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Can Pakistan's JF-17 Become Developing World's Most Widely Deployed Fighter Jet?
Worldwide demand for the JF-17 fighter jet, jointly developed by Pakistan Aeronautical Complex (PAC) and China’s Chengdu Aircraft Industry Group (CAIG), is surging. It is attracting buyers in Africa, Asia and the Middle East. At just $40 million a piece, it is a combat-proven flying machine with no western political strings attached. It has enormous potential as the lowest-cost 4.5 generation fighter jet featuring AESA radar, enhanced electronics, and superior weapons systems.
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| Pakistan PFX Concept Fighter. Source: Raksha Anirveda |
In addition to the Pakistan Air Force, it is currently deployed by the air forces of Azerbaijan, Myanmar and Nigeria. Multi-billion dollar orders are in the pipeline from several countries, including Saudi Arabia, Libya and Sudan. Bangladesh is reportedly negotiating to purchase JF-17s in the near future. These orders are not just one-time purchases; they include service and training contracts, as well as spare parts and future upgrades. The US-based business publication Bloomberg recently reported: "After Pakistan said it used the jets to great effect in its brief conflict with India last year, at least five countries have expressed interest in buying them. That sudden demand may put the country’s defense industry in a crunch". So the question now is: Can Pakistan deliver?
Currently, Pakistan Aeronautical Complex (PAC) has the capacity to manufacture up to 20 JF-17s per year, sufficient to fill the orders from the Pakistan Air Force. It uses a Pakistani airframe, Chinese-made KLJ-7A AESA radar and Russian Klimov RD-93 turbofan engine. Additional capacity is being added at PAC to meet rapidly growing demand. A Chinese aviation expert told China's Global Times that this could be a "sweet problem" for Pakistan, as backed by strong order demand, the country's aviation industry is expected to develop rapidly, and potential capacity constraints are ultimately not a true concern given China's support for Pakistan in manufacturing this type of fighter jet.
The JF-17 is opening doors for Pakistan’s defense industry. The country is emerging as a major arms supplier to developing countries in Asia and Africa. Talks underway with at least 13 countries for JF-17 jets, drones and weapons, with several negotiations at an advanced stage.
Azerbaijan, Myanmar, Nigeria and Sudan have all made significant arms purchases from Pakistan in recent years. Azerbaijan expanded its order for JF-17 Thunder Block III multi-role fighter jets from Pakistan from 16 to 40 aircraft. The recent order extends a 2024 contract worth $1.6 billion to modernize Baku’s airborne combat fleet to $4.6 billion. This makes Azerbaijan the largest export customer of the Pakistan-made warplane. Bangladesh is negotiating purchase of up to 32 JF-17 Thunder Block III aircraft from Pakistan.
In the Middle East Pakistan has orders to supply JF-17s to Libya and Saudi Arabia. In a deal with Libya, Pakistan will sell over two dozen JF-17 fighter jets and 12 Super Mushak trainer aircraft used for basic pilot training. Pakistan and Saudi Arabia are in negotiations to convert about $2bn of Saudi loans into a deal to buy JF-17 fighter jets, according to Reuters.
In Africa, Pakistan has recently signed a $1.5 billion contract to supply combat drones and military trainer aircraft to Sudan. The order includes 150 armored vehicles, 220 drones and 10 K-8 Karakorum trainer/light attack aircraft. Earlier in 2021, Pakistan sold three JF-17 Thunder fighter jets and ten Super Mushshak trainer aircraft to Nigeria in a deal worth nearly $200 million. From 2018 to 2021, Pakistan sold 11 JF-17 Thunder Block I aircraft to Myanmar.
Air forces of about a dozen developing nations are buying and deploying Pakistani made aircrafts. The reasons for their choice of combat-tested Pakistan manufactured airplanes include advanced BVR (beyond visual range) features, affordability and ease of acquisition, maintenance and training.
Pakistan started developing defense hardware for import substitution to reduce external dependence and to save hard currency. Now the country's defense industry is coming of age to lead the way to high value-added manufactured exports.
