Pakistan's JF-17 Jet Demand Soars, Production Capacity Strained

• Pakistan faces a surge in global demand for its China-backed JF-17 Thunder fighter jets from five countries, including Iraq, Bangladesh, Indonesia, Saudi Arabia, and Libya.
• The JF-17, jointly produced by Pakistan Aeronautical Complex and China's AVIC Chengdu, is attractive due to its affordable price ($40M-$50M) compared to Western counterparts.
• Pakistan currently produces fewer than 20 JF-17s annually, primarily for its own air force, raising concerns about its ability to meet the sudden export interest.
• Scaling up production requires significant investment, which Pakistan may lack, and China's involvement in negotiations and production schedules is crucial.
• Supply chain challenges exist, particularly for the Russian-made Klimov engines, which are under sanctions, potentially complicating parts procurement for Pakistan.

Why It Matters: Soaring global interest in Pakistan's affordable JF-17 jets strains its limited production capacity.