With Ankara’s support in training specialists at Uzbekistan’s Lochin Research and Production Center, Tashkent is actively expanding its capabilities in innovation and unmanned aerial systems (UAS) manufacturing. The facility boasts a full range of specialized technological equipment, as well as a testing laboratory designed for drone production, assembly, repair, and maintenance.
The drones and quadcopters produced at the center serve both civilian and military purposes, including reconnaissance missions, precision strikes, real-time monitoring, data collection, and artillery fire adjustment.
Cooperation between Tashkent and Ankara in drone technology is mutually beneficial. Uzbekistan gains access to cutting-edge Turkish know-how, accelerating the growth of its domestic drone industry.
In turn, Turkey reinforces its position as a regional leader in advanced technology while expanding its influence in Central Asia. Ankara’s support for Uzbekistan’s drone production is part of a broader strategy to strengthen ties with members of the Organization of Turkic States (Turkey, Azerbaijan, Kazakhstan, Kyrgyzstan, and Uzbekistan) across multiple sectors, including defense, economy, and culture.
However, this deepening collaboration may raise concerns among some regional and global actors. The enhancement of Uzbekistan’s military capabilities could be perceived as a destabilizing factor, while the export of Uzbek-made drones risks proliferating such technologies to volatile regions of the world.