Pakistan's JF-17 Sales: Hype vs. Reality in Fighter Jet Exports

• Pakistan is promoting the JF-17 Thunder as a strategic resurgence, aiming to shift from a defense importer to an exporter.
• Despite public claims of interest from 'several countries,' most deals remain expressions of interest rather than binding agreements.
• The JF-17 is co-developed with China, requiring Beijing's approval for exports, and the Chinese military itself does not operate the jet.
• Pakistan targets economically fragile states with the JF-17, offering a cheaper alternative with fewer political strings, but long-term support is questionable.
• Islamabad uses unsubstantiated claims from the 2025 conflict with India as a marketing tool, which lacks credibility for serious buyers.

Why It Matters: Pakistan's JF-17 export push is driven by economic desperation and rhetoric, lacking industrial maturity and credible long-term support.