Air Chief Marshal Hasan Mahmood Khan visits PAF headquarters, Pakistan ensures speedy delivery of Super Mushshak
Bangladesh Air Chief Marshal Hasan Mahmood Khan with PAF Air Chief Marshal Zaheer Ahmed Baber Sidhu
Bangladesh is in discussions to acquire JF-17 Thunder fighter jets from Pakistan, marking a potential defense deal as Islamabad capitalizes on growing international interest in its fighter jets following the May 2025 conflict with India.
A high-level defense delegation led by Air Chief Marshal Hasan Mahmood Khan, Chief of Air Staff, Bangladesh Air Force, held detailed discussions on the potential procurement during a visit to Air Headquarters, Islamabad, where they called on Air Chief Marshal Zaheer Ahmed Baber Sidhu, Chief of Air Staff, Pakistan Air Force. The visiting air chief was accorded a guard of honour.
The JF-17 Thunder, jointly developed by Pakistan and China, has proven to be a major export success for Pakistan’s defense industry. Following reports that the PAF shot down several Indian fighter jets, including French-made Rafale jets, during the May 2025 conflict, international interest in Pakistan’s operational assets increased.
This resulted in the share prices of China’s Chengdu Aircraft Corporation (CAC), which manufactures the aircraft, rising by over 17%. In December 2025, Libya and Pakistan reached a major multi-billion dollar export deal, described as one of Pakistan’s largest ever arms sales, which included 16 JF-17 Thunder fighter jets and 12 Super Mushshak trainers.
The meeting between the Air Chiefs focused on strengthening operational cooperation and institutional synergy, with an emphasis on training, capacity building and aerospace cooperation.
Air Chief Marshal Sidhu briefed the visiting delegation on the recent progress of the PAF and reaffirmed Pakistan’s commitment to support the Bangladesh Air Force through a comprehensive training framework. He also ensured prompt delivery of Super Mushshak trainer aircraft, a Pakistan-made basic trainer used for pilot training, along with a complete training and long-term support ecosystem.
Read: Pakistan and Libya sign arms deal worth several billion dollars
The Bangladeshi air chief praised the PAF’s combat record and sought help in maintenance support for the Bangladesh Air Force’s aging fleet and integration of air defense radar systems to improve aerial surveillance.
The delegation also visited 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 in ISR, cyber, space, electronic warfare and unmanned systems.
The visit underscored the strong historical ties between Pakistan and Bangladesh and reflected a shared resolve to deepen defense cooperation and build a long-term strategic partnership.
