Pakistan has reportedly inducted the advanced GAZAP thermobaric weapon developed by Türkiye into its military inventory, a move expected to significantly enhance the precision-strike and battlefield engagement capabilities of the Pakistan Air Force (PAF).
According to reports, the weapon will be integrated with the PAF’s F-16 fighter aircraft, providing the force with a powerful system designed to deliver devastating blast effects against fortified military positions and hardened targets.
Unveiled by Türkiye in 2025, the GAZAP weapon employs thermobaric technology that utilizes atmospheric oxygen during detonation to generate intense heat and overpressure. This enables the munition to produce a broader and more sustained blast effect than conventional high-explosive weapons.
Defence analysts note that thermobaric systems are particularly effective against underground bunkers, tunnels, fortified command centers, and heavily protected defensive structures, where traditional munitions may have limited effectiveness.
The reported acquisition highlights the growing strategic defence partnership between Pakistan and Türkiye, which has expanded considerably in recent years across the air, naval, and defence-industrial sectors.
The two countries are already engaged in several major defence initiatives. Türkiye previously delivered the first of four Babur-class corvettes to the Pakistan Navy, while cooperation is also advancing on the next-generation National Combat Aircraft (MMU/KAAN) program through collaboration between Turkish Aerospace Industries and the Pakistan Aeronautical Complex.
The integration of the GAZAP weapon system forms part of Pakistan’s broader military modernization efforts and underscores the deepening strategic relationship between Islamabad and Ankara.
By Vafa Guliyeva
