A leading American magazine has praised Pakistan’s JF-17 Thunder fighter jet, describing it as a cost-effective yet highly capable aircraft that has become increasingly popular among countries in the Global South.
According to the report, the JF-17 Thunder costs nearly one-third less than comparable fighter jets, yet its performance has proven to be outstanding. Unlike aircraft showcased mainly at air shows, the magazine noted that the JF-17 has demonstrated its true effectiveness on the battlefield.
The report highlighted that the JF-17 Thunder has successfully shot down some of the most advanced Russian and Western-made aircraft, proving its combat capability. It added that Pakistan and Türkiye are steadily replacing Western defence companies in the global arms market.
Describing the aircraft as a lightweight, low-cost, single-engine, multi-role fighter jet, the magazine said the JF-17 has earned its reputation not through exhibitions but through real combat performance. During the Pakistan-India conflict, the report claimed, the JF-17 Thunder downed India’s advanced Russian and Western-origin fighter jets, firmly establishing its battlefield credibility.
The magazine further stated that Western defence companies are losing their grip on the mid-tier weapons market, a gap now being filled by countries such as Türkiye, Pakistan, and South Korea. Pakistan, in particular, is emerging as a defence hub for the Global South, offering affordable yet battle-tested military systems.
The report concludes that the growing success of platforms like the JF-17 Thunder reflects a shifting balance in the global defence industry, where cost-effective and proven systems are increasingly preferred over expensive Western alternatives.
