According to a tweet from Air Operations Syndicate on August 4, 2023, the Pakistan Air Force (PAF) unveiled its procurement of the Kemankes loitering munition from Türkiye’s defense company Baykar. The Kemankes missiles are planned to be paired with Pakistan’s existing fleet of Bayraktar TB2 drones, procured in 2021.
The Pakistan Air Force also operates Akinci and Anka UAVs, and the Kemankes missile can be launched from these three drones, all manufactured by Bayraktar. This suggests that the acquisition and integration of standoff weapons on UCAVs indicate PAF’s intent to use them beyond traditional counterterrorism missions.
These advanced missiles are designed to integrate with unmanned aerial vehicles (UAVs), aligning with Pakistan’s growing interest in UAV technology. Pakistan currently operates these three models of Turkish UAVs, and the relationship between the two countries was solidified in 2021 when NESCOM, a Pakistani company, signed an agreement with Türkiye’s TAI for local production of Turkish Anka UAVs.
A notable feature of the Kemankes cruise missile is its incorporation of artificial intelligence (AI). This integration enables the missile to autonomously identify and select targets, even under adverse weather conditions, enhancing accuracy and adaptability.
The missile’s dimensions are 1.73 meters in length, 0.4 meters in height, and a wingspan of 1.25 meters. It weighs a maximum of 30 kilograms, including a 6-kilogram warhead. The missile’s optical guidance system includes a 2-axis stabilized camera with 36x magnification and a laser rangefinder capable of reaching 2.8 kilometers.