By Admin 
Defense cooperation between Pakistan and Bangladesh seems to be increasing rapidly in recent months. Pakistan announced at the Dubai Airshow that it is soon going to sell JF-17 Thunder Block-III fighter jet to a friendly country. As soon as this came to light, military analysts started speculating as to who this country could be. Reports that emerged two days later indicated that this friendly country could actually be Bangladesh. The new political equations formed after the fall of Sheikh Hasina government have reactivated the relations between Dhaka and Islamabad. The interim government has taken steps towards reviving defense cooperation with both China and Pakistan. In such times, the acquisition of modern fighter aircraft like JF-17 can prove to be a big change for Bangladesh Air Force.
According to Defense Security Asia report, Pakistan may be ready to provide 16 to 24 JF-17 Thunder Block-III to Bangladesh. The estimated deal could be between 400 to 700 million dollars. This will be considered the biggest fighter jet acquisition in the history of Bangladesh Air Force. India is also keeping an eye on this possible agreement, because this deal can affect the balance of security situations in the North-Eastern region.
Why the search for JF-17 increased among the old fleet
Bangladesh has been trying to modernize its air fleet for a long time. It has aircraft like F-7, MiG-29 and Yak-130, whose technology is considered weak compared to modern warfare requirements. Dhaka formally began the evaluation of the JF-17 in January 2025, studying the machine’s technical capabilities, weapon systems and cost, as Bangladesh wants modern technology within a limited budget. This is a joint project of Pakistan-China, hence its price is less than half that of western fighter planes. The leadership that came to power after the Sheikh Hasina government has shown interest in increasing defense cooperation with Pakistan and China, due to which the possibility of purchasing JF-17 has become stronger.
What is the specialty of JF-17 Block-III?
JF-17 Thunder is considered the main strength of Pakistan Air Force. Its new Block-III version is a 4.5 generation multirole fighter, which has been jointly developed by Chengdu Aircraft Corporation and Pakistan Aeronautical Complex. The specialty of this aircraft is its cost, advanced electronic system and balanced combat capability. Its range can exceed 3,400 km and the maximum take-off weight is approximately 13,500 kg. It is considered accurate in both air-to-air and air-to-ground operations.
Anti-ship missiles, laser-guided bombs, modern radar, self-defense system and 23 mm gun make it strong in the category of multirole fighter. Its service ceiling is 50,000 feet, making it effective even in high altitude missions. Low cost and simple maintenance make it a viable solution for air forces with medium budgets.
Also read: Sheikh Hasina Extradition: Official letter from Bangladesh, demand to hand over Sheikh Hasina, know what India will do now?