Pakistan has unveiled its PFX (Pakistan Fighter Experimental) program as a significant upgrade to its JF-17 joint program with China. The new upgrade will have a number of stealth features ranging from the use of radar-absorbing composite materials and diverterless supersonic inlets (DSI) to internal weapons bay (IWB) which will significantly reduce the aircraft's radar signature. It is targeted for completion by the end of this decade. In addition, the PFX's twin-engine design will improve maneuverability and allow greater payload capacity.
The program is part of Pakistan's broader strategy to reduce reliance on foreign suppliers and strengthen the domestic defense industry. Currently, 58% of JF-17 components are manufactured locally by PAC, but Pakistan aims to increase this share to achieve full production autonomy for the PFX. It is not just about the PAF modernization but also about positioning Pakistan as an important player in the global military aviation market.
The PFX is an evolution of a plan that Pakistan announced in 2017 to develop and produce 5th generation fighter planes. It is part of Pakistan Air Force's highly ambitious Project Azm that includes building Kamra Aviation City dedicated to education, research and development and manufacturing of advanced fighter jets, unmanned aerial vehicles (UAVs) and weapon systems.
The PAF has already started replacing its aging fleet with the induction of the Chinese J10C fighter jets which are considered 4.5 Gen. The J10-C has stealth features like diverterless supersonic inlets (DSI). Its BVR capability is supported by PL-15 missiles, with an engagement range of up to 200 kilometers, facilitating long-range target engagements.
The PAF has also begun the process of acquiring 5th generation Chinese J35 fighter jets. The delivery of 40 J35 fighters to Pakistan is expected within two years, potentially altering regional dynamics, particularly concerning India.
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Riaz Haq
How Pakistan Is Busting The Great Power Monopoly On Air Power
The industry here is showing how emerging states are gaining leverage through the democratization ... of weapons
https://responsiblestatecraft.org/pakistan-air-force-fighter-jets/
China's willingness to transfer technology and co-produce advanced systems enabled Pakistan to field a modern multirole fighter capable of shooting down aircraft with beyond-visual-range missiles, delivering precision-guided munitions against ground targets and tracking multiple threats through its active electronically scanned array radar. Together, Turkish combat drones and the JF-17 have shattered the exclusivity of airpower, dismantling the financial and political barriers that long restricted credible aerial capability to a narrow circle of privileged states.
For Pakistan, this transformation has been both strategic and reputational. Co-developed with China and increasingly produced domestically, the JF-17 anchors Islamabad’s shift from arms importer to aerospace power broker. That evolution gained global visibility during the four-day conflict last May, when Pakistani aircraft allegedly downed the Indian Rafale aircraft purchased from the French firm Dassault.
That success generated international attention and drew rare public praise from U.S. President Donald Trump, sharply boosting interest in the aircraft. Since then, the JF-17’s export footprint has expanded across Nigeria, Myanmar, Azerbaijan, and Iraq, with interest growing across Africa, the Middle East, and Southeast Asia.
By offering a capable, affordable alternative to Western and Russian fighters, Pakistan is reshaping procurement choices for mid-tier states. In doing so, it is no longer merely buying security but it is increasingly enabling it, positioning itself as a strategic node in a rapidly diversifying global defense ecosystem.
The consequences of this shift extend beyond arms markets, as smaller and mid-tier states acquire credible airpower for the first time and regional hierarchies flatten and deterrence relationships recalibrate. In volatile regions from South Asia to the Middle East and the Caucasus, this diffusion of airpower is fundamentally altering how influence, coercion, and stability are negotiated.
“For mid-tier powers, the war in Ukraine showed that without effective airpower, maneuver alone cannot deliver decisive battlefield outcomes. Instead, it drives conflicts toward attritional stalemate and forces a reassessment of force structure and operational concepts,” observes Lt Col Steen Kjaergaard from the Royal Danish Defence College, Denmark, who has closely followed the war in Ukraine to study the battlefields of tomorrow.
Back at NASTP in Rawalpindi, the objective is not merely to manufacture aircraft, but to cultivate human capital and technological depth underpinning long-term strategic autonomy. By embedding aerospace development within an entrepreneurial framework, Pakistan is laying the groundwork for enduring defense sovereignty, ensuring that its growing airpower is supported by indigenous skills, research capacity and industrial resilience rather than perpetual external dependence.
According to Air Marshal (Ret.) Aamir Masood, who served in the Pakistan Air Force for over 40 years, “Aerospace [is likely to] remain as a weapon of choice for future leadership.”
