Pakistan’s New Air Defense System Designed to Counter Missiles and Drones

 

Pakistan has publicly showcased Türkiye’s KORKUT 35mm air-defence system, highlighting ongoing efforts to strengthen its capabilities against evolving low-altitude aerial threats.

The system was featured in a Pakistan Air Force Defence Day film, drawing attention to the growing defence cooperation between Pakistan and Türkiye. The appearance also reflects Islamabad’s broader focus on modernizing its air-defence infrastructure.

The KORKUT system combines radar and electro-optical tracking capabilities with programmable ATOM ammunition. These features are designed to support the detection, tracking and engagement of aerial threats at short ranges.

KORKUT was showcased alongside China’s HQ-17AE surface-to-air missile system and Türkiye’s ŞAHİN counter-UAS turret, suggesting a layered approach to addressing different types of aerial threats.

Together, these systems could provide complementary capabilities against drones, cruise missiles and other low-flying aerial targets, although the specific operational roles and integration of the systems within Pakistan’s air-defence network have not been publicly detailed.

Pakistan has also not disclosed the number of KORKUT systems acquired, their deployment locations or their current operational status. As a result, the extent of their integration into the country’s existing air-defence network remains unclear.

The public appearance of the KORKUT system nevertheless highlights Pakistan’s continued efforts to modernize its air-defence capabilities while strengthening strategic and defence cooperation with Türkiye.