Recent reports suggested that the Iraqi government had approved a budget of $664 million for acquiring 12 JF-17 Thunder Block III fighter jets from Pakistan. However, the Iraqi Air Force has categorically stated that it will not be engaging in such a purchase.
Sources within the Iraqi Air Force have confirmed that there are currently no plans, negotiations, discussions, or any agreement in place for the procurement of JF-17 Thunder fighter aircraft. They emphasize that this news is not recent but rather pertains to a past narrative during the tenure of former Minister of Defense Juma Inad, which ended on October 27, 2022.
An anonymous source from the Iraqi Air Force, speaking on the condition of anonymity, clarified that the current Minister of Defense, Thabit Al Abassi, has neither engaged nor intends to engage with Pakistan regarding the purchase of the JF-17 fighter jets.
Earlier reports had claimed that Iraq had signed a contract with a Pakistani company for the purchase of an unspecified number of aircraft, believed to be JF-17 Block III. It was further suggested that negotiations for the sale had been ongoing for over two years.
The JF-17 Thunder aircraft is a joint manufacturing venture between Pakistan and China. While Pakistan has successfully exported its JF-17 jets to Nigeria, it is also exploring the possibility of exporting the Block III version to countries such as Malaysia, Azerbaijan, and Myanmar.
In summary, despite previous reports, the Iraqi Air Force has clarified that there are no current plans or agreements for the purchase of JF-17 Thunder Block III fighter jets from Pakistan. The situation remains unchanged, and Iraq is not pursuing this acquisition.