Here's an excerpt of a PRI report on Pakistani drones:
Reports of Pakistan working on producing its own drones began to surface in 2009. The most highly touted model is called the Burraq, named for a mythical winged creature that is said to have carried the Prophet Muhammed.
Masood said the military is working hard on it, but theres still no guarantee it will be flying anytime soon.
I think they are on a high priority. There is no doubt about it, they are on a high priority. But even if a weapons system is on a high priority because of the complexity and the advanced nature of its technology it may take some time before it is mastered and its full utilization is made.
In fact, Pakistan already has a long history of designing and producing drones, many of them created by a man named Raja Sabri Khan.
His near obsession with unmanned aircraft started at a young age. Khan found himself compelled to do whatever it took to fund his research.
I augmented my nonexistent earnings by teaching physics and doing fashion photography so these helped Pakistans first drones to be created, Khan said.
His clear preference for model aircraft over fashion models carried Khan to the top of his industry. In fact, he said hes sold his unarmed drones to a company he does not want to name in the United States.
Khan said the drones flying in American airspace are being used for law enforcement, security and even search and rescue.
But he is adamantly opposed to arming drones because of the risk that innocent people will be harmed.
Still, Khan expects Pakistans political and military leaders will push ahead, seeing a missile firing drone as nothing more than the latest airborne weapon of war.
I feel bombing civilians is unfair, he said. Its something that cannot be condoned. But at the same time, a drone is nothing more than an aircraft without a pilot [on board]. And if you use it to fight a war, I think political considerations far outweigh the idealistic side of the issue.
There is another potential side effect of Pakistans determination to manufacture its own drone fleet. Talat Masood said China has become a key partner in the development of the Burraq drone.
Masood said the US, which has cooperated with the Pakistani military on joint projects and training for years, should be paying attention.
So you can see how lasting those bonds are. And any country which has a defense relationship which is strong and binding, then the relationship also becomes very lasting, he said.
Pakistan Building its Own Drones | PRI's The World