Turkish-Made Armed Drones Used in Pakistani Cross-Border Incursion, Preliminary Probe Reveals
In a significant development following Pakistan’s large-scale drone incursions along India’s northern and western borders on Thursday night, a preliminary investigation into recovered drone debris has indicated the use of Turkish-manufactured armed drones, specifically the Songar drone system developed by Asisguard, a subsidiary of Turkey’s Asis Electronics and Information Systems.
Addressing the media on Friday, Wing Commander Vyomika Singh and Colonel Sofiya Qureshi confirmed that drone intrusions were attempted at 36 separate locations, spanning from Siachen to Sir Creek, along both the International Border and the Line of Control.
According to estimates, approximately 300 to 400 drones were deployed during the attempted breach. Forensic analysis of the debris is underway, but early findings point to the Songar drone system — a key asset in Turkey’s indigenous defense portfolio.
Songar: Turkey’s Armed Aerial Innovation
The Songar drone is Turkey’s first domestically developed armed drone, designed for low-intensity combat and infantry support missions. It is already in service with the Turkish Armed Forces and marks a major leap in Turkey’s UAV capabilities.
Key specifications of the Songar drone system include:
- Rotor Width: 145 cm
- Height: 70 cm
- Maximum Take-off Weight: 45 kg
- Operational Altitude: Up to 2,800 meters above sea level
- Ground Clearance: Up to 400 meters
- Operational Range: Approximately 3 km
- Weaponry: Equipped with a machine gun firing NATO-standard 5.56×45 mm rounds, with a maximum ammunition load of 200 rounds and capabilities for single and burst (15-round) fire modes
The drone is fitted with day and night operation cameras, including a pilot camera with 10x zoom and a gun-mounted targeting camera. It features GPS and GLONASS navigation systems, allowing real-time video transmission, post-mission video and data recording, and precise targeting with an accuracy window of 15 cm from 200 meters.
Strategic Implications of Turkish-Pakistani Drone Cooperation
India publicly naming Turkey as the drone supplier is diplomatically significant. Pakistan is traditionally known for its deep military and defense collaboration with China, but this disclosure brings attention to Islamabad’s increasingly close defense ties with Ankara.
The Turkey-Pakistan military alliance has grown considerably in recent years, marked by joint military exercises, technology-sharing agreements, and major arms deals.
This includes the delivery of F-16 aircraft from Turkish Aerospace Industries (TAI) and a collaboration agreement between Pakistan’s National Aerospace Science and Technology Park (NASTP) and Turkish drone giant Baykar.
Notably, in 2021, Pakistan ordered three Bayraktar TB-2 armed drones, which were received in 2022, according to the Stockholm International Peace Research Institute (SIPRI).
Erdogan’s Support for Pakistan Amid Crisis
The revelation of Turkey’s involvement in equipping Pakistan comes against the backdrop of high-level diplomatic interactions.
On May 7, Turkish President Recep Tayyip Erdogan held a phone conversation with Pakistani Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif, offering solidarity following India’s strikes on terror camps in Pakistan and Pakistan-occupied Kashmir (PoK).
Erdogan, as per his office’s statement, endorsed Pakistan’s “calm and restrained response” to the escalating conflict and backed Islamabad’s call for an investigation into the April 22 Pahalgam terror attack — a demand India has categorically rejected.
It is notable that Prime Minister Sharif was visiting Turkey at the time of the Pahalgam attack, and discussions with Erdogan during the visit included expanding defense cooperation.
Growing Drone Warfare Capabilities
The Pakistani deployment of Songar drones — capable of delivering accurate machine-gun fire from the air — represents a worrying new front in drone warfare in South Asia.
The capacity to deploy large numbers of such armed UAVs over a vast stretch of terrain reflects the sophistication and depth of Pakistan’s modern drone arsenal, enabled in part by partnerships with Turkey.
India’s identification of these systems in the current conflict marks a turning point in regional military dynamics, bringing renewed attention to the proliferation of advanced drone technologies and the importance of counter-drone capabilities in modern border defense.
