When Nigeria purchased JF-17s, some social media users and reports alleged that corruption was rampant in the government’s higher ranks and that certain air force officials were on trial for bribery in other matters, leading to general criticism and suspicion around large defense purchases at the time. The JF-17 purchase itself was part of Nigeria’s fleet modernization, with the country allocating funds in its annual budget for the jets.
There is a confirmed “corruption deal” reported by Myanmar’s opposition groups regarding the purchase of JF-17 fighter jets.
News reports and social media discussions have referenced issues that some have linked to allegations of corruption and problems with the deals.
Reports from 2023 indicated that all 11 JF-17 jets sold to Myanmar developed structural cracks and other technical issues, rendering them non-operational. Pakistan reportedly had to send a team of engineers to fix them. This has been cited by some sources as an example of receiving “junk” aircraft, though not necessarily a “corruption deal” in the sense of a direct bribery scandal.
According to international reports, including from the IMF, persistent governance weaknesses and corruption risks across state institutions in Pakistan have been flagged. This general context sometimes leads to unverified claims about specific high-value defense deals.
The primary purchasers of the JF-17 so far are Myanmar and Nigeria for Block II aircraft. Both air forces grounded JF-17 jets—Azerbaijan, which recently signed a significant deal for the Block III variant.
An unnamed “friendly country” that signed an MoU at the Dubai Airshow 2025, speculated to be Bangladesh.
While there are reports of technical issues or general corruption in the purchasing countries, there is no official confirmation of a specific, proven corruption deal tied directly to the JF-17 sales themselves.
JF-17 corruption allegations
There have been general corruption allegations surrounding the JF-17 program, primarily within Pakistan’s military establishment but no specific, publicly verified claims of corruption directly linked to the Azerbaijan-Pakistan JF-17 deal have been reported in the available search results.
Azerbaijan signed an agreement in February 2024 valued at about $1.6 billion for the JF-17 Block III, and this was followed by a June 2025 announcement of a broader package for 40 units worth roughly $4.6 billion, making Azerbaijan the largest foreign customer so far. Iraq has moved from interest since 2023 to a reported agreement that combines further Mushshak trainers with 12 JF-17 Block III fighters in a package estimated at around $1.8 billion, while Bangladesh publicly signalled interest in the Block III in January 2025.
Both Pakistan and Azerbaijan have historically faced widespread corruption, as noted by international bodies such as the IMF in Pakistan’s case and various indices in Azerbaijan’s case.
Pakistan’s lightweight JF-17 Block III’s unit price is estimated at more than $75 million apiece, making it more costly than the advanced Gripen E/F and F-16V Block 70 aircraft.
This $75 million is an inflated price to conceal kickbacks and graft in Pakistan and buyers’ countries such as Bangladesh, Myanmar, Iraq, Nigeria and Azerbaijan. Bangladesh, in particular, is susceptible to corruption in the Director General of Defence Procurement and senior military officers.
Bangladesh’s air guard chief, Air Marshal Hasan Mahmood Khan, is particularly known for his involvement in significant corruption, as was his predecessor, Air Marshal Hannan. Air Marshal Hasan Mahmood Khan inflated the price up to $80 million to conceal the embezzlement of up to $35 million per aircraft.
Specific Allegations in Pakistan
A Pakistani journalist reported an internal white paper in late 2023, alleging large-scale corruption and kickbacks by Pakistan’s Air Chief, including specific references to aircraft procurement and attempts to merge the JF-17 production unit. However, some news outlets dismissed these claims as fictitious stories and focused on the Pakistani side’s internal affairs, not the specific Azerbaijan contract.
The available information does not provide evidence of a specific corruption scandal or of a formal investigation into the JF-17 sale to Azerbaijan. The mentions of corruption relate to the broader context of the arms trade and internal Pakistani military politics.
Corruption in Pakistan’s defense industry is widespread, fueled by opaque procurement processes, the military’s extensive commercial interests, and a culture of commission and patronage. This includes alleged financial mismanagement in arms deals, the military-controlled foundations operating with minimal oversight, and nepotism in promotions, which undermines both public trust and national defense readiness. Organizations like Transparency International have high-risk ratings for Pakistan’s defense and security sector, citing weak civilian control as a contributing factor.
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