Iran Reportedly Initiates Steps to Acquire JF-17 Block III Developed by Pakistan and China

(DEFENCE SECURITY ASIA) – Iranian Air Force Commander Brigadier General Hamed Wahidi is currently in Pakistan, leading a delegation of senior military officials to strengthen defense ties between the two neighboring countries.

During his visit, Wahidi is expected to observe the Indus Shield 2024 air exercise and hold meetings with his Pakistani counterpart, Air Chief Marshal Zaheer Ahmad Babar, in Islamabad.

Several Arab defense media outlets report that the primary objective of the Iranian Air Force chief’s visit is to initiate discussions about acquiring the JF-17 “Thunder” fighter jets, jointly developed by Pakistan and China.

The JF-17 is a product of collaboration between Pakistan Aeronautical Complex (PAC) and Chengdu Aircraft Industry Group (CAIG).

Iran has shown particular interest in the latest variant, the JF-17 Block III, which integrates advanced fifth-generation fighter technologies.

This interest has grown following Tehran’s failed attempt to procure China’s J-10C fighter jets due to Beijing’s reluctance to supply them.

Initially, Iran sought to acquire 36 J-10Cs, but negotiations fell through over payment disagreements—China insisted on cash payments, while Iran preferred to use oil as currency.

Tehran is accelerating efforts to modernize its air force, often regarded as the weakest branch of its military, largely due to Western economic sanctions.

These sanctions have forced Iran to rely on outdated American-made aircraft such as the F-14 Tomcat, F-5, and F-4, acquired before the 1979 revolution under the Shah’s regime.

As part of its modernization initiative, Iran has reportedly secured an agreement with Russia to locally assemble Su-35 (Flanker-E) and Su-30 fighter jets.

This cooperation is seen as a component of broader defense collaboration between the two nations, which has grown stronger following Iran’s supply of various military equipment, including kamikaze drones and ballistic missiles, to support Russia’s operations in Ukraine.

Analysts suggest that the local assembly of these aircraft could enable Iran to possess over 100 Su-35 and Su-30 fighters in the near future.

This development poses a strategic challenge to U.S.-aligned countries in the Middle East, where air dominance has long been maintained by regional rivals.

Reports indicate that Iran plans to assemble between 48 and 77 Su-35 jets domestically, though the exact number of Su-30 fighters remains uncertain and could potentially exceed that of the Su-35.

The JF-17 Block III is believed to feature design elements inspired by China’s fifth-generation fighter, the J-20 “Mighty Dragon.”

This latest variant of the JF-17 is equipped with cutting-edge technologies, including the KLJ-7A Active Electronically Scanned Array (AESA) radar, developed by China Electronics Technology Group.

Chinese military analysts claim that the KLJ-7A radar is on par with the AN/APG-81 radar used in the U.S. F-35 fighter and Russia’s N036 phased-array radar found in the Su-57.

In terms of air-to-air weaponry, the JF-17 Block III will be armed with two advanced missiles: the PL-10, a short-range missile comparable to the U.S.-made AIM-9X, and the PL-15, which boasts a range of 200 to 300 km, offering an advantage over the air-to-air missile capabilities of Indian fighter jets. — DSA