Following the suspension of a previous agreement to purchase fighter jets and military equipment, the Sudanese Defense Industries System sent a high-level delegation to Pakistan to sign a new contract for the supply of aircraft, drones, and armored vehicles. This occurred during a recent official visit, specifically after developments related to technical and political obstacles that prevented the completion of the first deal dated August 24, 2025.
According to the Pakistani website “the current”, The delegation was led by Major General Mirghani Idris, Director of the Defense Industries System, who is subject to U.S. and European restrictions and sanctions. The delegation included several senior military and security figures, among them: Lieutenant General Majdi Ibrahim, Deputy Chief of Staff; Lieutenant General Muhammad Ali Sabir, Head of Military Intelligence; Brigadier General Al-Mu’tasim Abdullah Al-Haj, Deputy Director General of the Defense Industries System for Product Development and Defense Services; in addition to Colonel Engineer Abdul Alim Al-Tayyib Al-Awad, Executive President of the Saafat Aviation Group. The delegation met with Mr. Muhammad Reza Hayat Harraj, Federal Minister of Defence Production in Islamabad, to finalize the negotiations and sign the provisions of the new contract.
Relevant parties explained that the amendment to the previous agreement resulted from China’s refusal to export air defense systems of the HQ-9 and HQ-16 types, due to these systems’ Chinese origin and Beijing’s reluctance to supply them to a country facing a conflict or subject to international sanctions. It was also noted that the sale of engines and navigation devices for MiG-21 aircraft became impossible after third countries refused to supply Pakistan with these vital components, prompting a reformulation of the deal and the replacement of its components with available alternatives.
The new contract stipulates the supply of weapons and equipment packages including: 30 K-8 trainer/attack aircraft, 40 Shahpar-2 drones, 200 MR-10 drones, and 230 ASV Mohafiz-IV armored vehicles. The total value of the deal is approximately $230 million.
Logistically, it was agreed that the aircraft and armored vehicles will be delivered to Port Sudan, while the drones will be delivered to the Wadi Sayyidna base, according to the timetable agreed upon by both parties. This shift in the deal’s components reflects the ability of both sides to renegotiate and adapt the contract in response to international restrictions and supply chains.
The new deal raises questions about its security and regional impact, particularly amid international sanctions on the leadership of the Defense Industries System, and the need to monitor the accompanying maintenance, operation, and training mechanisms for these equipment to ensure their operational readiness.
