Pakistan is set to finalize a $1.5-billion deal to supply weapons, aircraft, and drones to Sudan, a move that could bolster the African country in its war against the paramilitary Rapid Support Forces (RSF).
The package includes over 200 drones for reconnaissance and loitering attacks, 10 K-8 Karakoram light attack aircraft, and advanced air defense systems, Reuters reported, citing anonymous sources with direct knowledge of the deal.
The agreement also covers PAC MFI-395 Super Mushshak training aircraft and may include JF-17 Thunder fighter jets jointly developed with China and produced in Pakistan, though quantity and delivery timelines remain unclear.
Retired Pakistani Air Marshal Aamir Masood, who continues to receive briefings on air force matters, described the agreement as a “done deal.”
Islamabad’s government did not respond to requests for comment, and a spokesman for Khartoum’s official military also declined to comment, according to Reuters.
Sources did not disclose how the deal would be financed. In relation to this, Masood mentioned that Saudi Arabia could play a role, though accounts differ on whether Riyadh is funding or merely facilitating the agreement.
Benefits on Both Sides
Analysts said that weapons could help Sudan’s army regain air superiority it held early in the conflict with the RSF, which began in April 2023 and has become one of the world’s worst humanitarian crises.
The RSF has increasingly relied on drones to capture territory, crippling the army’s formation and dominance.
Separately, the potential sale underscores Pakistan’s expanding defense exports.
Islamabad last month finalized a weapons deal worth more than $4 billion with Libya to support its eastern-based forces and has held defense talks with Bangladesh while operating under a $7-billion International Monetary Program, a global loan scheme to aid nations seeking to stabilize their economies.
