I was thinking along the lines of a workshare partnership with China.
So, we basically co-invest in their prime project (J-35), but with the condition that we supply 33% of the fighter to all customers (be it PLAN, PLAAF, PAF, etc).
If the Chinese order 1,000 such aircraft, then 33% of the expenditure would happen in Pakistan. That would be the game changer for us -- billions of dollars flowing each and every year into Pakistan. It'll create jobs for sure, but also give PAC more profit to also reinvest in domestic R&D for later projects down the road.
The issue here isn't whether Pakistan can or can't do it, the bigger problem is whether the PLA will agree to extending its supply chain outside of China. This will take a lot of convincing from our end, but we can make that case:
1. China needs allies, or else, the US will succeed in surrounding it.
2. Chinese firms are welcome to invest in Pakistan and compete for that 33% too.
3. We can limit competition to some arms tenders to only Chinese companies (i.e., no consideration given to any other supplier, especially Western).
4. PAC can prioritize the first 100 jets of its production work for only Chinese orders, so PAF orders will have to come later.
