Web Desk

ISLAMABAD: Indian aircraft manufacturer Hindustan Aeronautics Ltd said on Monday that the deadly crash of its Tejas light combat aircraft at the Dubai Airshow on Nov. 21 will not disrupt production or derail the company&#39;s export ambitions. In an official statement, the aircraft manufacturer described Friday&#39;s incident as an &quot;isolated occurrence.&quot; It said production and delivery schedules would remain on track. An Indian Air Force pilot died when his Tejas fighter crashed during an exhibition flight at the international aviation showcase on Nov. 21. Witnesses reported the jet spiraled out of control during a close-to-ground flight sequence before exploding on impact. Authorities confirmed no bystanders were harmed. Military investigators have opened a formal inquiry into the cause of the mishap. HAL and General Electric, the firm that manufactures the jet&#39;s engine, said they would provide complete assistance to the probe. &quot;We remain steadfast in our commitment to both the investigation process and the program&#39;s continued advancement,&quot; the company said. &quot;The accident will not alter our manufacturing capacity or international market strategy.&quot; This represents the program&#39;s second major mishap, following a 2024 incident on Indian soil in which the aviator survived. About the Tejas program The fighter jet represents India&#39;s homegrown answer to its reliance on foreign military hardware, aimed explicitly at replacing deteriorating Soviet-designed warplanes. General Electric turbines power the single-engine jets, which HAL markets to nations requiring affordable modern combat capability. Government approval for the Light Combat Aircraft initiative came in 1983, with the Aeronautical Development Agency formed the following year to oversee development. The objective was to create a domestic alternative to the air force&#39;s obsolete MiG-21 inventory. Initial flight testing occurred on Jan. 4, 2001, when the first experimental model took to the skies. The then-Prime Minister Atal Bihari Vajpayee selected the Sanskrit designation two years later: &quot;Tejas,&quot; which translates variously as brilliance, fire, or radiance. Government communications at the time talked about the symbolic importance of the indigenous aerospace achievement, as reported by local Indian media. Operational squadrons began receiving aircraft in July 2016, marking the conclusion of a development cycle spanning more than three decades. The aircraft The crashed aircraft was identified as a Tejas Mark 1, representing HAL&#39;s baseline combat aircraft. Military procurement records show it came from an initial 40-unit order cleared for full operational deployment. Factory deliveries for this contract spanned 2016 through 2021, suggesting the aircraft had accumulated multiple years of flight operations. Current operations and market impact No foreign air forces currently fly the aircraft type. Indian military branches, both air force and naval aviation, represent the sole operators worldwide. Company executives insisted their financial stability and underlying business strength remained intact despite the setback. However, share prices declined 3% through Monday&#39;s closing bell, with the stock continuing to trade lower.

India

It described the Dubai Airshow incident as an 'isolated occurrence,' insisting the production and delivery schedules would remain on track.

