Defence Uncut

Will the PAF Buy the Kızılelma? Baykar, Engine Risks, and Pakistan's UCAV Roadmap

Pakistan Air Force Chief ACM Zaheer Babar Sidhu visited Baykar Technologies in Turkey and was photographed with the Bayraktar Kızılelma — a jet-powered unmanned combat aerial vehicle (UCAV) that could reshape how the PAF approaches deep strike, loyal wingman operations, and force structure planning. In this episode, Bilal Khan and Arslan Khan go deep on what this visit signals and — more importantly — what comes next. We break down the Kızılelma's capabilities and limitations, compare it with TAI's Anka-3, dig into the Ukrainian engine supply chain problem (AI-25 / AI-322), and explore whether Baykar's Pakistan subsidiary could co-develop a sovereign sensor and datalink stack with NASTP. We also examine the gap nobody is filling: the 2–3 ton attritable UCAV class that the US (MQ-Next, XQ-58 Valkyrie), and potentially NESCOM, are pursuing. Plus — could the Pakistan Navy one day operate its own UCAV-based strike wing? Other topics: Akinci UAV shoot-down in Sudan, Saab's LoyalEye AEW pod on MQ-9B, PFX as a potential unmanned fighter program, and why the PAF's "original solutions" doctrine matters for long-term sovereignty. New episodes weekly. Full articles at quwa.org.

Fatah IV Air Burst Test, JF-17 Block 4 & Why PAF Training Matters More Than J-35s | Defence Uncut S2E05

Pakistan's Army Rocket Force Command tested the Fatah IV ground-launched cruise missile with an air burst warhead and new imaging infrared seeker — the latest step in Pakistan's conventional deterrence build-up. Bilal Khan and Arslan Khan unpack what the Fatah IV's evolution from the Harba series means for mass production and scalability, then dive into the Z-10ME attack helicopter's millimetric wave radar evaluation and what it signals about Army Aviation's procurement timeline. The episode also covers JF-17 Block 3 production realities, the case for Block 4/PFX Alpha as the JF-17's final evolution, and why the PAF's ageing T-37 and K-8 training pipeline may be a more urgent priority than fifth-generation fighter procurement. In the Q&A segment: the Link 17 data link controversy (can AWACS guide PL-15 missiles?), BrahMos countermeasures, whether Pakistan should repurpose the JF-17 as a LIFT platform, the J-35 timeline, and the future size of the PAF fighter fleet. Published by Quwa (quwa.org) — the first English-language Pakistan defence analysis publication. Questions: podcast@quwa.org

Pakistan's New Missiles, Drones & Fighter Jets — One Year After the India Conflict

One year after the May 2025 India-Pakistan conflict, Pakistan's military procurement picture has fundamentally changed. In this episode, Bilal Khan, Arslan Khan, and Aseem break down the full scope of Pakistan's post-conflict military modernization — from the FATA-3 supersonic cruising missile to Shahed-style drone factories, the Army Rocket Force Command, PAF fighter fleet expansion, satellite reconnaissance, and the decision-making challenge that will determine whether any of it matters. Topics covered: — FATA-3 supersonic cruising missile and its HD-1 connection — Army Rocket Force Command: structure, mandate, and multimodal strike concept — FATA missile family breakdown (FATA-1 guided MLRS, FATA-2 tactical ballistic, FATA-3 supersonic cruiser, FATA-4 cruise missile) — Pakistan Navy supersonic missile requirements (CM-302, SMASH) — Shahed-style loitering munition mass production strategy — Jet-powered vs piston-powered drones: why simplicity wins — Turkish drone industry critique and Baykar in Pakistan — Pakistan Army counter-UAS programs and electronic warfare investment — Z-10ME attack helicopter and the future of army aviation — PAF fighter procurement: J-10, JF-17, and the J-35 question — Fifth-generation fighter timing: J-35, TFX/KAAN, and the KF-21 dark horse — RAAD cruise missile reconfiguration for conventional strike and anti-ship roles — Pakistan's satellite and ISTAR buildup (EO, SAR, hyperspectral) — Kill chain closure: satellites vs munitions stockpiles — Lessons learned: decision-making speed, pre-delegated authority, and Pakistan's shift from defensive to offensive posture Defence Uncut is the first dedicated English-language Pakistani defence news commentary podcast. Fo

Hangor Submarine Commissioned, Fatah-II Training Launch, and Pakistan's EO Satellite Constellation Completed

The Pakistan Navy commissions PNS/M Hangor — the first of eight Hangor-class (S26) AIP submarines derived from China's Yuan-class (Type 039B). We trace the programme from the collapsed Type 214 deal with TKMS through to the current dual-submarine strategy, and discuss how the fleet will reshape Pakistan's maritime posture in the Arabian Sea and Indian Ocean. We also cover the Babur-class corvette and Jinnah-class frigate armament debate, the SMASH anti-ship ballistic missile and Taimoor AS cruise missile tests, the Army Rocket Force Command's first Fatah-II training launch, the Pakistan Army's emerging precision-fire and precision-strike doctrine — including the Nishana PGK, PAKFIRE, and the new Integrated Battlefield Management System — and SUPARCO's PRSC-EO3 satellite completing Pakistan's electro-optical imaging constellation.

Islamabad Talks Collapse: Pakistan's Role in the Iran-US War and the Gulf Security Premium

The Islamabad talks between the US and Iran ended without an agreement after 21 hours — but the breakdown reveals more than the headlines suggest. In this episode, Bilal Khan and Arslan Khan analyse what the Islamabad negotiations mean for Pakistan's position in the Iran-US war. They examine why the US wanted to establish contact with the IRGC's post-decapitation leadership, why the nuclear issue was only part of the sticking point, and why Pakistan's proposal for joint naval patrols of the Strait of Hormuz could reshape the region's security architecture. The episode covers Iran's asymmetric cost strategy and what Pakistan's military can learn from its mosaic defence doctrine, the case for devolving combat authority down to corps and brigade level, Pakistan Navy's geographic advantage in the Arabian Sea, and the argument that Pakistan has been systematically undercharging the Gulf for its security services. Bilal and Arslan lay out a detailed framework for how Pakistan could position itself as the region's primary security guarantor — from joint F-16 squadrons stationed in Saudi Arabia and Pakistani-operated drone interceptor production lines, to Chinese surplus air defence stockpiles channelled through Pakistan to Gulf buyers. They also discuss the structural failure of the Saudi-Pakistan Strategic Defence Agreement and what needs to change to make it operational. Defence Uncut is the first dedicated English-language Pakistani defence podcast. New episodes weekly. Website: quwa.org | Twitter/X: @quwagroup