Inside the Taliban’s Secret Drone Program

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Reporting<br>Inside the Taliban’s Secret Drone Program<br>A whistleblower reveals how front companies, foreign markets, and student engineers are fueling an emerging threat

Ahmad Mansoor Ramizy<br>Aug 28, 2025

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KABUL, Afghanistan - The Taliban are attempting to develop armed drones. In the past, they used small drones primarily to record suicide attacks, but in light of recent conflicts in Ukraine and the Middle East, their ambitions appear to have shifted toward building drones as weapons of war. Middle East Uncovered recently spoke with a whistleblower who was nearly recruited into the Taliban’s nascent robotics and mechatronics program.<br>Earlier this year, Shafi*—who spoke on condition of anonymity—described the Taliban’s drone initiative as “active.” According to him, “They have set up a company as a front, and are offering lucrative 5 to 10-year contracts for anyone trained in robotics and engineering to join their team.” Shafi said the company, Dinit Technology, is a cover for Taliban-run operations designed to recruit talent, incentivize participation, and build armed drones. Although Dinit’s last known location was investigated, the firm has since relocated.<br>A second source from Herat University confirmed increased Taliban interest in civilian drone projects. During a university exhibition earlier this year, several student drone prototypes on display attracted attention. “The Taliban showed particular interest in these projects,” the source said, adding that the students were not coerced or directly propositioned during the exhibition, but recognized the group’s attempts to cultivate ties for future access.<br>The global proliferation of drones demonstrates the potential scale of the danger. From Russia to Iran, drones have been deployed at an unprecedented scale in recent years. They are cheap to manufacture, simple to assemble, and easy to mass-produce. In the hands of the Taliban, the consequences of such technology could be dire.<br>Shafi, a top graduate with extensive experience in robotics competitions and projects, said he was both surprised and alarmed when Dinit Technology approached him. “You might think the Taliban would do this themselves, but no, they have friends who have companies that do this for them,” he recalled.<br>He described how he was invited to Dinit’s offices by a friend. “Their team does not ask you directly to come and join them,” he said. “They have built some companies around the city and are looking for people who know about technology and mechatronics.” At first, the company appeared to be a start-up claiming to work on humanitarian robotics projects. But Shafi quickly noticed something was wrong. “At first, they were quite friendly; the guy talking to me was extremely educated,” he said. “But after a while, he mentioned that their real goal is the production of fighting drones or unmanned aerial vehicles (UAV) technologies. He continued to show me photos and videos of Bagram airfield, where they were testing their drones, which were made in Afghanistan.” He added that these companies appeared to have access to advanced GPS systems, likely remnants of U.S. military equipment left behind after the disastrous withdrawal.<br>When asked whether Dinit was unique, Shafi said no. He had heard rumors of similar ventures since the Taliban takeover in 2021. Recent reports indicate that the group has been importing advanced components to manufacture drones capable of carrying explosives. Their suppliers? Iran, Turkey, China, Russia, Belarus, and Bangladesh.<br>At the same time, the Taliban struggles to maintain the U.S. military equipment abandoned in Kabul. Some analysts suggest their investment in drones is an attempt to offset the deterioration of that arsenal. The Daily Mail has reported that the group is using a former Special Air Service (SAS) base in Logar Province as the primary test site for the new drones.<br>According to one report, the Taliban are now sourcing electronic and mechanical parts—GPS modules, electric motors, flight control systems, and sensors—from black markets and smuggling networks. Although designed for civilian use, these items are being repurposed to produce increasingly sophisticated drones capable of medium-altitude flight, reconnaissance, and precision strikes. The report identified China, the United Arab Emirates, and several European states as key points of origin. Shafi confirmed that Dinit had the resources to import such material.<br>The broader concern is not only that the Taliban are attempting to build killer drones, but also what they might do with them. While Afghanistan has seen no active combat since August 2021, the Taliban could export drones to allies or proxies, such as Iran. Their history of innovation in weaponry is well established. Following their capture of Kabul, Taliban engineers continued to refine explosives for assassinations using magnetic IEDs and other tactical devices. A...