Pakistan sends fighter jets and support aircraft to Saudi Arabia
The Pakistan
Air Force (PAF) has deployed fighter jets and support aircraft to Saudi
Arabia as part of a newly implemented defense cooperation agreement with the
Saudi Ministry of Defense.
According to reports, the deployment includes up
to 18 aircraft stationed at King Abdulaziz Air
Base. While official confirmation of specific aircraft types has not
been provided, the PAF operates a range of multi-role combat platforms,
including the JF-17 Thunder and the F-16 Fighting Falcon, both capable of air
defense, strike, and escort missions.
Support elements are believed to include transport aircraft such as the Lockheed C-130 Hercules, as well as aerial refuelling platforms like the Ilyushin Il-78 Midas, which enhance operational range and sustained mission capability.
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In addition to air assets, around 13,000
military personnel have reportedly been deployed, indicating a broader
commitment involving operational support, base security, and logistics for
sustained joint activities.
The deployment falls under the Strategic
Mutual Defense Agreement signed on September 17, 2025, in Riyadh by Pakistan’s
Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif and Saudi Crown Prince Mohammed bin Salman. The
agreement establishes a framework in which an attack on one country is treated
as an attack on both, strengthening collective defense and deterrence.
The accord is also aimed at expanding military cooperation, including joint training exercises, coordinated operations, and enhanced strategic alignment, reflecting long-standing defense ties between Islamabad and Riyadh.
Source: AeroTime