DefensePakistan and Bangladesh discuss potential JF-17 Thunder sale
The air force chiefs of Pakistan and Bangladesh held talks in Islamabad on January 7 regarding a potential agreement to sell JF-17 Thunder multirole fighters to Dhaka, according to Reuters citing a statement by the Pakistan military.
The discussions took place as Pakistan aims to leverage the performance of its air force during the conflict with India in May last year. The talks also addressed the accelerated delivery of Super Mushshak trainers and a comprehensive support and training package.
Pakistan’s air force chief Zaheer Ahmed Baber Sidhu and his Bangladeshi counterpart Hasan Mahmood Khan reviewed the JF-17 Thunder, which Pakistan co-developed with China.
Pakistan also assured Bangladesh of long-term support for the training ecosystem connected to the Super Mushshak aircraft. During the visit, Pakistani defense minister Khawaja Asif commented, “Our aircraft have been tested, and we are receiving so many orders that Pakistan may not need the International Monetary Fund in six months.”
Bangladesh’s air force currently operates around 50 Chinese-built F-7 fighters and eight MiG-29s, reflecting a longstanding reliance on Chinese and Russian platforms.
In 2025, Bangladesh also began the procurement process for 20 J-10CE fighters from China under a US$2.2 billion contract, with deliveries set to conclude by 2027. Payments for the acquisition will extend through fiscal year 2035-36 if approved.
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