Pakistan is reportedly in the closing stages of a defense export agreement worth around $1.5 billion with Sudan, a Muslim-majority country in North Africa, with the package expected to include aircraft, drones, and air-defense equipment, according to multiple sources.
The prospective deal could provide a major uplift to Sudan’s armed forces, which have been locked in a prolonged conflict with the paramilitary Rapid Support Forces (RSF), a war that has triggered a deep humanitarian emergency and drawn increasing international attention due to Sudan’s strategic location on the Red Sea and its gold resources.
Sources familiar with the discussions said the proposed package includes 10 Karakoram-8 light attack aircraft, more than 200 drones for surveillance and loitering (“kamikaze”) roles, along with advanced air-defense systems.
Retired Pakistani Air Marshal Aamir Masood said the broader bundle may also feature Super Mushshak training aircraft and could potentially include a limited number of JF-17 fighter jets, though he did not specify quantities or delivery timelines.
Pakistan’s military and defense ministry did not immediately respond to requests for comment, while a spokesperson for Sudan’s army was also not immediately available.
The addition of drones and strike aircraft could help Sudan’s army regain an edge in the air, particularly as the RSF has increasingly used drones to strengthen its battlefield position. Sudan’s military has alleged the RSF is receiving outside support from the United Arab Emirates, a claim the UAE has denied.
