BD, Pakistan air force chiefs discuss Dhaka’s potential purchase of JF-17 jets

Bangladesh and Pakistan has held detailed discussion on Dhaka buying JF-17 Thunder fighter jets from Islamabad, the Pakistan ISPR said in a press release on Tuesday.

Bangladesh Chief of Air Staff Air Chief Marshal Hasan Mahmood Khan and his Pakistan counterpart, Air Chief Marshal Zaheer Ahmed Baber Sidhu, held talks in this regard during a Bangladesh delegation's visit to Pakistan Air Force (PAF) headquarters in Islamabad.

Jointly produced by China and Pakistan, the JF-17 is a multi-role, supersonic and fourth-generation fighter jet that was prominently used by Pakistan during the 2019 and 2025 aerial combat with India.

If the Bangladesh government signs a deal for procuring it from Pakistan, it would become the second fourth-generation fighter aircraft set to enter the country’s stock.

In early December, the Bangladesh Air Force signed a preliminary deal with Italy’s Leonardo for procuring the Eurofighter Typhoon.

During Tuesday’s talks, the Pakistan Air Force Chief also assured Air Chief Marshal Hasan Mahmood Khan of providing advanced fighter jet training to Bangladeshi pilots, fast tracking delivery of Super Mushshak trainer aircraft and long-term support ecosystem.

Air Chief Marshal Hasan Mahmood Khan sought maintenance support for Bangladesh’s ageing fighter jet fleet and integration of air defence radar systems to enhance air surveillance, the Pakistan ISPR said in its press release.

The Bangladeshi Air Force Chief praised Pakistan Air Force’s (PAF) combat record and expressed interest in benefiting from its operational expertise, the release added.

The Bangladesh delegation visited key PAF facilities, including the National ISR and Integrated Air Operations Centre, PAF Cyber Command, and the National Aerospace Science and Technology Park, observing capabilities in ISR, cyber, space, electronic warfare, and unmanned systems.