Pakistan Receives JF-17 Interest From Iraq, Bangladesh, Indonesia, Saudi Arabia, Libya

Pakistan is facing unprecedented demand for its China-developed JF-17 Thunder fighter jet, with interest from multiple countries threatening to stretch the country’s current production capacity. According to Pakistan’s Armed Forces, in recent months Iraq, Bangladesh, and Indonesia have expressed interest in acquiring the aircraft, while Saudi Arabia and Libya are also exploring the fighter following its reported performance during the May 2025 conflict with India.

Currently, Pakistan manufactures fewer than 20 JF-17s per year, almost all destined for the Pakistan Air Force (PAF). Experts say it remains unclear whether Islamabad can scale up production to meet the sudden surge in international orders, which is critical for the country’s ambitions to establish itself as an arms exporter and to extend China’s influence in the global weapons market. The aircraft’s affordability, combined with its recent combat success, is cited as a major factor driving interest among nations that cannot afford Western-made fighters.

The JF-17, a lightweight, all-weather fighter jointly produced by the Pakistan Aeronautical Complex (PAC) in Kamra and China’s AVIC Chengdu, has historically been sold to Myanmar, Nigeria, and Azerbaijan. Recent negotiations indicate potential deals for Libya and Bangladesh (16 jets each), Saudi Arabia (possibly 50 jets), and Indonesia (around 40 jets). The surge in interest coincides with Pakistan’s efforts to replace ageing Dassault Mirage and Chinese F-7 aircraft in its own fleet, while also fulfilling 45 existing export orders.

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Despite its appeal, production expansion is challenging. Scaling up would require significant investment and coordination between Pakistan and China, as 58% of production and final assembly occurs in Pakistan, with China supplying avionics for the remaining 42%. Additional constraints include supply chain issues, such as engines produced by Russian company Klimov, which faces sanctions due to the Ukraine conflict. Analysts caution that these factors may delay international deliveries and could require exporting from existing stock rather than ramping up production immediately.

The latest JF-17 Block III variant, classified as a 4.5-generation fighter, features advanced avionics, air-to-air and air-to-surface capabilities, and an active electronically scanned array (AESA) radar capable of tracking multiple targets at longer distances. Its successful deployment during last year’s conflict with India has boosted confidence in its performance and increased interest from foreign buyers.

Defence analysts describe the current demand as a major milestone for Pakistan’s defence industry. “This is a very big achievement,” said former Air Marshal Asim Suleiman. “I have been a part of this project, and I know where we were and where we are now.” The JF-17’s growing international footprint could mark Pakistan’s emergence as a notable player in the global fighter jet market.

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