Pakistan Unleashes BLAZE-25 Loitering Munition—A Formidable Twin to Russia’s LANCET
With the launch of the BLAZE-25, Pakistan boldly stakes its claim in the escalating global arms race, joining an elite group of nations aggressively advancing loitering munition technology—an arena long dominated by the United States, Israel, and Türkiye.
(DEFENCE SECURITY ASIA) – Pakistan’s premier defense giant, Global Industrial & Defence Solutions (GIDS), has unveiled the BLAZE-25 loitering munition—a cutting-edge system that, at first glance, mirrors the unmistakable design of Russia’s formidable LANCET drone.
The LANCET loitering munition, crafted by ZALA AERO—a subsidiary of Kalashnikov Concern, the legendary maker of the iconic AK-47—has earned a fearsome reputation for its devastating precision in eliminating high-value Ukrainian military targets.
Weighing 25 kg, the BLAZE-25 was showcased to the public at the International Defence Exhibition & Conference (IDEX) in Abu Dhabi, United Arab Emirates (UAE).
It is the lightest variant in the BLAZE loitering munition family, followed by the 50 kg BLAZE-50 and the 75 kg BLAZE-75, the heaviest in the series.
The BLAZE-25 is a tube-launched loitering munition designed for short-range precision strikes.
Powered by an electric propulsion system, it is ideally suited for missions requiring low acoustic and thermal signatures.
The drone has an operational range of up to 75 km or an endurance of 60 minutes, enabling it to carry out tactical strikes in close-range scenarios.
When used as a standard drone, the BLAZE-25 has a data-link range of 10 km—significantly shorter than its engagement range.
This suggests the incorporation of autonomous targeting capabilities, allowing it to operate independently once deployed.
The BLAZE loitering munition family is expected to play a crucial role in enhancing the Pakistan Armed Forces‘ loitering munition capabilities.
One of the BLAZE-25’s key features is its dual functionality, as it can operate either as a traditional loitering munition or as a surveillance drone.
When deployed for reconnaissance missions, it maintains a 10 km data-link range, which is considerably shorter than its maximum operational range of 75 km.
This indicates the integration of autonomous target acquisition capabilities, enabling the system to function independently upon deployment, minimizing the risk of jamming or signal disruption.
Pakistan’s unveiling of the BLAZE-25 at IDEX 2025 underscores the rising dominance of loitering munitions in the ever-evolving landscape of modern warfare.
These game-changing systems have already proven their lethality in recent conflicts, offering militaries an unmatched blend of cost-effectiveness and precision firepower against high-value targets.
With the launch of the BLAZE-25, Pakistan boldly stakes its claim in the escalating global arms race, joining an elite group of nations aggressively advancing loitering munition technology—an arena long dominated by the United States, Israel, and Türkiye.
The BLAZE family injects even greater firepower into Pakistan’s surging loitering munitions industry, where state-owned and private enterprises are in a relentless race to pioneer cutting-edge indigenous solutions.
While Pakistan’s investment in loitering munitions was expected—especially in the wake of the Russia-Ukraine conflict—the lightning-fast acceleration of its domestic development has taken many by surprise, signaling a bold new chapter in the nation’s defense evolution.
— DEFENCE SECURITY ASIA
