Pakistan Air Force’s JF-17 Block III Stuns the Skies, Proves Its Might at Spears of Victory 2025!

(DEFENCE SECURITY ASIA) –In a bold display of air power, the Pakistan Air Force (PAF) unleashed its cutting-edge JF-17 Block III fighter jets into the skies of Spears of Victory 2025, a high-stakes multinational air exercise hosted by the Royal Saudi Air Force’s Air Warfare Center.

From January 26 to February 6, the exercise transformed the battlefield of the skies into a proving ground for elite fighter aircraft from multiple air forces, pushing the limits of aerial combat through intense, real-world conflict simulations.

Spears of Victory 2025 emerged as a crucible of modern aerial warfare, honing the art of air combat by tackling both present and future threats, sharpening tactical prowess, and forging seamless joint operational strategies among allied air forces.

As the host, the Royal Saudi Air Force unleashed its formidable fleet of F-15s, Eurofighter Typhoons, and Tornadoes, setting the stage for an electrifying display of aerial supremacy.

The Bahraini Air Force bolstered the skies with its agile F-16s, while the French Air Force entered the fray with its cutting-edge Rafales.

Qatar intensified the airspace with its Eurofighter Typhoons, joining a powerhouse lineup that included the United Arab Emirates (Mirage 2000-5), the United Kingdom (Eurofighter Typhoon), and the United States, which deployed its battle-hardened F-16s.

Beyond the frontline action, military strategists and air combat specialists from Australia, Egypt, Jordan, Italy, Morocco, and Spain observed from the sidelines, analyzing tactics and strengthening future collaborations in this high-stakes exercise of air dominance.

Pakistan’s Inter-Services Public Relations (ISPR) has announced a remarkable feat by the Pakistan Air Force (PAF), as its cutting-edge JF-17 Block III fighters undertook a relentless, long-range deployment.

These formidable warbirds soared non-stop from their home base in Pakistan to Saudi Arabia and back, pushing the limits of endurance with precision in-flight air-to-air refueling.

“This international deployment saw the Pakistan Air Force’s JF-17 Block III execute a non-stop flight from its home base in Pakistan to Saudi Arabia and back, performing in-flight refueling. This demonstrated the aircraft’s long-range operational capability,” ISPR stated.

Beyond their extraordinary endurance, these state-of-the-art fighters unleashed their combat prowess in high-stakes aerial engagements against advanced adversary aircraft.

Their performance not only underscored their lethal capabilities but also drew acclaim for their cutting-edge technology and battlefield effectiveness.

The JF-17 fighter jet is a joint development between the Pakistan Aeronautical Complex (PAC) and China’s Chengdu Aircraft Industry Group (CAIG), with the latest variant being the Block III.

The JF-17 Block III is reported to incorporate design elements from China’s fifth-generation fighter, the J-20 Mighty Dragon, making it a more advanced and capable platform compared to its predecessors.

One of the key upgrades in the JF-17 Block III is its integration of an Active Electronically Scanned Array (AESA) radar, the KLJ-7A, developed by China Electronics Technology Group.

Analysts assert that this cutting-edge radar rivals some of the most advanced systems in the world—standing toe-to-toe with the U.S.-made AN/APG-81 radar that powers the stealthy F-35 and the formidable N036 phased-array radar found on Russia’s next-generation Su-57.

If true, this technological leap positions the JF-17 Block III among the elite ranks of modern fighter aircraft, redefining its battlefield dominance.

Additionally, the JF-17 Block III features a Helmet Mounted Display and Sight (HMD/S) system and an advanced Electronic Countermeasures (ECM) suite, enhancing its situational awareness and survivability in combat.

The JF-17 Block III is equipped with two primary air-to-air missiles: the PL-10 and the PL-15.

• PL-10: A short-range infrared-guided missile comparable to the U.S. AIM-9X, the PL-10 is also used by China’s most advanced fighter, the J-20 Mighty Dragon.

• PL-15: A long-range missile with an operational range between 200 to 300 km, providing a significant advantage over air-to-air missiles fielded by India’s fighter aircraft.

The PL-15 is China’s standard beyond-visual-range air-to-air missile (AAM), featuring an active radar seeker and dual-pulse motor, which extends its range up to 124 miles (200 km).

Its two-way datalink enables mid-course updates, ensuring higher accuracy against maneuvering targets.

Moreover, its AESA radar seeker operates in both active and passive modes, offering superior resistance to enemy electronic countermeasures compared to previous Chinese air-to-air missiles.

Aside from the J-20 Mighty Dragon, the PL-15 is integrated into China’s J-10C, J-11B, J-15, and J-16 fighters.

In 2022, Pakistan began receiving PL-15 missiles for its JF-17C Block III, the latest iteration of the aircraft, which was launched by PAC at its Kamra production facility in northern Islamabad in 2023.

Beyond air-to-air combat, the JF-17 Block III is now reportedly capable of launching the PL-10E High-Off Boresight missile, which can be guided solely using the pilot’s Helmet Mounted Display and Sight (HMD/S) in within-visual-range (WVR) dogfights.

Reports are emerging that the formidable JF-17 Block III has now been armed with the deadly Taimur air-launched cruise missile (ALCM)—a precision weapon engineered to annihilate both stationary and moving targets, including warships, from a staggering 280 km away.

This game-changing addition amplifies the fighter’s lethality, making it a formidable force in modern aerial warfare.

With cutting-edge avionics, seamless weapons integration, and the power to strike deep into enemy territory, the JF-17 Block III is not just an upgrade—it is a revolution in Pakistan’s air combat capabilities, cementing its status as a force to be reckoned with in the skies.

— DEFENCE SECURITY ASIA