The JF-17 Thunder was among the many highlights of this yr’s Royal Worldwide Air Tattoo (RIAT) at RAF Fairford.
The Pakistan Air Drive (PAF) took half on this yr’s Royal Worldwide Air Tattoo (RIAT) with the JF-17 Thunder Block III multirole fighter. The looks marked the primary time the Block III variant, also called JF-17C, was offered to the general public in the UK, and its participation was acknowledged with the “Spirit of the Meet” trophy, awarded yearly to the plane or crew that greatest represents the ethos and power of RIAT.
The JF-17 Block III is the most recent and most succesful evolution of the plane collectively developed by Pakistan and China. Key upgrades embrace an Lively Electronically Scanned Array (AESA) radar, reportedly the KLJ-7A, a wide-angle holographic Head-Up Show, a helmet-mounted show and sight system, an upgraded digital warfare suite, and a brand new glass cockpit. The kind can also be appropriate with a variety of beyond-visual-range air-to-air missiles, together with the PL-15, and quite a lot of air-to-surface munitions. With these enhancements, the Block III variant brings the JF-17 nearer to 4.5-generation efficiency requirements.
Potential public debut of the PL-15, effectively PL-15E in full measurement kind anyway on the Pakistan Air Drive JF-17 #Thunder right here at @airtattoo #RIAT2025 pic.twitter.com/IcCsKzxsRI
— Tony Osborne (@Rotorfocus) July 18, 2025
“Successful these prestigious awards is a testomony to our professionalism, technical experience and relentless pursuit of excellence,” mentioned Air Chief Marshal Zaheer Ahmed Baber Sidhu, who congratulated the PAF contingent on its efficiency, in accordance with the army’s media wing, Inter-Companies Public Relations (ISPR).
“Retaining the nation’s flag excessive has all the time been the hallmark of Pakistan Air Drive,” he added.
The 2 JF-17s, together with one sporting a particular colour scheme, flew from Turkey to the UK with assist on one other fairly uncommon plane, the PAF Il-78MP Midas, in what was their longest-ever journey with air-to-air refueling.
The Pakistan Air Drive JF-17C Thunder🇵🇰 with its Il-78 tanker about 20 miles out heading for #RIAT25 right this moment.@thenewarea51 @Andyyyyrrrr @ForumStrategic pic.twitter.com/CnFCzx6ggm
— Saint1 (@Saint1Mil) July 16, 2025
This yr’s award marks a uncommon recognition for the JF-17, which has beforehand appeared at RIAT in its Block I and II configurations. The kind made a go to to the UK for Farnborough Worldwide Airshow in 2010, although that is the primary occasion of the Block III being exhibited outdoors Pakistan and China.
Everybody’s fingers shall be crossed that the a lot anticipated go to by Two #PakistanAirForce JF-17C Block III’s and their assist to RAF Fairford and RIAT 2025 goes to plan.
The final event that Pakistan Air Drive JF-17’s visited the UK was in July 2010 on the Farnborough… pic.twitter.com/0AcyEGbFyt
— PAF Falcons (@PAFFalconsPK) July 15, 2025
The primary prototype of the JF-17 Block III, made its maiden flight in January 2020, with preliminary deliveries to the Pakistan Air Drive starting in 2023. Official figures on what number of Block III plane are at present operational stay unclear, largely due to the continued upgrades of earlier Block I and II airframes to the most recent configuration.
Since its induction, the JF-17 has been employed in varied operational situations, together with home counter-terrorism operations and air protection missions. The plane has additionally featured in regional tensions, most notably throughout recurring standoffs with India.
In mild of the present tensions between Pakistan and India, the PAF has determined to launch photographs of the JF-17C with PL-10 and PL-15 for the primary time.
by way of @OSPSF pic.twitter.com/DM93MnPPYk
— @Rupprecht_A (@RupprechtDeino) April 26, 2025
In line with official Pakistani sources, JF-17s and J-10C fighters geared up with PL-15E long-range air-to-air missiles have been utilized in joint operations that reportedly resulted within the downing of a number of Indian Air Drive property, together with Rafale, Su-30MKI, and MiG-29 plane. Nonetheless, as we reported intimately at The Aviationist, in the course of the Might 2025 conflict between India and Pakistan, the knowledge setting was marked by conflicting claims and widespread disinformation.
Whereas social media circulated supposed imagery of downed plane and missile remnants, our evaluation of the obtainable open-source intelligence raised questions in regards to the reliability of these narratives and the attribution of losses.
Recovered elements of PL-15 inside Indian-controlled territory recommend that a number of long-range missiles have been employed, however might also point out a comparatively low chance of kill at prolonged ranges. Regardless of the intensive missile use, impartial analysts have cautioned that definitive conclusions about system efficiency stay untimely.
Wreckage of a Pakistan-launched PL-15 missile was found in Hoshiarpur, India. pic.twitter.com/egramTPeC5
— 笑脸男人 (@lfx160219) Might 8, 2025
Anyway, the Might 2025 confrontation captured worldwide consideration as a result of deployment of a variety of capabilities by each side. Pakistan is believed to have used a networked power bundle comprising JF-17s, J-10Cs, digital warfare property, and airborne early warning platforms. In distinction, India launched Operation Sindoor, a cross-border army marketing campaign that, in accordance with New Delhi, succeeded in concentrating on terrorist infrastructure in areas beneath Pakistani management.
Nonetheless, the result of the battle stays contested. Whereas Islamabad has claimed the engagements demonstrated Pakistan’s airpower benefit over India, Indian protection officers keep that their targets have been achieved and emphasize the effectiveness of their built-in air and floor response.
Particular coloured C-130H
Along with the JF-17s and the Il-78MP, the Pakistan Air Drive additionally introduced a C-130H Hercules, which was offered in a particular livery designed for RIAT’s 2025 theme, “Eyes within the Skies.” The art work featured stylized radar imagery and a motif symbolizing airborne surveillance and reconnaissance. The plane was awarded the “Concours d’Magnificence” trophy, offered to the best-presented and maintained plane on the present.
PAF’s No. 6 Squadron C-130 to representing Pakistan at RIAT 2025. pic.twitter.com/zRvZPbB8BI
— Amin Zuberi 🇵🇰 🇱🇾 (@Amin_Zuberi) July 16, 2025
