Ukraine and Pakistan are working on plans to develop cooperation in the space area, the State Space Agency of Ukraine (SSAU) has told Interfax-Ukraine.

The SSAU said that the sides have started preparing a Ukrainian-Pakistani intergovernmental agreement of cooperation in the exploration and use of space for peaceful purposes.

A source of Interfax-Ukraine in the Ukrainian aerospace sector said that the terms of the signing of the document today mainly depends on Pakistan.

"A draft agreement drawn up by Ukraine was sent to Pakistan in 2012. Among the promising directions of cooperation are the creation of rocket and space technologies, Earth remote sensing, launch services, space science and training of specialists," the source said, adding that today Ukraine is waiting for the answer from Pakistan.

"Pakistan might plan to expand the document with its own proposals," the source said.

According to assessment presented by Pakistani Ambassador to Ukraine Wajahat Ali Muftee on Monday, the Pakistan Space and Upper Atmosphere Research Commission (SUPARCO) is mulling purchases of Ukrainian spare parts for Pakistani satellites as one of the top-priorities of cooperation in the space area with Ukraine.

"Pakistani scientists are working on a project of own fighter, the JF Hunter," he added.

Ukraine is among countries of the global space club: the availability of the developed scientific and industrial base in the aerospace sector allows the country regularly launch rockets into space. According to expert assessments, Ukraine satisfies demand of 10% of the launch service market supplying own rockets.

Earth remote sensing is one of the promising segments of the space sector in Ukraine, in which the country has a chance to create own space environment monitoring systems in the closed cycle – from designing to the launch of spacecraft, using and interpreting information received.

Among key partners of Ukraine in the aerospace sector today are Brazil, the United States, Russia, China and the European Space Agency (ESA).