At the Dubai Airshow 2025, Pakistan has managed to enter an agreement for the sale of its JF-17 Thunder Block III fighter jets, the Inter-Services Public Relations (ISPR) confirmed. Interestingly, the buyer was not officially named and was mentioned as a “friendly” foreign nation.
The JF-17 Thunder made its presence felt at the Dubai Airshow - sleek, confident, and representing Pakistan with pride. The Thunder showed why smart design and real-world performance matter. Pakistan’s sky warrior, shining on a global stage. 🇵🇰 pic.twitter.com/23HyaP6Tid… pic.twitter.com/SQ8hSsyi3r
— Pak-China Today (@PakChinaToday) November 20, 2025
After the ISPR, which is the media and public relations wing of the Pakistan Armed Forces, formally announced the signing of a major Memorandum of Understanding (MoU), many defence news portals hailed it as a major achievement for Pakistan as an emerging player in the global defence aviation market. Earlier in October, it had started the supply of the Chinese co-built JF-17 Thunder Block IIIs to Azerbaijan, a sworn ally in the Caucasus.
In an official statement revealing the deal being sealed, ISPR added that multiple countries have expressed interest in purchasing the fighter jets, which was one of the most heavily visited attractions at the Dubai Airshow 2025.
The news comes not long after dedicated aviation portals had hailed the agility and thrust-to-weight balance of the JF-17 Block IIIs after the Pakistan Air Force (PAF) pilots performed high-G manoeuvres and precision aerobatics at the airshow. One observed that the fighter jet “rivalled those of more established fighters, proving that affordability does not compromise capability.”
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Many nations are also attracted by the fact that each aircraft is priced between USD 25–30 million, which is significantly cheaper when compared to Western competitors such as the F-16 Block 70 (USD 60–80 million / RM 283–377 million) or the Gripen E (USD 85 million / RM 401 million).
The news was reported on the same day a Light Combat Aircraft (LCA) Tejas fighter jet of the Indian Air Force (IAF) crashed in a ball of fire on Friday during an aerial display at the Dubai Air Show 2025, killing the lone pilot. The single-engine, light-weight aircraft crashed around 2:10 pm local time (3:40 pm IST) during a demonstration flight. The aerial display of Tejas was scheduled to last eight minutes.
What are Pakistan's JF-17 fighter jets?
The JF-17Cs are developed jointly by the Pakistan Aeronautical Complex (PAC) and the Chengdu Aircraft Corporation (CAC) from China. Capable of gaining speeds of around 1,909 km/h, this versatile combat jet can typically carry a total payload of 3,400 kg. Originally intended to be a low-cost rival to the reputed Russian Su-30MKI and MiG-29, as well as the French Mirage-2000, Pakistan is said to have lost at least a couple of JF-17Cs to India's long-range missiles during Operation Sindoor.
JF-17 Thunder Block IIIs are powered by the Russian RD-93 turbofan engine, which supports a top speed of Mach 1.6, a combat radius of approximately 1,200 kilometres, and a service ceiling of 50,000 feet, Defence Security Asia said in a report. Its weapons capabilities include the long-range PL-15 air-to-air missile, with an estimated range surpassing 200 kilometres, it added. This is said to match Rafale's Meteor and Su-30MKI's R-77M systems.
