Pakistan’s JF-17 warplane draws attention at Saudi defence show

Pakistan’s JF-17 Thunder fighter jet has drawn “strong interest” at the World Defence Exhibition in Riyadh, as Islamabad promotes the aircraft to international buyers at one of the region’s largest defence industry events.

The exhibition brings together defence officials, manufacturers and military delegations from dozens of countries, offering a platform for arms exporters to showcase equipment and pursue new contracts amid heightened global and regional security concerns.

Saudi Arabia has sought to position Riyadh as a regional hub for defence and aerospace exhibitions, using such events to foster partnerships and attract international manufacturers as part of broader diversification efforts. 

Last year Islamabad signed a mutual defence pact with Riyadh and is reportedly discussing another defence agreement involving Saudi Arabia and Turkiye, although details have not been made public.

“At the World Defence Exhibition in Riyadh, the Pakistan Air Force’s JF-17 Thunder has attracted strong interest from visitors and defence experts, standing out among fighter jets displayed by the US, Saudi Arabia and other countries,” state broadcaster Pakistan Television reported.

Islamabad is attending the exhibition in the backdrop of talks with at least 13 countries, six to eight of which are in an advanced stage, for deals involving JF-17 jets made jointly with China as well as training aircraft, drones, and weapons systems, according to recent media reports. 

Interest in the JF-17 jets has been bolstered by its operational visibility following the Pakistan-India military confrontation in May 2025, which Pakistani officials and defence analysts have cited as reinforcing the aircraft’s combat credibility.

Islamabad has increasingly positioned the JF-17 as a cost-effective multirole combat aircraft for countries seeking alternatives to high-end Western fighter jets. The aircraft is already in service with several foreign air forces and remains central to Islamabad’s defence export strategy.

Countries engaged in talks include Sudan, Saudi Arabia, Indonesia, Morocco, Ethiopia, and Nigeria as well as the government in eastern Libya led by Khalifa Haftar. Discussions on JF-17s and other weapons with Bangladesh and Iraq have been publicly acknowledged by Pakistan’s military, although more details have not been made public.

Almost all the potential buyers are Muslim-majority nations, like Pakistan. Many are from the predominantly Muslim Middle East, where Pakistan has historically been a security provider.–Arab News