The Role of Pakistan in Co-developing JF-17 Thunder with China

The Role of Pakistan in Co-developing JF-17 Thunder with China by Khaidem Bulo, Research Intern in DIP at CNSS, MSRUAS Pakistan began 2026 with the announcement that the JF-17 fighter had generated procurement interest following a meeting between its Air Chief Marshal Zaheer Ahmed Babar Sidhu and Bangladesh Air Chief Marshal Hasan Mahmood Khan, held on January 06, 2026 in Islamabad[1]. Beyond the immediate signalling of Islamabad’s desperate defence diplomacy, the more consequential issue lies in China’s intent, as Pakistan’s debt obligations to China amount to approximately $29 billion, representing nearly 22% of its total external debt.[2] fig: JF-17 Thunder source: bharatshakti.in Historically, the JF-17 fighter program was forged by counter-sanction imperatives arising from Western-controlled provisions, prompting Pakistan to pursue measures to sustain the Pakistan Air Force (PAF) amid prolonged uncertainty and strategic ambiguity.[3] The JF-17 fighter came into existence as a result of a joint development program between the Pakistan Aeronautical Complex (PAC) and China’s Chengdu Aircraft Corporation (CAC), involving a structured 50/50 cost-sharing model for the initial $500 million project budget, split equally between the two countries[4]. The Fighter China-1 (FC-1), which was the Chinese-designated name of the aircraft, was developed to replace outdated aircraft such as the Nanchang Q-5, Chengdu J-7, Sand Dassault Mirage III. The genesis of the JF-17 program lies in the late 1980s, when Pakistan was seeking a new fourth-generation multirole combat aircraft and was working with the American aerospace company Grumman on a “Sabre II” project, based on the Chengdu J-7, a Chinese-built derivative of the MiG-21. Pakistan later abandoned the project due to the United States’ extensive sanctions regime. Concurrently, China was cooperating with Grumman on upgrading its own Chengdu J-7, which was similarly disrupted following U.S. sanctions imposed after the 1989 Tiananmen Square protests. These shared experiences of sanctions-induced technological disruption prompted a closer Sino-Pakistani defence collaboration, formalized through a memorandum of understanding signed in 1995 to jointly develop the JF-17 Thunder.[5] Figure 1 Fig: PAC, Kamra source: facebook/Pakistan Aeronautical Complex Figure 2 Fig: PAC, Kamra source: facebook/Pakistan Aeronautical Complex fig: PAC, Kamra source: facebook/Pakistan Aeronautical Complex Kamra The driving factor behind Pakistan’s replacement of its ageing fleets is the need for cost-effective modernization, prompted by four decades of punishing service.[6] It may be construed as a routine fleet renewal, but the ambition is fuelled by the apprehension that the PAC would prove impotent in any potential conflict, as the regional security environment is heavily proliferated by cutting-edge capabilities in the backdrop of recurrent cross-border conflicts. This is implicitly reflected in their endeavour to progressively modernize and replace the Mirage fleet with JF-17 Thunder Block IV jets.[7] The JF-17 Thunder is a Sino-Pakistani joint venture where the production is split between the two countries, with 58 per cent carried out in Pakistan and 42 per cent in China.[8] The partnership exemplifies the integration of China's advanced design capabilities with Pakistan’s handling of assembly and operational customization. However, Pakistan, being a country never considered a major defence industry, their expertise remains nascent. Expansion of production means boosting of supply chain and securing it is a bigger challenge because the growing demand size will justify further Chinese capital infusion in the programme which will make Pakistan suffer capital influx that prioritizes export variants over the PAC’s core imperative of replacing its existing aged old fleets.[9] Variant Key Features Induction JF-17 Block I Initial operational capability; basic multirole and BVR functions 2007-2013 JF-17 Block II Improved avionics, in-flight refuelling capability, enhanced weapon integration 2013-2017 JF-17 Block III AESA radar, improved EW suite, enhanced sensor fusion, PL-15 missile compatibility, partial 4.5-generation features 2019-Present JF-17 Block IV New air-to-air and air-to-surface munitions, integration of indigenous weapons like passive Infrared Search and Track (ISRT) sensor and an electronic warfare (EW) suite with AESA radar-jamming capability[10] Future development After the MoU in 1995, prototypes rolled out in 2003, redesigned by 2006, with sub-assemblies started in Pakistan in 2008 and finally full assembly in 2009.