Pakistan’s JF-17 Thunder Block-III fighter jet, which was deployed against India during the May military clashes, has won the ‘Spirit of the Meet’ trophy on its debut at the UK’s Royal International Air Tattoo (RIAT).
RIAT is considered to be one of the world’s largest military airshows. It has been running for over 50 years and powers the Royal Air Force Charitable Trust.
The JF-17 appeared at this air show in its Block I and II configurations in the past, the last such appearance before 2025 being in 2010.
The Pakistan Air Force (PAF) JF-17 Block III was awarded the “Spirit of the Meet Trophy” for its “striking livery and the incredible journey from Pakistan with non-stop air-to-air refuelling,” Pakistan’s state broadcaster PTV stated, as noted by the Dawn newspaper.
“These awards were given in recognition of the aircraft’s excellent flying and technical skills,” it stated. The Pakistani media has since unanimously declared that the JF-17 Block III represents Pakistan’s “advanced defence technology.”
The participation of the JF-17 Block III in RIAT alongside the C-130 has been widely documented. The two JF-17s made their longest-ever flight with air-to-air refuelling from Turkey to the UK with assistance from the PAF Il-78MP Midas, another extremely rare aircraft. The C-130H Hercules, too, won the “Concours d’Elegance Trophy”.
“Winning these prestigious awards is a testament to our professionalism, technical expertise and relentless pursuit of excellence,” said Air Chief Marshal Zaheer Ahmed Baber Sidhu while congratulating the PAF contingent that won accolades at RIAT. “Keeping the nation’s flag high has always been the hallmark of the Pakistan Air Force,” he added.
The PAF JF-17 Block III’s global recognition at RIAT comes just two months after the aircraft was deployed by Pakistan in the May 7-10 combat against India. Notably, the Pakistani state television has exploited the occasion to emphasise the capabilities of the PAF aircraft, claiming once again that the service shot down multiple Indian jets.
“There is a palpable sense of enthusiasm across the United Kingdom following the recent Pakistan-India conflict, as aviation enthusiasts and defence observers were eagerly looking forward to the arrival of the Pakistan Air Force’s JF-17 Thunder Block-III,” the PTV said. “The aircraft’s combat-proven capabilities and operational excellence have garnered significant global attention, making its appearance at RIAT a highly anticipated highlight in the aerospace and defence community.”
Pakistan has made aspirational claims about downing five IAF fighter jets in combat using a networked force package comprising JF-17s, J-10Cs, and an airborne early warning platform. However, as noted by the EurAsian Times in previous reports, the PAF was unable to provide any credible evidence to support its claims.
As the four-day conflict unfolded, Pakistani sources wrongfully claimed that a JF-17 had destroyed an Indian S-400 at Adampur Air Base. However, those claims were found to be baseless, especially after the Indian Prime Minister visited the base where he was photographed with the S-400 in the background.
The JF-17 Block-III is the first major upgrade of the JF-17 Thunder, a lightweight multi-role fighter that is co-produced by Chengdu Aircraft Corporation of China (CAC) and Pakistan Aeronautical Complex (PAC).
Pakistan even published an image of the JF-17C aircraft with PL-10 and PL-15 long-range missiles for the first time as tensions mounted with India in the wake of the Pahalgam terror attack, indicating that it was sending a message of deterrence to the enemy as calls for retaliation grew louder in India.
Notably, the fact that the Pakistani Air Force and state media are heaping praise on the JF-17 in the context of the Indo-Pakistan clash is intriguing, as several reports in Indian media have indicated that Pakistan lost multiple JF-17 Thunders to BrahMos strikes.
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The EurAsian Times could not independently verify claims made by reports from either side, as the conflict was marked by an atmosphere of misinformation and suspicion, and neither side has accepted its combat losses. However, we understand that Pakistan has been amplifying its unverified claims to promote itself, its military equipment, and its narrative on the global stage. These claims have been supported by China.
Though the JF-17 Block III’s debut at RIAT had nothing to do with the Indo-Pakistan clash, it has been used as yet another platform to highlight the aircraft’s combat capability, perhaps with an eye on the export market.
The JF-17 Block III
The JF-17 Thunder is a single-engine, lightweight, multi-role combat aircraft. With a maximum speed of approximately 1,200 mph and a service ceiling of 50,000 feet, the JF-17 can carry out a variety of tasks, including ground assault and aerial intercept. The aircraft has seven hardpoints and can hold over 7,000 pounds of ammo in its twin-barrel 23 mm autocannon.
The PAF first flew the JF-17 Block III in 2020, inducted the variant in 2023, and fully operationalised it in 2024.
The JF-17 Block III has been equipped with cutting-edge radars and electronic warfare subsystems while retaining the airframe design of the preceding Block I and Block II.
The most noticeable changes in the design include modifications at the rear of the aircraft, such as the vertical stabiliser, a slightly enlarged spine, and the integration of sensors into the vertical stabiliser and side inlet areas. The latter may be radar warning receivers (RWR) and/or missile alert warning systems (MAWS).
The JF-17 Block III features an integrated electronic warfare (EW) suite, self-protection systems, and a helmet-mounted display and sight (HMD/S) system. The hybrid flight control system has been replaced by a three-axis fly-by-wire (FBW) system.
More importantly, the aircraft is equipped with the KLJ-7A active electronically scanned array (AESA) radar, which increases accuracy in target detection and tracking while reducing its radar signature and enhancing its stealth features.
As is clear from the image posted by the PAF in April, the JF-17 Block III can be armed with the newly acquired PL-15E long-range air-to-air missile (LRAAM) and the PL-10E, a high off-boresight air-to-air missile (HOBS AAM) that the HMD/S can cue for within-visual-range (WVR) engagements. Both missiles were used in combat against India.
The PAF placed an order for 50 JF-17 Block 3 aircraft and received the first of the latest JF-17 on December 4, 2023. The aircraft has quickly become a mainstay of the PAF, has participated in foreign war games such as in Saudi Arabia earlier this year, and has been aggressively promoted in the export market, particularly to countries.
The JF-17 aircraft has been acquired by Myanmar, Nigeria, Azerbaijan, and Iraq.
Pakistan and China have pitched the Block III aircraft to several other countries, including Bangladesh, Malaysia, Venezuela, and Sri Lanka, among others. However, no deal has yet been finalized, and the two-party consortium awaits new orders.
In fact, the JF-17 Block III lost out to the South Korean FA-50 in the Malaysian light combat aircraft tender. The aircraft received its worst drubbing in the Argentina contest when the JF-17 Block III fighter jet was rejected in favour of second-hand F-16 jets.
You can read a detailed EurAsian Times report about this here.
Nonetheless, the aircraft has now been positioned as somewhat of a combat hero by China and Pakistan, with the hope that it will boost its export potential.
