Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif confirmed during a federal cabinet meeting on Wednesday that Pakistan is currently engaged in advanced negotiations with several “friendly countries” for the export of the JF-17 Thunder, a multi-role combat aircraft.
Sixteen countries have engaged Pakistan in defence procurement discussions over the last six months (OSINT Reports).
Leading this momentum is the JF-17 Thunder, a combat-proven, multirole fighter delivering decisive capability at optimal cost. https://t.co/XP0W79HNaz pic.twitter.com/TRHe1apYw2
— Armed Forces Update (@ArmedUpdat1947) January 14, 2026
Surge in Global Interest
Following the aircraft’s performance during the four-day military conflict in May 2025, the Prime Minister noted a significant uptick in international demand.
“The demand for Pakistan’s fighter jets has increased since our victory last year,” the Prime Minister stated. “Several countries are actively engaged in talks with Pakistan on this, which will significantly boost our national defense production and benefit the broader economy.”
Competitive Advantage and Strategic Partnerships
Defence Production Minister Raza Hayat Harraj, in a recent briefing, highlighted the JF-17’s unique position in the global defense market. Key details provided by the Ministry include:
- Battle-Proven Reliability: The Minister emphasized that the world’s air forces witnessed the aircraft’s high-level performance during last year’s conflict with India.
- Cost Efficiency: While comparable aircraft are priced between $250M and $350M, the JF-17 remains highly competitive, with a base value estimated between $40M and $50M, depending on specific feature configurations.
- Joint Production: The program continues as a robust partnership with China. Minister Harraj confirmed that Beijing remains a key stakeholder in all export agreements.
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Emerging Markets and Bilateral Engagements
While specific details of the negotiations remain “jealously guarded secrets” for national security reasons, several key diplomatic engagements have signaled the scope of interest:
- Saudi Arabia: Reports indicate ongoing talks to potentially convert $2 billion in loans into a JF-17 procurement deal.
- Iraq & Bangladesh: Air Chief Marshal Zaheer Ahmed Babar Sidhu recently conducted high-level visits to Iraq, where leadership expressed “keen interest.” Discussions were also held with the air chief of Bangladesh regarding potential procurement.
- Indonesia: Last week, Indonesia’s Defence Minister Sjafrie Sjamsoeddin visited Pakistan to discuss expanding bilateral defense ties.
- Strategic Bloc: The Ministry noted that Turkiye has expressed interest in joining the Pak-Saudi defense pact signed in September 2025, which includes China and Azerbaijan as close strategic partners.
Future Outlook
The Ministry of Defence Production maintains a strict policy on the vetting of buyers to ensure technology is only shared with friendly nations. “When these jets are exported, the world will see the strength of our defense industry,” Minister Harraj concluded.
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