Indian aircraft maker says deadly crash won't derail Tejas fighter jet program

<p style='margin: 0.75rem 0px 0px; font-family: "Atlassian Sans", ui-sans-serif, -apple-system, BlinkMacSystemFont, "Segoe UI", Ubuntu, "Helvetica Neue", sans-serif; font-size: 0.875rem; font-weight: 400; letter-spacing: -0.005em; color: rgb(41, 42, 46); font-style: normal; font-variant-ligatures: normal; font-variant-caps: normal; orphans: 2; text-align: start; text-indent: 0px; text-transform: none; widows: 2; word-spacing: 0px; -webkit-text-stroke-width: 0px; white-space: pre-wrap; background-color: rgb(255, 255, 255); text-decoration-thickness: initial; text-decoration-style: initial; text-decoration-color: initial; line-height: 2;' id="isPasted">ISLAMABAD: Officers from the Indian Air Force (IAF) on Thursday visited the Pakistan pavilion at the Dubai Airshow 2025 and posed alongside Pakistan&rsquo;s JF-17 Thunder fighter jet, sparking a wave of reactions on social media.<p style='margin: 0.75rem 0px 0px; font-family: "Atlassian Sans", ui-sans-serif, -apple-system, BlinkMacSystemFont, "Segoe UI", Ubuntu, "Helvetica Neue", sans-serif; font-size: 0.875rem; font-weight: 400; letter-spacing: -0.005em; color: rgb(41, 42, 46); font-style: normal; font-variant-ligatures: normal; font-variant-caps: normal; orphans: 2; text-align: start; text-indent: 0px; text-transform: none; widows: 2; word-spacing: 0px; -webkit-text-stroke-width: 0px; white-space: pre-wrap; background-color: rgb(255, 255, 255); text-decoration-thickness: initial; text-decoration-style: initial; text-decoration-color: initial; line-height: 2;'> <p style='margin: 0.75rem 0px 0px; font-family: "Atlassian Sans", ui-sans-serif, -apple-system, BlinkMacSystemFont, "Segoe UI", Ubuntu, "Helvetica Neue", sans-serif; font-size: 0.875rem; font-weight: 400; letter-spacing: -0.005em; color: rgb(41, 42, 46); font-style: normal; font-variant-ligatures: normal; font-variant-caps: normal; orphans: 2; text-align: start; text-indent: 0px; text-transform: none; widows: 2; word-spacing: 0px; -webkit-text-stroke-width: 0px; white-space: pre-wrap; background-color: rgb(255, 255, 255); text-decoration-thickness: initial; text-decoration-style: initial; text-decoration-color: initial; line-height: 2;'>One of the world&#39;s top aviation and defense exhibitions, the Dubai Airshow 2025 attracted delegations from over 100 countries and showcased cutting-edge aircraft and defense technology.<p style='margin: 0.75rem 0px 0px; font-family: "Atlassian Sans", ui-sans-serif, -apple-system, BlinkMacSystemFont, "Segoe UI", Ubuntu, "Helvetica Neue", sans-serif; font-size: 0.875rem; font-weight: 400; letter-spacing: -0.005em; color: rgb(41, 42, 46); font-style: normal; font-variant-ligatures: normal; font-variant-caps: normal; orphans: 2; text-align: start; text-indent: 0px; text-transform: none; widows: 2; word-spacing: 0px; -webkit-text-stroke-width: 0px; white-space: pre-wrap; background-color: rgb(255, 255, 255); text-decoration-thickness: initial; text-decoration-style: initial; text-decoration-color: initial; line-height: 2;'> <p style='margin: 0.75rem 0px 0px; font-family: "Atlassian Sans", ui-sans-serif, -apple-system, BlinkMacSystemFont, "Segoe UI", Ubuntu, "Helvetica Neue", sans-serif; font-size: 0.875rem; font-weight: 400; letter-spacing: -0.005em; color: rgb(41, 42, 46); font-style: normal; font-variant-ligatures: normal; font-variant-caps: normal; orphans: 2; text-align: start; text-indent: 0px; text-transform: none; widows: 2; word-spacing: 0px; -webkit-text-stroke-width: 0px; white-space: pre-wrap; background-color: rgb(255, 255, 255); text-decoration-thickness: initial; text-decoration-style: initial; text-decoration-color: initial; line-height: 2;'>A group of IAF officers visited the Pakistan pavilion at the show, interacted with personnel from the Pakistan Air Force (PAF), and closely looked at the JF-17 Thunder on display.