[11] The JF-17 Block production began after Pakistan PAC Kamra’s assembly readiness, starting with Block I as the initial serial run, followed by Block II and Block III, as the sequential production variants evolved through upgrades as production scaled over the years[12]. Fig: Evolution of JF-17 Block Variants The JF-17 Thunder is a flexible armament across its Block I-III variants as it can switch between air strikes, ground attacks, sea strikes and reconnaissance missions[13]. It has a length of 14.93m, a wingspan of 9.44m, and a height of 4.77m. Its maximum takeoff weight is 13,500 kg, and it has a maximum speed of 1,910 km/h, corresponding to Mac 1.6.[14] Within the contemporary multirole fighters, aircraft like Lockhead Martin F-16 Fighting Falcon of the U.S, distinguished by its technical maturity since its 1978 induction, has set itself as the gold standard of versatility, leveraging its Mach 2+ performance, 4,220km range, and 7,700kg ordnance for expeditionary edge in coalition operations. Within the context of developing lightweight multirole fighter aircraft, India has pursued an indigenous pathway through the development of the HAL Tejas Light Combat Aircraft (LCA), intended to strengthen domestic aerospace capabilities while meeting the Indian Air Force (IAF)’s evolving operational requirements. India’s Tejas LCA exhibits an indigenous content of 62% with a target of 70% in the second batch[15]. It becomes necessary to evaluate the two platforms through a systematic analytical framework to understand how different development ideologies can influence overall mission effectiveness and long-term readiness. A comparative study of HAL Tejas Light Combat Aircraft (LCA) and PAC’s and CAC’s JF-17 Thunder will help us understand the critical role of indigenization in defence production. The Tejas LCA is India’s first indigenously designed supersonic fighter highlighting India’s emphasis on Aatmanirbhar Bharat[16], and on the other hand, the JF-17 Thunder emerges from a joint China-Pakistan initiative, which was the Super-7 upgrade project, with the primary aim of meeting the PAF’s requirements[17]. Top: JF-17 source: fighterjetsworld.com Bottom: Tejas LCA Mk1 Feature Tejas LCA JF-17 Thunder Origin India (HAL/ADA) Pak+China (PAC +CAC) Generation 4.5 4+ Length & Weight 13.2m & 13,500kg 14.9m & 13,500kg Max Speed Mac 1.6-1.8 Mac 1.6-1.8 Engine GE F404-IN20 RD-93/KLIMOV Combat Range 500km 800-1200km The origins of both aircraft are distinct, as JF-17 is a cost-sharing joint venture, and Tejas is India’s unilateral indigenous ambition, yet the degree of indigenous production can not be equated with an operational edge. The operational value of an aircraft depends upon crucial factors such as systems integration, logistics, sustainment and operational success. The JF-17 Thunder prioritizes cost-effectiveness, operational readiness, and export success, which makes it a good option for budget-constrained air forces. The platform has evolved incrementally through three successive block variants. Over the years, the aircraft went through modernization with phase-wise incorporations of advanced avionics, weapon integration, and improved radar capabilities. However, the progress lacked deeper technical scrutiny and overlooked the inherent limitations of the aircraft. As a result, there were cases of the aircraft being grounded on several occasions due to issues such as cracks in guide vanes, exhaust nozzles, and flame stabilizers.[18] These reflect the PAC’s foundational design incompetencies and lack of required emphasis in airframe refinement, kinematic performance, and long-term capability development. Consequently, the news of export deals of the JF-17 cannot be overlooked not only as a growing defence-industrial endeavour but also for its implications of China’s and Pakistan’s maturing partnership, with both positioning themselves as battle-ready on the global arms market.[19] By co-developing and funding relatively affordable military platforms for partner states, China asserts itself as an alternative security provider to the United States, particularly for countries seeking to diversify away from strict sanctions regimes. The JF-17 thus serve a twofold purpose - as a military asset for Pakistan and a diplomatic instrument for China. The development of the JF-17 by Pakistan, in partnership with