JF-17 Sales to Be Joint China-Pakistan Deals, Minister Confirms

News Desk 

Islamabad: Pakistan is stepping up efforts to market its jointly developed JF-17 Thunder fighter jet abroad, with the government confirming talks with multiple countries as global interest grows in more affordable combat aircraft.

Minister for Defence Production Raza Hayat Haraj said Pakistan is engaged in negotiations with several states over potential sales of the JF-17, describing the process as ongoing and complex.

Speaking in an interview with the BBC, excerpts of which were reported by The News, Haraj stressed that any export deal would require China’s approval, given Beijing’s role as a co-developer of the aircraft.

“These negotiations are taking place and they take some time. Many countries are interested in these aircraft,” Haraj said, while declining to name potential buyers. He described the discussions as classified, adding that the identities of customer countries would only become public once deliveries begin.

The comments come amid repeated reports by Reuters citing official sources that Pakistan has held defence-related talks with countries including Libya, Sudan, Bangladesh, Indonesia and Saudi Arabia. Haraj neither confirmed nor denied those reports, but acknowledged broad international interest in the platform.

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A key selling point, according to the minister, is cost. Haraj said modern fighter aircraft typically cost between $250 million and $350 million on the global market, whereas the JF-17 Thunder is priced at approximately $40 million to $50 million.

He added that the aircraft’s performance—particularly during the recent Pakistan-India conflict—has been closely observed and praised by air forces worldwide.

The JF-17 is produced under a joint China-Pakistan programme, with components manufactured in both countries. Haraj emphasized that China is fully involved in all discussions related to exports and would be a party to any final agreement.

When asked whether China would also be a financial partner in such deals, he said that all such matters were discussed jointly and that Beijing’s involvement was both expected and appropriate.

Defence analysts note that while Pakistan can export the aircraft, China remains the senior partner in the programme and retains control over key technologies. Any sale, they argue, would therefore be structured as a joint China-Pakistan arrangement rather than a purely Pakistani export.

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Haraj also suggested that Pakistan is selective about potential customers. “This aircraft is not for sale to every country,” he said, adding that Islamabad intends to supply it only to friendly states. He cited Turkiye, China, Saudi Arabia and Azerbaijan as countries with which Pakistan maintains close strategic ties.

On broader defence cooperation, the minister declined to share details of a defence agreement signed with Saudi Arabia last year, calling it a high-level strategic matter involving Pakistan’s civilian and military leadership. 

He also addressed reports that Turkiye is interested in drone manufacturing in Pakistan, stopping short of confirmation but noting that significant work on unmanned aerial vehicles is already underway in the country, including in the private sector.

Taken together, the remarks point to a broader push by Pakistan to expand its defence exports, with the JF-17 positioned as a cost-effective alternative for countries seeking modern combat aircraft without the price tag of Western fighters—while keeping China firmly at the center of any deal.