efforts to expand its unmanned aerial fleet and weapons stockpile. Intelligence inputs suggest the Turkish flights may have delivered a large consignment of drones and related systems.
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The report also indicated that Pakistan may have received an HQ-series air defence system along with the drone equipment. Among the Turkish systems previously supplied to Pakistan is the Bayraktar TB2, a medium-altitude, long-endurance tactical drone. The Bayraktar TB2 gained global attention after its successful use by Ukraine against Russian forces and is considered one of the most capable armed UAVs in its class.
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Pakistan accelerates drone acquisitions
These latest flights come as Pakistan rapidly seeks to strengthen its unmanned warfare capabilities. The acquisitions are reportedly being pursued under defence cooperation arrangements involving Turkey and Saudi Arabia. Turkey has become one of Pakistan’s key suppliers of unmanned aerial vehicles.
Pakistan Army Chief General Asim Munir is said to be driving the procurement process through existing bilateral defence channels, despite the country’s ongoing economic challenges. The expansion reflects Islamabad’s growing emphasis on drones, long-endurance platforms, and loitering munitions as part of its military modernisation.
Pakistan has previously deployed Turkish drones for surveillance and strike missions along its western border and continues to seek more advanced long-endurance UAVs and loitering munition systems. The repeated presence of Turkish C-130 aircraft at Nur Khan and Masroor bases between August 19 and 21 has heightened focus on the type of equipment being transferred and the speed of Pakistan’s drone and air-defence build-up.
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