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Edited by^W.n
After Saudi Arabia and Pakistan signed a joint defense treaty, it was reported that Saudi Arabia was preparing to invest US$5 billion in Pakistan to purchase China's J-35s and Hongqi-19s. If this cooperation goes smoothly, military cooperation in more fields will be carried out.
On the geopolitical chessboard in the Middle East, the traditional “customer-sponsor” pattern is being replaced by a more complex and flexible game. And one recent rumor about arms cooperation between Saudi Arabia, Pakistan and China is precisely the most vivid reflection of this profound shift.
funds landed
On September 28, 2025, Pakistan’s mainstream media, citing the Ministry of Finance’s disclosure, said it had received $5 billion in special funding from the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia to be allocated to “defense equipment procurement and defense industry upgrading.”
On September 17, Saudi Arabia and Pakistan formally signed the "Common Strategic Defense Agreement" in Riyadh. The treaty follows NATO's Article 5 and clarifies that "an attack on any contracting party is regarded as aggression against both countries" and states that "Saudi Arabia will Assist Pakistan in improving its national defense capabilities through financial support, technical cooperation, etc." The US$5 billion funding is the first substantive measure to implement the agreement.
According to the procurement plans subsequently disclosed by the Pakistani Ministry of Defense, 70% of the funding (about $3.5 billion) will be prioritized for the procurement of advanced equipment from China, with the J-35 hidden fighters and Red Flag 19 air defense missile systems listed as the core projects.
The remaining 30% of the funds are planned to be invested in local military upgrades, including the expansion of the "Xiaolong" Block3 production line in cooperation with China and the construction of localized workshops for missile parts.
At the funding ceremony, Saudi Ambassador Ha said, “This cooperation is a continuation of Saudi traditional friendship and an important initiative to address regional security challenges,” and his remarks were interpreted by the outside world as a clear backing letter of Saudi Arabia’s military and industrial cooperation.
It is worth noting that the funds adopted the “tripartite custody” model – jointly regulated by the Saudi Sovereign Wealth Fund, the National Bank of Pakistan and China Weapons Industry Group – to ensure the dedicated funding. This model reflects both Saudi’s need to control the flow of funds and China’s core technology supply position in cooperation, laying the systemic foundation for subsequent cooperation.
Equipment Focus
The priority procurement of the J-35 hidden fighter aircraft, is the fifth-generation shipyard and land-based general-purpose fighter aircraft independently developed by China, in 2024 has been completed the Navy shipyard version, its foreign-trade model has attracted widespread attention in the Middle East.
According to the analysis of Sputnik news agency & radio, the stealth capability of the J-35 is better than that of the F-35 and the Su-57, with a maximum range of 3,200 kilometers and a combat radius of 1,200 kilometers. It can carry the Thunderbolt-15E medium and long-range air-to-air missile (range of 145 kilometers) and the Thunderbolt-10E short-range combat missile, with supersonic cruise and advanced active phased array radar detection capabilities, and its foreign trade unit price is about 85 million US dollars.
For Pakistan, the purchase of the J-35 would significantly offset the air force shortage.
The current main models of the Pakistan Air Force are the "Xiaolong" Block2/3 and F-16C/D. Facing the 36 French Rafale fighter jets and the Russian-made S-400 air defense system already installed in India, there is a generational gap.
The Chief of Staff of the Pakistan Air Force previously admitted at a press conference that "the deployment of fifth-generation fighter jets is a key requirement to deal with regional air threats," and the J- 35 's multi-mission capabilities can simultaneously meet the needs of air supremacy, sea and land precision strikes, adapting to its multi-line defense strategy.
Red Flag - 19 air defense missile system is China's new generation of medium and long-range air defense missile, in 2023 related performance information for the first time through public channels disclosed, is seen by the outside world as the Chinese version of the "SAD" system.
The system has a maximum interception altitude of 40 kilometers and a maximum interception distance of 200 kilometers. It can track 12 targets at the same time. It can effectively intercept tactical ballistic missiles, stealth fighters and cruise missiles. It has the unique ability to intercept hypersonic missiles in the atmosphere. The foreign trade version has a unit price of approximately 350 million US dollars/set.
Pakistan's current main air defense forces are the Red Flag - 9P and Falcon - 80 systems, and the addition of Red Flag - 19 will fill the missile interception gap, forming a "near - mid - far" multi-level defense system.
