The Pakistan Air Force (PAF) has confirmed that it is discussing potential fighter jet procurement cooperation with several Asian countries, including Indonesia. The talks are in line with Pakistan’s efforts to market defense equipment jointly produced with China, including the JF-17 Thunder fighter jet.
In an official statement posted on X, the Pakistan Air Force said discussions on the JF-17 had taken place during high-level meetings between defense officials from both countries.
Although no sales agreement has been explicitly confirmed, Reuters reported that Indonesia and Pakistan are in talks over a possible defense contract that could include fighter jets and armed drones for Jakarta.
According to a Reuters report on Monday (January 12), the two countries are said to be in advanced discussions toward a defense deal involving the JF-17, a multirole fighter aircraft jointly developed by China and Pakistan. Several sources cited by Reuters said the talks reflect increasingly intensive defense diplomacy between Indonesia and Pakistan.
High-Level Defense Talks Signal Indonesia’s Interest
Indonesia’s Defense Minister, Sjafrie Sjamsoeddin, was reported to have met with Pakistan’s Air Chief Marshal Zaheer Ahmed Baber Sidhu in Islamabad. Reuters quoted three security officials familiar with the meeting as saying that discussions included the potential sale of fighter jets and combat drones to Indonesia.
One source said the talks focused on the JF-17 Thunder as well as drones for surveillance and precision-strike missions. Two other sources said the negotiations were at an advanced stage and involved more than 40 units of the JF-17. One of them also revealed Indonesia’s interest in Pakistan-made Shahpar drones.
However, the sources did not provide details on delivery timelines or the duration of any potential contract. Both Indonesia’s Ministry of Defense and the Pakistani military confirmed that the meeting had taken place but stressed that no concrete decision has been made.
Indonesia’s Defense Ministry spokesperson, Brigadier General Rico Ricardo Sirait, told that the meeting centered on general discussions of defense cooperation, including strategic dialogue, strengthening inter-agency defense communication, and exploring mutually beneficial long-term cooperation opportunities.
JF-17 and Its Combat Record
Interest in the JF-17 has also drawn commentary from Beijing. Speaking to the Global Times, Wang Ya’nan, editor-in-chief of the Beijing-based magazine Aerospace Knowledge, said the JF-17 has drawn growing international attention due to its performance.
He described the aircraft as a fourth-generation fighter equipped with continuously upgraded radar, weapons, and communications systems, while maintaining relatively low procurement costs.
Wang added that rising interest in China–Pakistan jointly developed defense equipment cannot be separated from the aerial clashes between Pakistan and India in May 2025, during which Pakistan’s fighter aircraft were tested in real combat conditions.
The JF-17 is not the only Chinese-made aircraft being considered by Indonesia. In October 2025, Indonesia’s defense minister was reported to have expressed interest in the J-10 fighter jet. Responding to this, Chinese Defense Ministry spokesperson Zhang Xiaogang said that Beijing adopts a cautious and responsible approach to the export of military products.
Indonesia’s Air Force Modernization Efforts
Indonesia’s interest in the JF-17 comes amid a broader effort by Jakarta to modernize its air force fleet. In recent years, Indonesia has ordered 42 Rafale fighter jets from France in a US$8.1 billion deal signed in 2022, followed by an order for 48 KAAN fighter jets from Türkiye the following year. Indonesia is also considering China’s J-10 and is in discussions to acquire the US-made F-15EX.
Meanwhile, Pakistan is pushing to position its defense industry as a more significant regional player. Reuters reported that Islamabad is also exploring defense agreements with Libya, Sudan, Bangladesh, and Saudi Arabia. The JF-17 has been central to these efforts, including deals with Azerbaijan and a US$4 billion arms pact with the Libyan National Army.
Additional security sources said that talks with Indonesia have also covered air defense systems as well as training programs for Indonesian Air Force officers at various levels.
Source: Reuters | Global Times
