May 2025 clash puts JF-17 in global spotlight

February 4, 2026 (MLN): Pakistan’s JF-17 Thunder is no longer just a budget fighter quietly serving regional air forces. Its sudden global appeal is rooted in what the world witnessed in May 2025, when a brief but intense Pakistan–India confrontation thrust Chinese-made aircraft into the global spotlight.

The recent surge in international interest for the JF-17 Thunder fighter jet comes after the aircraft gained unprecedented exposure during clashes between Pakistan and India in May last year, a conflict that reshaped perceptions of Chinese military technology, Bloomberg reported on Tuesday.

Iraq, Bangladesh and Indonesia have formally shown interest in acquiring the aircraft, while Saudi Arabia and Libya are also exploring potential purchases.

The growing attention comes after Pakistan publicly praised the performance of its Chinese-made jets, including the JF-17, during clashes with India in May 2025, Bloomberg cited.

Pakistan currently manufactures fewer than 20 JF-17 aircraft per year, with nearly all units inducted into its own air force.

As a result, it remains unclear whether Islamabad can expand production fast enough to meet export demand, a challenge that could determine whether Pakistan can position itself as a competitive arms supplier for developing economies, Bloomberg reported.

The JF-17 is viewed as a disruptive platform due to its affordability and combat visibility.

Manoj Harjani, a research fellow at Singapore’s S Rajaratnam School of International Studies, told that the aircraft’s lower price and recent operational exposure make it attractive for militaries unable to afford Western-made fighters.

If interest from Indonesia or Saudi Arabia translates into firm orders, it would mark a notable shift, as both countries have historically relied on Western aircraft.

Indonesia has recently taken delivery of Dassault Rafale jets and agreed to purchase F-15s from Boeing, while Saudi Arabia continues to operate US and European platforms and has sought access to the F-35.

The JF-17 was developed under a 1999 agreement between the Pakistan Aeronautical Complex in Kamra and China’s AVIC Chengdu.

Under the current arrangement, Pakistan produces about 58% of the aircraft, including the airframe and final assembly, while China supplies avionics, accounting for 42% of production. Engines are sourced from Russia’s Klimov, Bloomberg cited.

Pakistan’s Defence Production Minister Raza Hayat Harraj told BBC Urdu last month that the aircraft costs between 40 million and 50 million dollars per unit, depending on configuration. This compares with prices exceeding 100 million dollars for some Western fighters.

Despite its cost advantage, exports have so far been limited. The aircraft has been sold to Myanmar, Nigeria and Azerbaijan.

Azerbaijan ordered 40 jets in 2024 in a deal valued at about 1.6 billion dollars, and unveiled several JF-17s during its Victory Day parade in November 2025.

Pakistan currently operates more than 150 JF-17s, but still needs to replace over 250 ageing Mirage and F-7 aircraft, while managing around 45 outstanding export orders, Bloomberg cited.

A Chinese aviation expert quoted by Global Times described potential capacity constraints as a “sweet problem,” suggesting that rising export demand could accelerate Pakistan’s aviation industry.

The expert added that Chinese assistance, including faster production schedules or additional assembly lines, could help address any bottlenecks.

While supply chain challenges remain, particularly due to reliance on Russian-made engines amid sanctions, the growing international interest marks a significant milestone for Pakistan’s defense industry.

To recall, Pakistan and India briefly collided in May 2025 in what many initially expected to be another familiar episode between old rivals. Instead, the confrontation unfolded as a striking demonstration of modern aerial warfare.

Chinese-made JF-17 Thunders and J-10C jets were tested in real combat conditions, fired with precision, and showcased in a manner that drew global attention to the skies over South Asia.

While the skill of Pakistani pilots was widely acknowledged, the operation was a turning point, not just militarily but strategically.

The display of Chinese technology during Operation Bunyan-e-Marsous was widely seen as one of the factors that pushed US President Donald Trump to call for a ceasefire, after initially stating that Washington would not intervene.

As the fighting subsided, international focus shifted beyond the subcontinent. Chinese-built aircraft dominated headlines, with some commentators declaring that the Pakistan Air Force had emerged as the “king of the air.”

The clash challenged long-held assumptions in the global arms market, which for decades had been dominated by Western manufacturers from the United States, France and Israel.

Chinese defense equipment had often been dismissed as low-cost alternatives suitable mainly for poorer nations.

That perception began to change after Pakistan said its Chinese-made J-10C jets shot down multiple Indian fighter aircraft, including French-built Rafales.

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