Bangladesh held talks with Pakistan on purchasing JF-17 Thunder fighter jets, Pakistan’s military media wing said Tuesday.

The discussions took place during a visit by Bangladesh Chief of Air Staff Air Chief Marshal Hasan Mahmood Khan to the Pakistan Air Force (PAF) headquarters in Islamabad, where he met his Pakistani counterpart, Air Chief Marshal Zaheer Ahmed Baber Sidhu.

Pakistan’s Inter-Services Public Relations (ISPR) shared the information in a statement published on its website.

The two sides discussed potential defence cooperation, including the possible acquisition of the JF-17 Thunder, a jointly developed fighter aircraft by China and Pakistan.

The JF-17 is a multi-role, supersonic, fourth-generation fighter jet that has been inducted into the Pakistan Air Force and used in combat during aerial engagements with India in 2019 and 2025.

If Bangladesh proceeds with the procurement, the JF-17 would become the second fourth-generation fighter aircraft to enter the country’s air force inventory.

Separately, in early December, the Bangladesh Air Force signed a preliminary agreement with Italy’s Leonardo for the procurement of the Eurofighter Typhoon, signalling Dhaka’s efforts to modernise its air combat capabilities.

During the talks, the Pakistan Air Force chief assured Bangladesh of advanced fighter aircraft training for its pilots, the fast-tracking of deliveries of Super Mushshak trainer aircraft, and long-term logistical and technical support, the ISPR said.

Air Chief Marshal Hasan Mahmood Khan also sought assistance for maintaining Bangladesh’s ageing fighter jet fleet and the integration of air defence radar systems to strengthen air surveillance, the statement added.

The Bangladesh Air Force chief praised the Pakistan Air Force’s combat experience and expressed interest in benefiting from its operational expertise.

As part of the visit, the Bangladeshi delegation toured several key PAF facilities, including the National ISR and Integrated Air Operations Centre, PAF Cyber Command, and the National Aerospace Science and Technology Park, where they observed capabilities related to intelligence, surveillance and reconnaissance, cyber operations, space, electronic warfare, and unmanned systems, the statement said.