Pakistan claimed on Thursday that it had seen a massive surge in JF-17 Thunder jet orders following its use in the military conflict against India in early 2025. Defence Minister Khawaja Asif also assured that the debt-ridden country would no longer need financial aid from the International Monetary Fund if these orders were finalised.
“Right now, the number of orders we are receiving after reaching this point is significant because our aircraft have been tested. We are receiving these orders, and it is possible that after six months we may not even need the IMF,” reports quoted him as telling Geo News.
Retired Air Marshal Aamir Masood told Reuters that Pakistan was in talks about or had finalised deals with six countries to provide equipment including JF-17s and electronic systems and weapons systems for the jets. He said those countries included Saudi Arabia, but could not confirm any details about the negotiations.
Which countries are buying jets from Pakistan?
The air force chiefs of Bangladesh and Pakistan held extensive talks about the procurement of the JF-17 Thunder jets in Islamabad this week. A report by the Daily Star also quoted officials to add that Islamabad had also assured Dhaka of fast-track delivery of “Super Mushshak trainer aircraft, along with a complete training and long-term support ecosystem”.
Sources also told Reuters that Pakistan and Saudi Arabia were presently in talks to convert loans into a JF-17 fighter jet deal. One of the unnamed sources told the publication that the total deal would be worth $4 billion — with an additional $2 billion to be spent on equipment over and above the loan conversion. The long-time allies had previously signed a mutual defence pact in September — committing both sides to treat any aggression against either country as an attack on both.
How did JF-17 Thunder jets fare during Operation Sindoor?
The Indian Air Force has previously outlined the extent of damage inflicted on Pakistan during Operation Sindoor — including downing at least one JF-17 jet during Operation Sindoor back in May. Air Chief Marshal Amar Preet Singh told reporters in October 2025 that there was evidence of “one long-range strike…and five high-tech fighters between F-16 and JF-17 class” that were brought down.
“We have clear evidence of one long-range strike, which I talked about more than 300 km, which happened to be either an AEW&C or a SIGINT aircraft, along with that five high-tech fighters between F-16 and JF-17 class this is what our system tells us,” the IAF chief said, according to news agency ANI.
Chief of Air Staff Air Chief made the claim days after Pakistan PM Shehbaz Sharif presented distorted facts related to India’s military operation during his remarks at the UN.