Pakistan, Iraq sign historic deal for fighter jets

ISLAMABAD – Pakistan and Iraq have inked a defense partnership in Baghdad for JF-Thunder Block III fighter jets signaling the cementing of ties between the two brotherly Muslim countries.

As part of the deal, Pakistan will provide 12 fighter jets, JF-17 Thunder Block III to Iraq. These jets are produced at the Pakistan Aeronautical Complex (PAC) Kamra with the collaboration of China.

As per the media reports, following the successful deal of 12 MFI-17 Super Mushshak trainer aircraft to Zimbabwe which is worth multi-million-dollar; Pakistan has further strengthened its defense ties with Iraq by signing a JF-17 Thunder agreement in Baghdad expected to be worth $1.8 billion. With the current deal, Iraq will become the fourth or fifth buyer of the JF-17 fighter jets.

The agreement between Pakistan and Iraq is an important defense corporation deal, which was signed during a meeting between Pakistan Air Force Chief Air Chief Marshal Zaheer Ahmed Babar and his Iraqi counterpart.

Moreover, Nigeria and Myanmar already possess these jets in their convoy as Pakistan officially handed them over to the Nigerian Air Force this month in a ceremony at Makurdi, Nigeria.

Last month, Pakistan displayed models of its JF-17 fighter jet, Al-Khalid battle tank, Takbir precision munition, and Azmat-class missile boat, parallel to other defense hardware, in the Iraqi capital, Baghdad.

The exhibition marked the inaugural display of Pakistani defense goods in Iraq and promoted the country’s development of military hardware, following Gulf nations and Egypt.