Brigadier General Hamed Wahidi, the Iranian Air Force Commander, is leading a high-ranking delegation to Pakistan to explore opportunities for enhancing defense cooperation. This visit underscores Iran’s keen interest in modernizing its aging air force, a strategic necessity for Tehran as it contends with both geopolitical pressures and technological limitations imposed by longstanding Western sanctions. During his stay, Wahidi will attend the Indus Shield 2024 air exercise and engage in a series of high-level meetings with Pakistan’s Air Chief Marshal, Zaheer Ahmad Babar, marking the beginning of what may become a profound military partnership.
At the heart of this visit is Iran’s interest in procuring the JF-17 “Thunder” fighter jets, developed jointly by Pakistan and China. The JF-17 Block III, the latest variant of the multirole fighter, is reported to be a focal point in discussions, as Iran looks to secure state-of-the-art aircraft to bolster its air capabilities. Given the modern technological edge of the JF-17 Block III, the aircraft would offer a much-needed enhancement for the Iranian Air Force, which currently relies on outdated U.S.-made jets acquired before the 1979 revolution.
Iran’s pursuit of defense collaboration with Pakistan comes as the country seeks to diversify its military partnerships. This rapprochement is particularly timely as Iran’s attempts to acquire Chinese J-10C jets have stalled over payment disagreements. By turning to Pakistan, Iran aims to bypass these logistical challenges and leverage the accessibility of the JF-17, an aircraft that Pakistan and China have successfully marketed to a range of countries.
Iranian defense experts emphasize the advantages of an indigenous assembly and procurement approach, which Iran has already adopted with Russia for Su-35 and Su-30 fighters. Adding JF-17s to this growing fleet would diversify Tehran’s air force composition, enhancing operational versatility while expanding its defensive and offensive capabilities in a region where air power is a defining metric of military superiority.
The JF-17 Thunder, a product of collaboration between Pakistan’s Aeronautical Complex (PAC) and China’s Chengdu Aircraft Industry Group (CAIG), has garnered international attention for its affordability, functionality, and advanced capabilities. The Block III variant offers state-of-the-art fifth-generation fighter technologies, putting it on par with some of the most advanced aircraft worldwide. Key technological advancements in the Block III include:
KLJ-7A Active Electronically Scanned Array (AESA) Radar: The radar, developed by China Electronics Technology Group, is reported to be comparable to the AN/APG-81 radar used in the U.S. F-35 fighter jet. This gives the JF-17 Block III an advantage in radar detection and tracking, essential for superior situational awareness in complex airspace.
Enhanced Air-to-Air Missiles: The JF-17 Block III’s arsenal includes two cutting-edge missiles, the PL-10 and PL-15. The PL-10 is a short-range missile comparable to the U.S.-made AIM-9X, while the PL-15 offers a range of 200 to 300 kilometers, significantly outperforming India’s existing air-to-air missile capabilities. This extended range could provide Iran with a strategic edge in engagements beyond visual range.
Given these capabilities, the JF-17 Block III aligns with Iran’s need for a versatile, high-performance aircraft that can respond to regional threats and fulfill both defensive and offensive roles. Military analysts view this as a calculated choice by Iran, balancing the need for advanced technology with the reality of stringent budget constraints due to economic sanctions.
Iran’s interest in acquiring the JF-17 Thunder comes after a failed attempt to procure the J-10C from China, which was primarily hindered by payment disagreements. Beijing insisted on cash payments, while Iran proposed payment in the form of oil—a proposition China declined. With its reliance on oil revenues, Iran faces a unique set of challenges in securing international defense partnerships, and the unsuccessful negotiations with China highlight the limitations Iran encounters in accessing high-end military technology.
Given that sanctions limit Iran’s payment options, the JF-17 presents an attractive alternative, one that Pakistan can potentially support through more flexible financial arrangements. The Thunder’s affordability, compared to Western or Russian alternatives, also makes it a practical choice for Tehran as it works within a restricted defense budget.
Iran’s recent agreements with Russia mark a crucial element in its broader defense strategy. These agreements include plans to locally assemble Su-35 (Flanker-E) and Su-30 fighter jets, which would significantly expand Iran’s operational fighter fleet. Analysts suggest that Iran could soon possess over 100 of these aircraft, offering new tactical options and substantially increasing the country’s air power.
The Russian-Iranian partnership is not without strategic implications. Iran has provided Russia with kamikaze drones and ballistic missiles, support that has reportedly been instrumental in Russia’s ongoing military efforts in Ukraine. This cooperation could enhance Iran’s technical expertise, paving the way for local manufacturing and further collaborations in defense technology. The planned domestic assembly of Su-35 and Su-30 jets would enable Iran to advance its military industry, potentially enabling the country to build and maintain high-tech aircraft independently.
The availability of Russian aircraft, coupled with the potential acquisition of the JF-17 Block III, would bring Iran closer to modernizing its air force to compete with regional rivals. Military analysts in the Middle East have taken note of this rapid modernization, pointing to Iran’s plans to domestically assemble between 48 and 77 Su-35 jets. Though the exact number of Su-30 fighters remains undisclosed, the projected addition of Russian and Chinese-derived fighters would increase Iran’s aerial strike capability, posing a fresh challenge to U.S.-aligned countries in the region.
For Iran, which currently relies on a fleet of aging American-made aircraft, the acquisition of JF-17s represents not just a modernization effort but a technological leap. The Block III variant of the JF-17 is said to include design elements inspired by China’s J-20 “Mighty Dragon,” which brings it into the fifth-generation fighter class. This would offer Iran the ability to counter aerial threats more effectively, particularly from rival forces equipped with modern fighter jets such as the F-15 and F-16.
The JF-17 Block III’s cutting-edge avionics and advanced weaponry could significantly elevate Iran’s defensive and offensive capabilities in the air. Equipped with the KLJ-7A AESA radar, the Block III would enable Iranian pilots to detect and track enemy aircraft at much greater distances than before, while the PL-15 missile’s extended range could allow Iranian forces to strike at targets before they can respond.
The potential acquisition of JF-17 fighter jets by Iran could shift the balance of air power in the Middle East, where countries like Saudi Arabia, the United Arab Emirates, and Israel have long held an edge in terms of modern air capabilities. Tehran’s pursuit of a more technologically advanced air force is likely to prompt further military investments by its regional adversaries, raising concerns of an arms race that could escalate tensions across an already volatile region.
Iran’s strengthened ties with both Pakistan and Russia signal a strategic pivot that may challenge U.S. interests in the Middle East. In particular, the prospect of Iran possessing a significant number of Su-35s, Su-30s, and JF-17s could compel U.S.-aligned countries to seek enhanced defense cooperation and procurement agreements to maintain their aerial superiority.
Iran’s interest in Pakistan’s defense capabilities extends beyond air power. The two countries share a 959-kilometer border and face similar security challenges, including terrorism and cross-border insurgencies. Iran and Pakistan have previously cooperated on issues related to border security, and this visit by General Wahidi may lay the groundwork for a broader defense partnership that includes joint training exercises, intelligence sharing, and counter-terrorism operations.
Iranian and Pakistani officials have expressed mutual interest in collaborating on defense technology and military training, and this latest interaction underscores the potential for a multi-faceted alliance. Analysts believe that defense cooperation between Iran and Pakistan could serve as a counterbalance to the increasing alignment between India, Israel, and the United States, reshaping alliances in South Asia and the Middle East.