<div> <div style="display: flex; max-width: 550px; width: 100%; margin-top: 10px; margin-bottom: 10px;"><iframe scrolling="no" frameborder="0" allowfullscreen="true" title="X Post" src="https://platform.twitter.com/embed/Tweet.html?dnt=false&embedId=twitter-widget-0&features=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%3D%3D&frame=false&hideCard=false&hideThread=false&id=1991450509690171721&lang=en&origin=https%3A%2F%2Fmain.d1wrm1qseko1cp.amplifyapp.com%2Farticles%2F&sessionId=9d56fa1189c02b8c7d175fa3946fd7b519e4448d&theme=light&widgetsVersion=2615f7e52b7e0%3A1702314776716&width=550px" style="position: static; visibility: visible; width: 550px; height: 651px; display: block; flex-grow: 1;">&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;</iframe></div> </div><p style='margin: 0.75rem 0px 0px; font-family: "Atlassian Sans", ui-sans-serif, -apple-system, BlinkMacSystemFont, "Segoe UI", Ubuntu, "Helvetica Neue", sans-serif; font-size: 0.875rem; font-weight: 400; letter-spacing: -0.005em; color: rgb(41, 42, 46); font-style: normal; font-variant-ligatures: normal; font-variant-caps: normal; orphans: 2; text-align: start; text-indent: 0px; text-transform: none; widows: 2; word-spacing: 0px; -webkit-text-stroke-width: 0px; white-space: pre-wrap; background-color: rgb(255, 255, 255); text-decoration-thickness: initial; text-decoration-style: initial; text-decoration-color: initial; line-height: 2;'>Photos and videos of the interaction quickly went viral on platforms like X and Instagram.<p style='margin: 0.75rem 0px 0px; font-family: "Atlassian Sans", ui-sans-serif, -apple-system, BlinkMacSystemFont, "Segoe UI", Ubuntu, "Helvetica Neue", sans-serif; font-size: 0.875rem; font-weight: 400; letter-spacing: -0.005em; color: rgb(41, 42, 46); font-style: normal; font-variant-ligatures: normal; font-variant-caps: normal; orphans: 2; text-align: start; text-indent: 0px; text-transform: none; widows: 2; word-spacing: 0px; -webkit-text-stroke-width: 0px; white-space: pre-wrap; background-color: rgb(255, 255, 255); text-decoration-thickness: initial; text-decoration-style: initial; text-decoration-color: initial; line-height: 2;' id="isPasted">During the visit, Pakistani Air Force personnel offered tea to the Indian officers, a gesture that was captured in photos and videos shared online.&nbsp; <p style='margin: 0.75rem 0px 0px; font-family: "Atlassian Sans", ui-sans-serif, -apple-system, BlinkMacSystemFont, "Segoe UI", Ubuntu, "Helvetica Neue", sans-serif; font-size: 0.875rem; font-weight: 400; letter-spacing: -0.005em; color: rgb(41, 42, 46); font-style: normal; font-variant-ligatures: normal; font-variant-caps: normal; orphans: 2; text-align: start; text-indent: 0px; text-transform: none; widows: 2; word-spacing: 0px; -webkit-text-stroke-width: 0px; white-space: pre-wrap; background-color: rgb(255, 255, 255); text-decoration-thickness: initial; text-decoration-style: initial; text-decoration-color: initial; line-height: 2;'> <div><div style="display: flex; max-width: 550px; width: 100%; margin-top: 10px; margin-bottom: 10px;"><iframe scrolling="no" frameborder="0" allowfullscreen="true" title="X Post" src="https://platform.twitter.com/embed/Tweet.html?dnt=false&embedId=twitter-widget-1&features=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%3D%3D&frame=false&hideCard=false&hideThread=false&id=1991566186598060147&lang=en&origin=https%3A%2F%2Fmain.d1wrm1qseko1cp.amplifyapp.com%2Farticles%2F&sessionId=9d56fa1189c02b8c7d175fa3946fd7b519e4448d&theme=light&widgetsVersion=2615f7e52b7e0%3A1702314776716&width=550px" style="position: static; visibility: visible; width: 