Saudi Arabia has previously purchased China's Red Flag - 9A air defense system, this time supporting Pakistan's purchase of Red Flag - 19, implying consideration of optimizing its air defense system through Pakistan's use of feedback.
The Triple Connection
This cooperation between Saudi Arabia, Pakistan and China is not a simple "fund-equipment" transaction, but a strategic coordination under the "triangular leverage" model.
From Saudi Arabia's perspective, after reaching a settlement with Iran in 2024, the regional security landscape has changed. By supporting Pakistan with funds to purchase China equipment, it can not only avoid direct involvement in the arms race, but also use Pakistan's nuclear power status and practical experience to indirectly strengthen its influence on the situation around the Middle East.
Jian Long, a researcher at the China Institute for International Affairs Research, pointed out that Pakistan, as the only Muslim country with nuclear weapons, has an alliance with Saudi Arabia, which marks an important breakthrough in Saudi Arabia's pursuit of strategic autonomy.
Pakistan wants to ease the defense budget pressure, on the other hand, deepen military-industrial cooperation with China, promote the upgrading of the domestic industry.The Pakistani public opinion revealed that the cooperation will try to avoid 100% of the original equipment imports, through technology transfer to drive the participation of domestic enterprises, the goal of achieving equipment supply diversification and reducing dependence on Europe and the United States.
China plays the role of “technology supply and rules builder” in trilateral cooperation.
The export of the Y-35 and Red Flag-19 is an important breakthrough for China's high-end equipment to enter the international market, before the foreign trade fighter aircraft with the four-generation aircraft such as the "Yalong", "Yal-10CE", the fifth-generation fighter aircraft exports marked China's military and industrial technology into the world's first ladder.
At the same time, military-industrial cooperation will further drive energy and infrastructure connectivity — China and Saudi Arabia will reach $116 billion in bilateral trade by 2024 and $280 billion with Pakistan, forming a multi-dimensional cooperation network.
Reshaping the Middle East and South Asia security pattern
The cooperation will have a profound impact on the two major regional security patterns.In South Asia, if Pakistan arms -35 and Red Flag -19 will break the military balance with India.
India is currently advancing a procurement plan for 114 multi-role fighter jets. The installation of fifth-generation fighter jets in Pakistan may force India to accelerate its own fifth-generation fighter development or procurement process, triggering a dynamic adjustment in regional armaments.
In the Middle East, Saudi Arabia's actions send a clear signal of "diversification of security cooperation." For a long time, Saudi Arabia has been highly dependent on the United States for national defense. In 2024, the amount of arms purchased from the United States will reach US$12 billion. However, US-made weapons often attach political conditions such as human rights and regional policies.
However, China's arms sales adhere to the principle of "non-interference in internal affairs" and are more in line with Saudi Arabia's strategic needs. In November 2024, Saudi Arabia signed a multi-billion-dollar military trade agreement with China. This time, it supports Pakistan in purchasing China's high-end equipment, further strengthening the military cooperation ties between China and Saudi Arabia.
This cooperative model may trigger a chain reaction. The Arab defense website revealed that Saudi Arabia is cooperating with Egypt, Pakistan and other countries to promote Chinese equipment, and the Chief of Staff of the Egyptian Air Force has specially inspected the relevant production lines.
If Pakistan successfully installs and forms combat effectiveness, it will provide "actual combat verification" reference for other countries and promote the breakthrough of China's high-end equipment in the Middle East market.
conclusion
Pakistan plans to purchase Chinese Z-20 general-purpose helicopters, 054A/P frigates, etc. in the future, and Saudi Arabia may continue to provide financial support.
The United States may use "sanctions" to pressure Pakistan to prevent it from purchasing China equipment; India may also express "concerns" through diplomatic channels.
However, judging from the rapid arrival of funds after the signing of the agreement, the strategic determination of tripartite cooperation is difficult to be shaken by external factors in the short term.
Official sources and links
U.S. blockade, Saudi dispute, internal riots, “Arab version of NATO” can be achieved? [EB/OL]. 2025-10-07.
http://m.toutiao.com/group/7558458636889981450/?upstream_biz=doubaoPeople's Daily. Give full play to the role of the main axis to promote development and revitalization (jointly build the "Belt and Road" and seek energy cooperation) [EB/OL]. 2023-06-19.
http://paper.people.com.cn/zgnybwap/html/2023-06/19/content_26000701.htm