He says that the future “is all about non-contact warfare with beyond visual range precise ammunition, swarming drones and combat unmanned vehicles assisted by Artificial Intelligence based algorithms Decision support tools (DSTs). A country with better integration and networking would be able to have a faster OODA (Observe- Orientate- Decide- Act).”
The cumulative effect is a reshaping of the global balance of military power. Western dominance of defense markets is weakening as a new cohort of arms exporters led by Turkey, Pakistan and China is redefining access to advanced aerial capability.
Feb 20
Riaz Haq
Third Tejas LCA Crash: IAF Grounds Entire Fleet Amid Investigation, HAL Mk1A Delivery Delays Under Scrutiny
https://sundayguardianlive.com/india/third-tejas-lca-crash-in-india...
Third Tejas LCA crash reported at an Indian airbase during landing. Pilot safe, aircraft damaged. Know details, previous crashes and Mk1A delay updates
India’s indigenous fighter jet programme has once again come under scrutiny after a Tejas Light Combat Aircraft met with an accident during landing at a key Indian airbase. The incident marks the third crash involving the Tejas platform in recent years, raising fresh questions about operational readiness and delivery timelines.
Officials confirmed that the pilot ejected safely and did not suffer serious injuries. However, the aircraft sustained major structural damage and has been declared unserviceable by the Indian Air Force (IAF). Authorities have not yet released an official statement on the February 2026 crash.
The accident occurred during the landing phase after a routine training sortie. According to reports, the fighter jet encountered issues while approaching the runway at a prominent Indian airbase. The pilot acted quickly and ejected safely before the aircraft suffered heavy damage.
The Tejas involved in the crash was one of the 32 single-seat Light Combat Aircraft already delivered to the IAF by Hindustan Aeronautics Limited. While the pilot escaped unharmed, initial assessments suggest that the aircraft has sustained serious structural damage, making it unfit for immediate service.
Feb 22
Riaz Haq
https://www.arabnews.com/node/2635443/pakistan
ISLAMABAD: A Chinese aerospace firm has expressed interest in investing up to $10 billion in various sectors in Pakistan, the information ministry in Islamabad said on Thursday.
China is a major ally and investor in Pakistan and has pledged over $65 billion in investment in road, infrastructure and development projects under the China-Pakistan Economic Corridor (CPEC), besides several Chinese private sector manufacturers undertaking joint ventures in the South Asian country.
Pakistan offers significant investment potential owing to its strategic geographic location connecting South Asia, Central Asia, and the Middle East, a large consumer market of over 240 million people, and a young and dynamic workforce. The country also provides attractive incentives for investors.
On Thursday, officials of the Aerospace Development Industry Investment Group Co. of China met with Pakistan’s Board of Investment Minister Qaiser Ahmed Sheikh to discuss investment opportunities and potential avenues in the country, according to the Pakistani information ministry.
“They informed that Aerospace Development Industry Investment Group is an international investment group with an AAA corporate credit rating, engaged in strategic industrial investments in areas including advanced technologies, aerospace development, artificial intelligence, electric vehicles, drone technologies, and energy projects,” the ministry said.
“The delegation expressed keen interest in investing between USD 5 billion to USD 10 billion in Pakistan across multiple sectors including mining and minerals, advanced technology industries, and industrial development. They also emphasized their interest in collaborating with Pakistan on skill development initiatives.”
Sheikh appreciated the interest shown by the Chinese company, saying that Pakistan is taking concrete steps to improve investment climate in the country.
“The Board of Investment is actively working on regulatory reforms to facilitate investors, promote ease of doing business and streamline business procedures,” he was quoted as saying.
The minister referred to the Pakistan–China Business-to-Business Conference held in September last year, where more than 300 companies from Pakistan and China participated and signed 167 Memoranda of Understanding (MoUs) aimed at strengthening bilateral investment and trade cooperation.
“Pakistan and China already have a Free Trade Agreement, and Pakistan is now focusing on increasing its value-added exports to further enhance economic cooperation,” he said.
Sheikh also briefed the delegation on the incentives available for investors in Pakistan’s Special Economic Zones (SEZs), including exemption from income tax and sales tax on the import of machinery, to promote industrial investment.
Mar 8