550px; height: 624px; display: block; flex-grow: 1;">&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;</iframe></div> </div><p style='margin: 0.75rem 0px 0px; font-family: "Atlassian Sans", ui-sans-serif, -apple-system, BlinkMacSystemFont, "Segoe UI", Ubuntu, "Helvetica Neue", sans-serif; font-size: 0.875rem; font-weight: 400; letter-spacing: -0.005em; color: rgb(41, 42, 46); font-style: normal; font-variant-ligatures: normal; font-variant-caps: normal; orphans: 2; text-align: start; text-indent: 0px; text-transform: none; widows: 2; word-spacing: 0px; -webkit-text-stroke-width: 0px; white-space: pre-wrap; background-color: rgb(255, 255, 255); text-decoration-thickness: initial; text-decoration-style: initial; text-decoration-color: initial; line-height: 2;'>Users in both nations responded to the images with amusement, surprise, and cautious appreciation. The professionalism was praised by some, noting that international defense exhibits are one of the few settings where military personnel from opposing countries interact directly and amicably. Others questioned why, while sporting and cultural exchanges between the two nations are frequently limited, such cordiality is possible in defense circles.<p style='margin: 0.75rem 0px 0px; font-family: "Atlassian Sans", ui-sans-serif, -apple-system, BlinkMacSystemFont, "Segoe UI", Ubuntu, "Helvetica Neue", sans-serif; font-size: 0.875rem; font-weight: 400; letter-spacing: -0.005em; color: rgb(41, 42, 46); font-style: normal; font-variant-ligatures: normal; font-variant-caps: normal; orphans: 2; text-align: start; text-indent: 0px; text-transform: none; widows: 2; word-spacing: 0px; -webkit-text-stroke-width: 0px; white-space: pre-wrap; background-color: rgb(255, 255, 255); text-decoration-thickness: initial; text-decoration-style: initial; text-decoration-color: initial; line-height: 2;'> <div><div style="display: flex; max-width: 550px; width: 100%; margin-top: 10px; margin-bottom: 10px;"><iframe scrolling="no" frameborder="0" allowfullscreen="true" title="X Post" src="https://platform.twitter.com/embed/Tweet.html?dnt=false&embedId=twitter-widget-2&features=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%3D%3D&frame=false&hideCard=false&hideThread=false&id=1991460285308440774&lang=en&origin=https%3A%2F%2Fmain.d1wrm1qseko1cp.amplifyapp.com%2Farticles%2F&sessionId=9d56fa1189c02b8c7d175fa3946fd7b519e4448d&theme=light&widgetsVersion=2615f7e52b7e0%3A1702314776716&width=550px" style="position: static; visibility: visible; width: 546px; height: 749px; display: block; flex-grow: 1;">&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;</iframe></div><div class="fr-embed"><div class="twitter-tweet twitter-tweet-rendered" style="display: flex; max-width: 550px; width: 100%; margin-top: 10px; margin-bottom: 10px;"><iframe id="twitter-widget-0" scrolling="no" frameborder="0" allowfullscreen="true" title="X Post" src="https://platform.twitter.com/embed/Tweet.html?dnt=false&embedId=twitter-widget-0&features=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%3D%3D&frame=false&hideCard=false&hideThread=false&id=1991428591641587771&lang=en&origin=https%3A%2F%2Fmain.d1wrm1qseko1cp.amplifyapp.com%2Farticles%2F&sessionId=d3a1c662e2ba718a7a93797d628978d6b3f8a4e4&theme=light&widgetsVersion=2615f7e52b7e0%3A1702314776716&width=550px" style="position: static; visibility: visible; width: 550px; height: 868px; display: block; flex-grow: 1;">&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;</iframe></div> While symbolic, the exchange remained strictly professional, reflecting the neutral, technical nature of global defense exhibitions.</div><div style="display: flex; max-width: 550px; width: 100%; margin-top: 10px; margin-bottom: 10px;">&nbsp;</div></div>

