By Ali Imran Chattha, ISLAMABAD/DHAKA, May 22 — Pakistan has delivered a combat-grade JF-17 Thunder Block III flight simulator to Bangladesh, signalling that a major fighter jet deal between the two countries is close to finalisation.
The simulator, transported via a Pakistan Air Force C-130J, is configured for full operational training, indicating that pilot readiness is already underway ahead of aircraft induction. A PAF delegation led by Air Vice Marshal Aurangzeb Ahmed conducted training covering AESA radar, avionics, maintenance, and maritime strike operations.
Bangladesh is expected to acquire 16–24 aircraft in the first phase, with potential expansion to 48 jets. The deal includes training, infrastructure, and weapons packages. With a unit cost of USD 25–40 million, the JF-17 offers a lower-cost alternative to Western fighters.
The aircraft, jointly developed by Pakistan and China, is a single-engine multirole fighter equipped with modern radar, advanced avionics, and beyond-visual-range missile capability. It is currently operated by Pakistan, Myanmar, and Nigeria.
Interest in the JF-17 has grown following regional conflicts, including the 2019 India–Pakistan crisis in which an Indian MiG-21 was shot down and its pilot captured, as well as heightened aerial tensions in 2025. Analysts say these events have increased the aircraft’s global visibility.
Bangladesh leads a list of prospective buyers, with reported interest from Saudi Arabia, Iraq, Azerbaijan, and North African states, reflecting Pakistan’s expanding defence export ambitions.
