Pakistan Confirms Shahpar-III MALE Combat Drone First Flight Test by End of 2026.

Pakistan’s defense industry confirmed at the World Defense Show 2026 that the Shahpar-III MALE unmanned combat aerial vehicle will conduct its first flight test before the year’s end. The milestone signals Pakistan’s growing ambition to field a fully indigenous, long-endurance armed drone capability.

Pakistan has officially confirmed that its Shahpar-III Medium Altitude Long Endurance Unmanned Combat Aerial Vehicle is expected to conduct its first flight test before the end of 2026, according to information released by Pakistani defense industry representatives at the World Defense Show 2026. The announcement marks a significant development in Islamabad’s long-running effort to design and produce an indigenous MALE-class drone capable of intelligence, surveillance, reconnaissance, and precision strike missions.
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A scale model of the Shahpar-III MALE UCAV on display at the World Defense Show 2026 highlights Pakistan’s next-generation unmanned combat aircraft, revealing its long wingspan, six underwing hardpoints, and design features ahead of the platform’s planned first flight test later in 2026. (Picture source: Army Recognition Group)

The announcement was made on the sidelines of WDS 2026 by officials familiar with the program, who described Shahpar-III as the most advanced unmanned combat aircraft ever developed by Pakistan. Building on the operational experience gained with the Shahpar and Shahpar-II platforms, the new system is designed from the outset as a true UCAV rather than a surveillance-first drone with limited strike options. Engineers involved in the program told Army Recognition that Shahpar-III reflects a clean-sheet approach intended to narrow the capability gap with established MALE systems such as the MQ-9 class while remaining optimized for regional operational requirements.

Visual material and technical data displayed at the exhibition provide rare insight into the aircraft’s configuration and performance envelope. Shahpar-III is presented as a Group 4 MALE UAV with a wingspan of approximately 19.5 meters (64 feet) and a maximum takeoff weight of 1,600 kilograms (3,527 pounds), placing it firmly in the same weight and endurance class as leading international designs. Power is provided by a 127-kilowatt engine (170 horsepower), coupled with retractable landing gear, which reduces aerodynamic drag and improves endurance during long missions.

The platform is designed for both intelligence, surveillance, and reconnaissance missions and sustained combat operations. Information visible on the official display highlights a maximum endurance of up to 30 hours in ISR configuration, decreasing to 16 hours when fully armed, indicating a deliberate balance between payload mass and loiter time. Operational ceilings are listed at more than 10,700 meters (35,000 feet) for ISR missions and 9,100 meters (30,000 feet) in armed configuration, allowing operations above most short-range air defense systems typically encountered in both asymmetric and conventional combat environments.

Payload flexibility is a central design priority. Shahpar-III is capable of carrying electro-optical and infrared sensors, synthetic aperture radar, and COMINT and ELINT payloads, enabling persistent battlefield surveillance, border security operations, and electronic intelligence collection. Armed capability is enabled through six wing hardpoints with a stated external payload capacity of up to 400 kilograms (882 pounds). In contrast, the internal payload capacity is 165 kilograms (364 pounds) in the ISR configuration and 75 kilograms (165 pounds) when armed. Although specific munitions were not disclosed at WDS 2026, Pakistani officials suggested that the aircraft would be compatible with indigenous precision-guided weapons already integrated on earlier UAV platforms.

The data link architecture further underlines the system’s intended strategic reach. Shahpar-III features both line-of-sight and beyond-line-of-sight connectivity, with a stated range exceeding 250 kilometers (155 miles) in LOS mode and more than 2,500 kilometers (1,553 miles) using satellite communications. The inclusion of SATCOM, along with an ATC transponder and IFF, indicates an aircraft designed not only for contested military airspace but also for integration into civilian-managed airspace during extended transit missions.

Avionics are described as fully indigenously developed, a claim that carries significant political and strategic weight. Pakistani defense officials at the exhibition emphasized that Shahpar-III is intended to reduce reliance on foreign suppliers at a time when export controls and geopolitical pressure increasingly influence access to advanced unmanned systems. One senior industry representative noted that every major subsystem, from mission computers to flight control software, has been designed with export resilience and long-term sovereign control in mind.

If the first flight test proceeds as planned before the end of 2026, Shahpar-III will enter a critical validation phase that could lead to relatively rapid induction by the Pakistan Armed Forces. Analysts following the program assess that the platform is primarily aimed at the Pakistan Air Force and, potentially, the Navy, offering long-endurance maritime surveillance and strike capability over the Arabian Sea. The system is also likely positioned for export to partner nations seeking MALE-class UCAVs without the political and operational constraints often associated with Western platforms.

For Pakistan’s defense industry, Shahpar-III represents more than just a new drone. It signals a strategic effort to move decisively into the high-end MALE UCAV segment, combining long endurance, multi-sensor ISR, and credible strike capability in a single indigenous platform. As flight testing approaches, regional militaries and defense analysts will closely monitor whether Shahpar-III can translate its ambitious specifications into operational performance, potentially reshaping the unmanned aerial balance in South Asia and beyond.

Written by Alain Servaes – Chief Editor, Army Recognition Group
Alain Servaes is a former infantry non-commissioned officer and the founder of Army Recognition. With over 20 years in defense journalism, he provides expert analysis on military equipment, NATO operations, and the global defense industry.