On 08 November 2026, the Pakistan Air Force (PAF) released a promotional video that revealed the development and induction of new loitering munitions, cruise missiles, and an apparent modular/smart drone weapon.
These new munitions include, among others, an improved version of the YIHA-III (or a variant of the Baykar Sivrisinek), the Lightning-1 and Lightning-2, Arrow-1 cruise missile or decoy, and an unnamed, but tested or deployed, jet-powered decoy/munition similar in design to the Turkish Şimşek-series.
However, while similar in concept to the Şimşek (which includes the Super Şimşek and Şimşek-K), this unnamed munition bears several differences that make it distinct from that family. This is likely an original smart decoy drone that could double as a munition, similar in concept to the one Quwa forecasted in 2024:
The PAF’s entry into next-generation MUM-T could involve the acquisition – or, potentially, the development – of jet-powered attritable decoy drones. Following loitering munitions, decoy drones would likely be the lightest and lowest cost pieces of a future MUM-T deployment.
Collectively, these inductions indicate that the PAF is actively adopting a new drone-led warfighting posture, which it likely terms ‘manned-unmanned teaming (MUM-T).’
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