On January 18, 2025, a Pakistan Air Force (PAF) contingent, comprising JF-17 Thunder Block-III fighter jets, along with dedicated air and ground crew, arrived at King Abdul Aziz Air Base, Kingdom of Saudi Arabia (KSA) to participate in the multinational aerial combat exercise "Spears of Victory-2025." For this international deployment, PAF fighters flew nonstop from their home base in Pakistan to Saudi Arabia, performing in-flight air-to-air refueling, showcasing the long-range employment capabilities of the JF-17 Block-III aircraft.

During the exercise, PAF pilots flying the Active Electronically Scanned Array (AESA) & Extended Range BVR (beyond-visual-range)-equipped JF-17 Thunder will engage with participating Air Forces, equipped with a wide variety of sophisticated combat aircraft. The exercise involves fighter jets and combat support elements from Saudi Arabia, Pakistan, Bahrain, France, Greece, Qatar, UAE, UK, and the USA.
The Royal Saudi Air Force is hosting the fifth cycle of the exercise, which offers an excellent opportunity to strengthen interoperability among the participating Air Forces in light of technological advancements, the increasing complexity of airpower application, and shared aerial defense challenges. The participation of the PAF contingent in the exercise not only highlights PAF's commitment to regional and international cooperation but also emphasizes its capabilities and readiness to operate in diverse and challenging environments alongside contemporary air forces.