Pakistan nears $1.5 billion aircraft deal with Sudan, including JF-17 fighters

Pakistan is in the final stages of a roughly $1.5 billion agreement to supply military aircraft to Sudan, including Super Mushshak trainers and potentially JF-17 fighter jets, Reuters reported, citing informed sources.

The deal would mark a significant expansion of Sudan’s air capabilities at a time when the country’s air force relies largely on aging Soviet- and Chinese-built platforms.

Sudan’s current combat aircraft fleet is limited and fragmented, comprising around 20 A-5 ground-attack jets, eight F-6 fighters, 12 F-7 aircraft, small numbers of MiG-21, MiG-23 and MiG-29 fighters, as well as Su-24 strike aircraft and Su-25 ground-attack jets. Many of these aircraft face maintenance and availability constraints after years of conflict and sanctions.

According to Reuters, the agreement would include 10 Karakoram-8 light attack aircraft, which could be used for both training and counterinsurgency roles, and may also cover the delivery of JF-17 multi-role fighters jointly developed by Pakistan and China. The JF-17 would represent a qualitative upgrade over much of Sudan’s existing fleet, offering modern avionics and beyond-visual-range combat capability.

The Super Mushshak and JF-17 form a central part of Pakistan’s defense export strategy, with the JF-17 in particular positioned as a lower-cost alternative to Western fighter jets. For Sudan, the potential acquisition would provide a pathway to modernize its air force while maintaining compatibility with non-Western supply chains.

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