Pakistan, Turkiye Air Forces Deepen Defence Technology Cooperation
Pakistan and Turkiye have renewed their commitment to expanding cooperation between their air forces, with both sides placing stronger emphasis on defence technology, aerospace collaboration and future-oriented military innovation. The development came during Air Chief Marshal Zaheer Ahmed Baber Sidhu’s official visit to Turkiye, where he held a series of senior-level meetings with Turkish military and defence industry leaders.
According to the Inter-Services Public Relations, the Pakistan Air Force chief met Turkish Air Force Commander General Ziya Cemal Kadıoğlu, Defence Minister Yaşar Güler and Baykar Technologies Chief Technology Officer Selçuk Bayraktar. The engagements focused on strengthening operational coordination, improving institutional links and exploring new areas of cooperation in advanced aviation and unmanned systems.
The visit is being viewed as significant because Pakistan and Turkiye have steadily expanded defence ties in recent years, moving beyond traditional military contacts toward technology partnerships and joint learning. Discussions during the latest meetings covered joint exercises, professional exchanges, training support, aerospace capacity and opportunities linked to emerging military technologies.
ISPR said the air chief reaffirmed the growing alignment between the two countries in defence, aerospace innovation and new technologies. The Turkish side also acknowledged Pakistan Air Force’s role in training Turkish pilots, while both sides expressed interest in deeper coordination that could improve interoperability and operational understanding between the two air forces.
At Turkish Air Force headquarters, Air Chief Marshal Sidhu was accorded a guard of honour, reflecting the formal importance attached to the visit. His meeting with the Turkish defence minister focused on the wider strategic relationship between Pakistan and Turkiye, including capacity-building, professional development and defence-sector collaboration.
A key part of the visit was the air chief’s meeting with Selçuk Bayraktar, one of Turkiye’s most prominent figures in the drone and aerospace technology sector. Their discussions centred on unmanned aerial systems, next-generation aviation solutions and emerging defence technologies, areas that are becoming increasingly important for modern air warfare.
Pakistan and Turkiye have long maintained close political, diplomatic and defence relations, supported by shared positions on several regional and international issues. In recent years, those ties have gained additional weight as both countries look to strengthen indigenous defence capabilities and reduce dependence on limited foreign supply chains.
The latest engagement also comes in a broader regional security environment where air power, drone systems, electronic warfare and rapid-response capabilities are becoming central to national defence planning. For Pakistan, cooperation with Turkiye offers access to a partner with growing experience in unmanned platforms and defence production, while Turkiye benefits from Pakistan’s operational experience and training capacity.
The impact for Pakistan could be important if the discussions lead to practical projects, expanded training programmes or technology cooperation. Stronger air force coordination with Turkiye may support Pakistan’s long-term defence modernisation, improve military preparedness and open further space for aerospace industry collaboration.
The next stage will depend on how both sides translate the latest high-level talks into concrete programmes. If follow-up agreements emerge, Pakistan-Turkiye defence cooperation could move into a more technology-driven phase, with aerospace innovation and unmanned systems likely to remain key areas of focus.