Bullets:
Majority-Muslim countries are placing large orders with China and Pakistan for fighter jets and drones.Chinese-built weapons platforms are far less expensive, with far shorter delivery times, compared to systems on offer from Western companies.But the success of the Pakistani Air Force in its war last year with India led to a race to acquire Chinese-built aircraft. The JF-17 is produced by Chengdu Aircraft Corporation, in plants in Pakistan.
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The JC-10, also built by CAC and which was used to shoot down far more expensive Rafale jets, is also in high demand across the region.
Report:
Good morning.
Several months ago we reported that Chinese-built aircraft used in Pakistan were used to destroy French-made fighter jets used by the Indian Air Force. The Chinese jets are far less expensive, and obviously at least as capable. And we forecast that other militaries would be taking a hard look at upgrading their armed forces with advanced weapons platforms built by China.
That didn’t take long. The JF 17 is a Pakistani plane that is produced by Chengdu Aircraft Corporation, which has a production center in Pakistan, and is the same company that builds some of China’s most advanced jets. Six countries are in negotiations with Pakistan to buy the JF-17.
Bangladesh signed a deal with China to buy 20 J-10C aircraft, for delivery in the next two years. That deal is for the planes, training, maintenance and repair, and infrastructure projects over ten years.
This is the problem, facing militaries around the world: Delivery times and prices for Western-built jets are long, and high. Bangladesh looked at Typhoon jets, but they cost too much, they can’t get them for years. It’s only China who can deliver systems on time and on budget.
The cost for each plane is $60 million, and will be delivered over next 24 months, and that is a bargain compared to other fighter jets. The Typhoon is twice as expensive, at $117 million per.
The Rafale is $125 million, and it was Rafale jets that were shot down by J-10C’s operated by the Pakistanis last year. That point means problems, literally all around, for India. If the deal with Bangladesh goes through, India will be surrounded by Chinese planes on both sides.
The negotiations between Pakistan and other Muslim nations in the region have important strategic implications, and obviously big opportunities for Chinese weapons makers. The problem, for the Saudi military as an example, is that Saudi Arabia has contracts with Western arms makers and it’s no simple thing to integrate new platforms and systems. What is under consideration, though, is the conversion of $2 billion worth of loans from Pakistan to Saudi of $2 billion worth of fighter planes.
Again, this aircraft is attractive because of the far lower cost – the JF 17 is priced around $30 million per, and on the capability to build and deliver them. Iraq, Sudan, and Libya have signed deals, Azerbaijan was a buyer before the war between Pakistan and India.
Indonesia is interested in more than 40 JF 17’s, and that deal will likely include Shahpar drones, which are not built in partnership with China.
Last December, Pakistan signed a multiyear deal with Libya, and two weeks ago had wrapped up an arms deal with Sudan. All of this is contingent on approvals from China, who builds most of the important components and systems for the aircraft. But it seems that China is on board with Pakistan marketing the plane at air shows, and the engagements with India put these China-built planes front and center in the market, because of the affordability—which was always there—and now because of the superior performance.
So China was supplying Pakistan already, plus now these six countries, plus Iraq. In early 2024, Chengdu Aircraft Corporation was a key supplier for air forces in two countries: China, and Pakistan, which is next door. Today it’s a lot more, and in a lot more places. And at those low prices and delivery times, countries are buying a lot more of them, and getting them a lot faster.
Be good.
**Resources and links:**Reuters Exclusive: Pakistan nears $1.5 billion deal to supply weapons, jets to Sudan, sources sayhttps://www.reuters.com/business/aerospace-defense/pakistan-nears-15-billion-deal-supply-weapons-jets-sudan-sources-say-2026-01-09/Air battle between India and Pakistan kicks off a new arms race for Chinese military hardware
Bangladesh to buy 20 Chinese J-10C fighter jets in $2.2bn deal to replace F-7s by 2027https://aerospaceglobalnews.com/news/bangladesh-chengdu-j-10-orderExclusive: Pakistan and Indonesia closing in on jets and drones defence deal, sources sayhttps://www.reuters.com/world/asia-pacific/pakistan-indonesia-closing-jets-drones-defence-deal-sources-say-2026-01-12/Zerohedge, Muslim Nations Scramble To Acquire Pakistan’s JF-17 Fighter jethttps://www.zerohedge.com/military/muslim-nations-scramble-acquire-pakistans-jf-17-fighter-jetMuslim-majority nations scramble to acquire Pakistan’s JF-17 fighter jethttps://thecradle.co/articles/muslim-majority-nations-scramble-to-acquire-pakistans-jf-17-fighter-jetSaudi Arabia, Pakistan sign watershed ‘mutual defense’ pacthttps://thecradle.co/articles-id/33224Saudi Arabia seeks to acquire Pakistani fighter jets in loan conversion deal: reporthttps://thecradle.co/articles/saudi-arabia-seeks-to-acquire-pakistani-fighter-jets-in-loan-conversion-deal-reportWhy is Pakistan selling its JF-17 fighter jets to Bangladesh and others?https://www.aljazeera.com/news/2026/1/9/why-is-pakistan-selling-its-jf-17-fighter-jets-to-bangladesh-and-othersHow Pakistan shot down India’s cutting-edge fighter using Chinese gearhttps://www.reuters.com/business/aerospace-defense/how-pakistan-shot-down-indias-cutting-edge-fighter-using-chinese-gear-2025-08-02/Exclusive: Pakistan and Indonesia closing in on jets and drones defence deal, sources sayhttps://www.reuters.com/world/asia-pacific/pakistan-indonesia-closing-jets-drones-defence-deal-sources-say-2026-01-12/Chinese arms exporters may be the big winners in any Pakistan-Saudi JF-17 talkshttps://www.scmp.com/news/china/military/article/3339553/chinese-arms-exporters-may-be-big-winners-any-pakistan-saudi-jf-17-talksHow Pakistan shot down India’s cutting-edge fighter using Chinese gearhttps://www.reuters.com/business/aerospace-defense/how-pakistan-shot-down-indias-cutting-edge-fighter-using-chinese-gear-2025-08-02/Top 10 most expensive fighter jets in 2025https://www.aerotime.aero/articles/27553-top-10-most-expensive-fighter-jetsPakistan Eyes Multi-Billion Dollar JF-17 Export Boom Amid Global interesthttps://thediplomat.com/2026/01/pakistan-eyes-multi-billion-dollar-jf-17-export-boom-amid-global-interest
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