NK MONITORING DESK
DUBAI: Pakistan’s JF-17 Thunder multirole fighter jet turned heads at the Dubai Airshow 2025, where it attracted notable interest from international delegations. The event also saw Pakistan sign a Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) with a friendly nation for the jet’s procurement, according to the military’s media wing.
The Inter-Services Public Relations (ISPR) reported that Air Chief Marshal Zaheer Ahmed Baber Sidhu held several important bilateral engagements during the airshow, reflecting what it described as growing international confidence in Pakistan’s aviation and defence industry.
The UAE leadership commended the Pakistan Air Force’s (PAF) ongoing modernisation and advancements in indigenous aerospace capabilities. ISPR noted that the JF-17’s strong reception at the airshow highlighted the aircraft’s rising profile in the global market.
Calling the MoU “another key milestone,” ISPR said the agreement adds momentum to Pakistan’s widening defence and industrial partnerships.
During the event, the air chief met with senior UAE officials, including Lieutenant General Pilot Ibrahim Nasser Al-Alawi, Undersecretary of Defence, and Major General Rashid Mohammed Al-Shamsi, Commander of the UAE Air Force and Air Defence. Discussions centred on deepening collaboration in advanced training, new aerospace technologies, and improving joint operational frameworks.
The PAF contingent at the airshow showcased the JF-17 Thunder Block-III variant alongside the Super Mushshak trainer aircraft. The Block-III’s strong performance during “Marka-e-Haq” — Pakistan’s response to Indian aggression in May — has further boosted its reputation as a capable and affordable fighter platform.
During the conflict, Pakistan deployed the JF-17 to neutralise India’s S-400 air defence system in Adampur using hypersonic missiles. Over the four-day confrontation, Pakistan downed several Indian aircraft and targeted more than 20 military installations across different regions in retaliation for India’s missile strikes on the night of May 5 and 6. New Delhi claimed its attacks were directed at “terrorist sites,” though they resulted in the deaths of multiple civilians and security personnel.
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