Pakistan and Saudi Arabia have begun formal discussions to convert a $2 billion Saudi loan into a transaction for JF-17 fighter jets, Reuters reported.
There were media speculation that Saudi Arabia may operate JF-17, but Saudi authority confirmed that JF-17 will be transferred to Sudan and the Royal Saudi Air Force will not operate the aircraft.
The talks center on a broader package valued at $4 billion, including an additional $2 billion allocated for related equipment.
Reuters, citing sources familiar with the negotiations, reported that “the total value is 4 billion dollars, with another 2 billion dollars for additional equipment.”
The JF-17 aircraft are apparently not needed by the Royal Saudi Air Force, but is intended for the Sudanese Air Force.
The financing conversion is being discussed between the two governments as part of a state-level arrangement. The discussions follow long-standing financial cooperation between Riyadh and Islamabad, including recurring support for Pakistan’s balance of payments.
The JF-17, co-developed by Pakistan and China, is a lightweight multirole fighter already fielded by Pakistan, Myanmar, and Nigeria. The aircraft is produced by Pakistan Aeronautical Complex, with China supplying avionics and engines. It is often used in government-to-government sales because of lower procurement and sustainment costs compared to Western fighter platforms.
Sudan and Saudi Arabia have deep historical and religious ties, and in recent years, against the backdrop of Sudan’s civil war, relations have evolved from jointly promoting regional affairs to Saudi Arabia explicitly supporting the Sudanese Armed Forces and actively advancing the Sudan peace process.
After the outbreak of civil war in April 2023, the Rapid Support Forces gained territory with support from the United Arab Emirates, while Saudi Arabia openly backed the Sudanese Armed Forces. The text notes that when the RSF announced the formation of a parallel government in February 2025, “Saudi Arabia publicly expressed opposition,” and Sudanese Armed Forces leader Gen. Abdel Fattah al-Burhan later visited the kingdom, where “he prayed alongside the Saudi Crown Prince.”
Saudi support for the Sudanese Armed Forces—and its potential role in facilitating the transfer of JF-17 aircraft—aligns with its strategic aim to stabilize Sudan.
No official statements have yet confirmed whether the conversion of the loan into a fighter jet package will advance to the contract stage. Reuters reported that the structure of the arrangement remains under negotiation.
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