Pakistan’s military drone team secured second place at an international competition in Ankara featuring participants from 33 countries. Host Türkiye finished first, followed by Pakistan, Italy and France.
The final of the inaugural Best International Military Drone Team Competition 2026 took place on Saturday, October 24. The Turkish embassy in Islamabad announced Pakistan’s achievement on Sunday.
“Congratulations to the Turkish team for securing 1st place and Pakistan for achieving 2nd place at the Best International Military Drone Team Competition 2026 (BIMDTC-2026) in Ankara, bringing together competitors from 33 different countries,” the embassy said on X.
Congratulations to the Turkish team for securing 1st place and Pakistan for achieving 2nd place at the Best International Military Drone Team Competition 2026 (BIMDTC-2026) in Ankara, bringing together competitors from 33 different countries. Congratulations also to Italy for securing 3rd place and France for finishing 4th.
The outstanding performances of the Turkish and Pakistani teams stand as yet another testament to their skill, precision and growing expertise in the field of unmanned aerial systems.
🇹🇷🇵🇰
ذترکیہ میں منعقدہ بہترین بین الاقوامی عسکری ڈرون ٹیم مقابلہ جس میں 33 ممالک نے حصہ لیا میں ترکیہ کو پہلی اور پاکستان کو دوسری پوزیشن حاصل کرنے پر مبارک باد۔ اٹلی کو تیسری اور فرانس کو چوتھی پوزیشن حاصل کرنے پر بھی مبارک۔
ترکش اور پاکستانی ٹیموں کی شاندار کارکردگی بغیر انسانی فضائی نظاموں میں انکی مہارت, درستگی اور بڑھتے تجربے کا ایک اور ثبوت ہے۔
🇹🇷🇵🇰
Ankara’da, 33 farklı ülkeden katılımcıların bir araya geldiği Uluslararası En İyi Askeri Uçangöz Takımı Yarışması (BIMDTC-2026) birinciliği elde eden takımımızı ve ikinciliği kazanan Pakistan’ı tebrik ediyoruz. Üçüncülüğü elde eden İtalya’yı ve yarışmayı dördüncü sırada tamamlayan Fransa’yı da kutluyoruz.
Türk ve Pakistanlı takımların sergilediği üstün performans, insansız hava sistemleri alanındaki becerilerini, operasyonel yetkinliklerini ve giderek artan deneyimlerini bir kez daha ortaya koymuştur.
— Türkiye in Pakistan (@TC_IslamabadBE) October 25, 2026
“The outstanding performances of the Turkish and Pakistani teams stand as yet another testament to their skill, precision and growing expertise in the field of unmanned aerial systems,” it added.
The embassy also shared a photograph of the Pakistan Army team holding the national flag after the competition.
Each participating country could enter up to three personnel, including at least two First-Person View pilots. Eligibility covered both active-duty and reserve military personnel, according to Türkiye Today.
Teams with the fastest qualifying course times advanced to the final. Competitors then navigated a course containing 23 obstacles, testing speed, manoeuvring and flight skills.
Türkiye’s Land Forces first team recorded a winning time of 41.417 seconds. Pakistan followed with 50.253 seconds, narrowly ahead of Italy’s 50.680 seconds. France completed the course in 57.142 seconds.
Turkish Land Forces Commander General Metin Tokel presented Pakistan’s award, Türkiye Today reported. The event took place in Temelli, in Ankara’s Sincan district.
Pakistan also earned an individual distinction. Captain Talha won silver after finishing second among more than 100 international pilots.
The Turkish Land Forces Command organised the inaugural event. Alongside competitive flying, it aimed to promote international cooperation, professional interaction and the exchange of knowledge among military teams.
Pakistan’s result comes as drones assume a larger role in its military operations and defence cooperation with Türkiye.
During the brief conflict with India in May 2025, Pakistan deployed Turkish-origin YIHA-III and Asisguard Songar drones, Reuters reported. It also used the domestically produced Shahpar-II unmanned aerial vehicle.
The state-owned Global Industrial & Defence Solutions conglomerate produces the Shahpar-II.
Islamabad and Ankara have also expanded their security partnership with Riyadh. The three countries signed the Makkah Joint Defence Agreement in August amid regional tensions involving the US-Iran conflict and Houthi attacks.
The agreement treats an armed attack against one member as an attack against all three, formalising their longstanding security cooperation. Türkiye submitted the pact to parliament for ratification in October.
Beyond collective defence, the agreement covers defence-industry cooperation, intelligence sharing and counterterrorism, adding an institutional framework to the three countries’ military ties.
