Chinese arms exporters may be the big winners in any Pakistan-Saudi JF-17 talks

Reported discussions between Riyadh and Islamabad over a potential deal involving fighter jets co-developed by China and Pakistan could be a “big win” for Beijing’s arms exports to the Gulf region, analysts said.

However, doubts remained over whether such an agreement would actually proceed on the grounds that the JF-17 was in such marked contrast to Saudi Arabia’s Western-centric air force.

A Reuters report on Thursday that cited two Pakistani sources said Islamabad and Riyadh were in talks for a deal that may convert about US$2 billion of Saudi loans owed by Pakistan into JF-17 fighter jets.

The JF-17 is a fourth-generation single-engine multi-role combat aircraft jointly developed by the Pakistan Aeronautical Complex and the Chinese Chengdu Aircraft Corporation. It is manufactured in Pakistan.

One source quoted by Reuters said the total deal was worth US$4 billion, with discussions limited to the provision of JF-17s and an additional US$2 billion to be spent on equipment over and above the loan conversion. The other source said the jets were the primary option among several under discussion.

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The reports of a potential deal that would deepen military cooperation between Saudi Arabia and nuclear-armed Pakistan followed the signing in September of a mutual defence pact between the two countries after Israel’s strikes on Doha.

South China Morning Post