ISLAMABAD: Türkiye has expressed interest in expanding aerospace cooperation with Pakistan, focusing on research, development and industrial collaboration linked to the JF-17 Thunder fighter programme, officials said.
The discussion took place during recent defence-level engagements between Pakistani and Turkish representatives, where both sides explored opportunities to deepen technical cooperation and joint production in military aviation.
Officials familiar with the talks said Türkiye is keen to work with Pakistan on avionics, systems integration and future upgrades of the JF-17 platform, while also examining broader defence industry partnerships.
Pakistan’s Ministry of Defence said the engagement reflects growing momentum in bilateral defence ties, with both countries seeking to leverage their domestic manufacturing capabilities and skilled engineering bases.
The JF-17 Thunder, jointly developed by Pakistan and China, forms the backbone of the Pakistan Air Force’s combat fleet and has also attracted interest from international buyers.
Diplomatic sources said Islamabad and Ankara are also discussing cooperation in training, maintenance and supply-chain development, aimed at strengthening long-term industrial linkages.
Pakistan and Türkiye maintain close strategic relations, with defence collaboration covering naval projects, armoured vehicles and aerospace platforms.
