Islamabad, Aug 20 (Xinhua) Pakistan has commenced production of drone planes in the country in collaboration with an Italian company, TV reports said Thursday.

The pilotless aircraft, called Falco UAV, is being produced at the country's Kamra aeronautical complex in collaboration with the Italian firm Selex Galileo, GEO TV said.

Chief Air Marshal Farhat Hussain, head of the complex, said the Falco UAV is important for the country's defence and the planes will add to the professional capabilities of the Pakistan Air Force (PAF).

Farhat said Pakistan is now among the group of countries that manufactures drone planes.

The system will be used mainly for aerial reconnaissance and information gathering, but later on the UAVs will be equipped with weapon systems to carry out offensive operations, he said.