Pakistan has simultaneously showcased its deepening counterterrorism coordination with the United States and its rapidly evolving naval warfare capabilities, underlining a twin-track defence posture that blends international military cooperation with indigenous and high-end weapons testing.
As Islamabad and Washington launched the 13th edition of their joint counterterrorism exercise Inspired Gambit–2026, the Pakistan Navy conducted high-profile missile, loitering munition and unmanned vessel trials in the North Arabian Sea, signalling growing interoperability on land and technological sophistication at sea.
What is the Gambit-2026 military exercise?
The two-week-long Inspired Gambit–2026 exercise brings together contingents from the Pakistan Army and the US Army at the National Counter Terrorism Centre in Pabbi, northwest Pakistan.
According to the Inter-Services Public Relations (ISPR), the exercise is designed to enhance mutual understanding, improve interoperability and enable both forces to share real-world counterterrorism experience amid evolving security threats.
A key focus of the drill is urban warfare, particularly advanced marksmanship, room intervention techniques and coordination in dense, high-risk environments.
The exercise also emphasises understanding each other’s operational doctrines, tactics, techniques and procedures critical for effective counterterrorism operations.
How did Pakistan describe this military engagement?
The Pakistani military described such engagements as vital for improving professional standards and preparing forces to operate jointly in complex counterterror scenarios.
The exercise reflects a cautious but sustained effort by Islamabad and Washington to stabilise long-standing defence ties that have experienced cycles of cooperation and strain, especially over Afghanistan and broader South Asian security dynamics.
In recent years, both sides have sought to recalibrate relations by prioritising areas of convergence such as counterterrorism, regional stability, trade and climate resilience, with military-to-military cooperation remaining a key pillar.
What were the defence technologies that Pakistan tested in Arabian Sea?
While Pakistani and US troops trained ashore, the Pakistan Navy was simultaneously testing its combat readiness and next-generation maritime capabilities during a major naval exercise in the North Arabian Sea.
The ISPR said the Navy successfully test-fired the LY-80(N) surface-to-air missile from a vertical launching system at extended range, validating the long-range air defence capability of its modern surface combatants.
The missile successfully engaged and neutralised an aerial target, demonstrating what the Navy described as a robust and layered air defence posture in an increasingly contested maritime environment.
Observed by the Commander Pakistan Fleet, the exercise was designed to reflect modern naval combat doctrines that integrate air defence, precision strike and unmanned systems.
What were the unmanned weapons that Pakistan tested?
Beyond conventional missile defence, the exercise highlighted the Navy’s growing reliance on unmanned and precision-strike technologies.
A loitering munition was employed to engage and destroy designated surface targets, underlining its effectiveness as a low-cost, high-precision weapon suited to contemporary naval warfare and asymmetric maritime threats.
In a further sign of Pakistan’s push into unmanned maritime operations, open-sea trials of an Unmanned Surface Vessel (USV) were conducted under challenging sea and weather conditions.
According to the ISPR, the platform demonstrated high-speed performance, extreme manoeuvrability, precision navigation and operational resilience, validating its potential as a low-risk, high-impact asset for a range of naval missions.
The military said the USV combines the stealth of a tactical interceptor with the flexibility required for modern maritime operations, reflecting a broader shift towards networked, unmanned and autonomous platforms in naval warfare.
Chief of the Naval Staff Admiral Naveed Ashraf praised the professionalism and operational competence of officers and sailors involved in the exercise, reiterating the Navy’s commitment to safeguarding Pakistan’s maritime interests under all circumstances.
What were the recent weapons tests that Pakistan conducted?
These latest trials come amid a steady tempo of weapons testing by Pakistan’s armed forces.
Earlier this month, the Pakistan Air Force flight-tested the indigenously developed Taimoor Weapon System with a reported strike range of up to 600 kilometres.
In November 2025, the Navy also test-fired an indigenous anti-ship ballistic missile capable of engaging sea and land targets with advanced guidance and manoeuvrability.
Together, the joint counterterrorism exercise with the United States and the Arabian Sea weapons trials underscore Pakistan’s evolving defence strategy, one that seeks to balance international military engagement with a strong emphasis on indigenous capability development and next-generation warfare across land and sea domains.