Islamabad, August 15, 2025 – During Pakistan’s Independence Day celebrations in Islamabad, the Pakistan Air Force (PAF) unveiled a model of Al-Murtajiz, an unmanned aerial system that appears to signal a significant step forward in the country’s drone capabilities.
The model’s brief appearance revealed several key features: a compact turbojet inlet above the fuselage, narrow-chord retractable wings, a sharply tapered tail, and a low-observable design that suggests an emphasis on stealth and speed.
Officials described it as a ground-launched aerial platform capable of intercepting airborne threats and potentially conducting precision strike missions, including loitering and kamikaze-style attacks.
The display was short-lived, with the drone model removed from the public area soon after its reveal, leaving analysts and defense watchers with more questions than answers.
Context in Pakistan’s Drone Development
Over the past two decades, Pakistan has steadily built a diverse portfolio of unmanned aerial systems. Early platforms like the locally developed Burraq UAV focused on surveillance and targeted strikes, while more recent additions have included loitering munitions such as the Shahpar-II and imported systems like the Turkish Bayraktar TB2.
Al-Murtajiz represents a potential leap into the category of high-speed unmanned combat aerial vehicles (UCAVs).
It appears to support the PAF’s vision for manned-unmanned teaming (MUM-T), in which drones operate alongside or in support of manned aircraft. This strategy allows for expanded mission reach, faster reaction times, and reduced pilot risk in contested environments.
The PAF’s semiofficial magazine Second to None has previously hinted at unmanned platforms capable of air-to-air combat and stealth strike roles.
While the publication did not mention Al-Murtajiz by name, its description of future UAV programs matches the profile of what was shown in Islamabad.
Potential Capabilities
Though no official technical specifications have been released, defense analysts suggest that Al-Murtajiz may be designed for:
- Decoy operations – drawing enemy air defenses away from manned aircraft.
- Interception missions – targeting enemy drones, cruise missiles, or low-flying aircraft.
- Loitering strike roles – circling above potential targets until an engagement order is given.
- High-speed penetration – using stealth and speed to bypass defenses and strike strategic targets.
If powered by a small turbojet, as its intake design suggests, it could potentially reach subsonic speeds in the Mach 0.7 to 0.9 range, enabling rapid target engagement.
Strategic Implications for the Region
The introduction of Al-Murtajiz comes at a time when regional drone warfare is evolving quickly. India has been expanding its UAV fleet with imports from Israel and indigenous projects, while Turkey has proven the effectiveness of UCAVs in multiple conflicts.
By pursuing a high-speed, stealthy unmanned platform, Pakistan could strengthen its deterrence posture and improve its ability to respond to short-notice threats.
The system could also support broader strategic goals. A fleet of such drones could overwhelm enemy radar and missile defenses by presenting multiple simultaneous threats, a tactic known as a saturation attack.
This aligns with modern airpower doctrine, where unmanned systems take on the riskiest roles, freeing up manned fighters for complex missions.
