Pakistan is in the final stages of a $1.5-billion deal to supply weapons and aircraft to Sudan, Reuters reports, according to a former top Pakistani air force official and multiple sources familiar with the matter. The agreement is expected to provide a major boost to Sudan’s army, which has been engaged in a fierce struggle with the paramilitary Rapid Support Forces (RSF) for over two and a half years, a conflict that has fueled the world’s worst ongoing humanitarian crisis and threatened to destabilize the strategic Red Sea nation.
The deal reportedly encompasses 10 Karakoram-8 light attack jets, more than 200 drones for reconnaissance and kamikaze-style attacks, and advanced air defense systems, according to two of the sources cited by Reuters. Retired Pakistani Air Marshal Aamir Masood, who remains briefed on air force matters, described the arrangement as a “done deal.” In addition to the Karakoram-8s, the package could include Super Mushshak training aircraft and possibly some JF-17 fighter jets, which are co-produced by Pakistan and China, though no specific figures or delivery timeline were provided.
Neither Pakistan’s military nor its defense ministry responded immediately to requests for comment, and a spokesman for Sudan’s army was similarly unavailable.
The arms and aircraft could help Sudan’s army reclaim air superiority it had at the start of the conflict, as the RSF has increasingly leveraged drones to seize territory. Sudan’s military has accused the United Arab Emirates of supplying the RSF, allegations the UAE denies.
Reuters also reports that Saudi Arabia may have a role in the deal, either by facilitating or potentially funding it. Masood suggested that Riyadh often supports Gulf-aligned regimes in procuring Pakistani military equipment, though sources provided conflicting accounts of Saudi financial involvement. Pakistan is reportedly in broader defense negotiations with Saudi Arabia for an agreement potentially worth between $2 billion and $4 billion, and weapons for Sudan could be included under that umbrella.
The deal highlights Pakistan’s growing role as an arms supplier. In December, Islamabad reportedly finalized a $4-billion weapons sale to the Libyan National Army, including JF-17 jets and training aircraft, marking one of Pakistan’s largest recent arms exports. Talks have also taken place with Bangladesh regarding sales of Super Mushshak training jets and JF-17s, reflecting Islamabad’s ambitions to expand its defense industry while bolstering economic stability amid a $7-billion IMF program and past financial support from Gulf allies.
Sudan’s army chief, Abdel Fattah al-Burhan, has reportedly sought Saudi assistance in the ongoing war during recent visits to Riyadh, highlighting the complex regional dynamics. The conflict in Sudan is further complicated by tensions between Saudi Arabia and the UAE, particularly following clashes in Yemen that have intensified geopolitical rivalries in the Gulf.
If finalized, the Pakistani arms transfer could significantly alter the military balance in Sudan, providing the army with a new set of capabilities in a conflict that has already drawn in multiple foreign powers and continues to threaten regional stability.
