Pakistan’s indigenous JF-17 Thunder Block-III has proven a major focal point during the Dubai Airshow 2025, drawing significant attention from defense analysts, aviation specialists and visitors.
In a statement, the Inter-Services Public Relations (ISPR) said the plane’s cutting-edge technology, strong combat capabilities and proven operational performance in ‘Marka-e-Haq’ had reinforced its reputation as a highly capable and cost-effective multirole fighter.
Marka-e-Haq refers to the conflict between Pakistan and India in May, during which Islamabad downed 6-7 Indian aircraft after Delhi conducted airstrikes on civilian infrastructure in Pakistan. Delhi sought to justify its actions by blaming, without evidence, Islamabad of a terror attack in Pahalgam, India-held Jammu and Kashmir.
The military’s media wing said several countries had expressed interest in acquiring the JF-17 Thunder, demonstrating increasing international confidence in the country’s aviation industry. “In a noteworthy development, a Memorandum of Understanding was signed with a friendly country for the procurement of the JF-17 Thunder, marking another significant milestone in Pakistan’s expanding defense and industrial partnerships,” it said.
A Pakistan Air Force contingent, led by Chief of Air Staff Air Chief Marshal Zaheer Ahmed Baber Sidhu is currently in the United Arab Emirates to participate in the airshow. The contingent features advanced JF-17 Thunder Block-III and the renowned Super Mushshak trainer aircraft, reflecting Pakistan’s growing expertise in indigenous military aviation, said the ISPR.
On the sidelines of the airshow, read the military statement, the air chief had held a series of high-level engagements with air chiefs from friendly countries. He also held comprehensive discussions with Lt. Gen. Pilot Ibrahim Nasser Al-Alawi, undersecretary of defense in the U.A.E, as well as Maj. Gen. Rashid Mohammed Al-Shamsi, Commander U.A.E. Air Force and Air Defense.
The discussions centered on strengthening cooperation in advanced training, fostering collaboration in emerging aerospace technologies and enhancing the mechanisms for effective operational coordination. “The U.A.E. military leadership lauded Pakistan Air Force’s modernization initiatives and growing indigenous capabilities with a shared resolve to further strengthen military engagement through joint exercises, professional exchanges and forward-looking partnerships,” the ISPR added.