Soaring to new heights: NSTP celebrates aviation innovation at Turkish Aerospace Pakistan

The National Science & Technology Park (NSTP) has been a hub for innovation in Pakistan for R&D companies driving innovation across multiple industries including SmartTech and DefTech. Its resident companies are pushing the boundaries of research and development, and a recent achievement has been marked by Turkish Aerospace Pakistan, which conducted the maiden autonomous flight of its indigenously developed technology demonstrator, IQBAL.

The six-minute-long test flight, conducted on March 14, 2025, highlights Turkish Aerospace Pakistan’s contributions to the aerospace and defense sector through applied engineering and innovation. IQBAL, named after Pakistan’s national poet Dr. Allama Muhammad Iqbal, was designed and developed by a team of engineers to serve as a testbed for advanced aerospace technologies, including flight control algorithms, artificial stability augmentation, and applied aerodynamics.

As an indigenous twin jet-engine Unmanned Aerial System (UAS), IQBAL integrates complex avionics and autonomous flight capabilities. The aircraft, developed by Turkish Aerospace Pakistan engineers at NSTP, collects vital flight data to enhance autonomous flight management systems, making a significant contribution to the technological advancement of this sector. 

NSTP, in its role as a hub for science and technology in Pakistan, continues to support such pioneering efforts, enabling collaborations that drive technological advancement for the region. This milestone reflects the strong partnership between Pakistan and Türkiye in defense and aerospace, reinforcing their shared commitment to innovation and development.