Pakistan has secured one of the largest arms export agreements in its history, finalising a deal worth an estimated $4 billion to supply military hardware to Libya. The agreement was concluded after a meeting between Pakistan’s Army Chief, Field Marshal Asim Munir, and Libyan National Army Deputy Commander-in-Chief Saddam Khalifa Haftar in Benghazi, according to a Reuters report.
While Islamabad has not officially disclosed full details, the deal reportedly includes 16 JF-17 multi-role fighter jets and 12 Super Mushshak trainer aircraft used for basic pilot training. Pakistani officials said the package also covers a wide range of land, naval and air equipment, with deliveries planned over the next two-and-a-half years.
For Pakistan, the deal represents a major boost to its defence exports at a time when the country is grappling with severe economic stress and relies heavily on IMF support. Much of Pakistan’s defence production is based on Chinese technology, reflecting years of military-industrial cooperation between Islamabad and Beijing.
The JF-17 fighter jet, a key component of the Libya deal, is jointly developed by the Pakistan Aeronautical Complex and China’s Chengdu Aircraft Industry Group. Pakistan has previously exported the JF-17 to countries such as Nigeria, Azerbaijan and Myanmar, transactions that also indirectly benefited China by expanding the reach of Chinese military technology.
China remains deeply embedded in Pakistan’s defence manufacturing ecosystem. With Chinese assistance, Pakistan produces armoured vehicles, munitions and certain naval platforms. During the recent four-day military confrontation with India, Pakistan relied heavily on Chinese-origin systems, including JF-17 jets and PL-15 missiles.
Although Pakistan assembles the JF-17 airframe, the aircraft depends largely on Chinese components. Critical systems such as AESA radars, electronic warfare suites, avionics and most of its weapons are sourced from China. As a result, all JF-17 exports require approval from both governments, including clearance from China’s Central Military Commission and export licences from the Ministry of Commerce.
China stands to gain strategically from the Pakistan–Libya arms deal. According to the Stockholm International Peace Research Institute, China was the world’s fourth-largest arms exporter in 2025, after the United States, Russia and France. Chinese defence firms position their products as affordable alternatives with capabilities comparable to Western and Russian systems.
The JF-17 fits neatly into this strategy. Marketed as a cost-effective fourth-generation fighter priced at under $25 million per unit, it offers advanced features such as AESA radars and beyond-visual-range missile capability, making it attractive to countries that cannot access Western aircraft. Against this backdrop, Pakistan’s arms sale to Libya represents not just a commercial success for Islamabad, but also a step forward for China’s ambitions to expand its footprint in the global arms market.