Security

Indian Air Force officers visited the Pakistan pavilion at the Dubai Airshow 2025, posing with the JF-17 fighter jet. Their interaction went viral online, prompting mixed reactions about rare moments of cordiality between the two forces. 

IAF officers visit Pakistan pavilion at Dubai Airshow, sparks online debate

Web Desk/AFP

ISLAMABAD:&nbsp;An Indian fighter jet crashed during a flying display at the Dubai Airshow on Friday, killing the pilot, a government statement said.&nbsp; &nbsp;&nbsp;The warplane executed a low roll before crashing in flames about 1.6 kilometres from the show site, an eyewitness told AFP. <div class="fr-embed instagram-embed" style="width: 50%; display: block; max-width: 600px;"><iframe class="instagram-media instagram-media-rendered" id="instagram-embed-0" src="https://www.instagram.com/reel/DRUU0q0DeK5/embed/captioned/?cr=1&v=14&wp=540&rd=https%3A%2F%2Fmain.d1wrm1qseko1cp.amplifyapp.com&rp=%2Farticles%2F2325#%7B%22ci%22%3A0%2C%22os%22%3A836545%2C%22ls%22%3A541%2C%22le%22%3A1479%7D" allowfullscreen="true" frameborder="0" height="1107" scrolling="no" style="background: white; max-width: 540px; width: calc(100% - 2px); border-radius: 3px; border: 1px solid rgb(219, 219, 219); box-shadow: none; display: block; margin: 0px 0px 12px; min-width: 326px; padding: 0px;">&nbsp;&nbsp;</iframe></div>&nbsp; &nbsp;&nbsp;&quot;A Tejas fighter aircraft from India participating in today&#39;s flying display at the Dubai Airshow has crashed, resulting in the tragic death of the pilot,&quot; Dubai&#39;s state-run media office posted on X.&nbsp; &nbsp;&nbsp;Videos circulating on social media showed the aircraft going down at speed and bursting into a ball of flames on impact as onlookers watched in shock.&nbsp;A plume of smoke billowed from the crash site as emergency vehicles sped towards it.&nbsp; &nbsp;&nbsp;The incident happened on the last day of the Middle East&#39;s biggest airshow, which features a flying display each afternoon.&nbsp; &nbsp;&nbsp;Hundreds of people were watching from a grandstand, while the apron was packed with planes, helicopters and other hardware on static display. The Indian Air Force announced an inquiry into the accident.&nbsp;&quot;IAF deeply regrets the loss of life and stands firmly with the bereaved family in this time of grief,&quot; a statement said.<div class="fr-embed"><div> </div></div>It is believed to be the first crash in the history of the airshow, which dates back to 1986. Chronic issues with Tejas program The HAL Tejas light combat aircraft program has been beset by a series of chronic issues since its inception. It has faced prolonged delays, safety concerns, and quality issues. Its development alone took over three decades, with delays caused by supply chain disruptions, reliance &nbsp;on foreign engines like GE F404, and technical problems highlighted by accidents and safety incidents.&nbsp;The Indian government and auditors have criticized HAL for poor manufacturing quality, incomplete features and failure to meet deadline. It also faces organizational inefficiencies, slow decision-making, and dependency on foreign suppliers, which has hampered production and delivery. Oil leak controversy precedes crash Earlier in the week, a video circulated online showing ground crew placing a shopping bag beneath a Tejas aircraft to collect dripping fluid. Critics seized on the footage to question the fighter jet&#39;s reliability. it also triggered widespread mocking about Tejas&#39;s reliability across social media. Indian air force officials maintained that the aircraft continued its scheduled flight displays without technical malfunctions related to the alleged leak. Meanwhile, the Indian Ministry of Defence and the Press Information Bureau subsequently issued official statements claiming the oil leak was a&nbsp;&quot;false propaganda.&quot; Officials identified the fluid as water condensation, which they described as normal in humid conditions. Indian airforce officers spotted at Pakistani pavilion&nbsp; In a separate incident that generated widespread social media discussion, photos and videos showed Indian air force and navy officers visiting the Pakistan air force pavilion at the airshow. The images captured uniformed Indian personnel examining Pakistan&#39;s JF-17 Thunder Block III fighter jet on static display, taking photographs and engaging with Pakistani air force personnel about the aircraft&#39;s technical specifications and capabilities. Pakistani personnel reportedly offered the Indian delegation tea, a gesture observers noted carried symbolic weight following the&nbsp;2019 Balakot&nbsp;incident. After Indian air force pilot Abhinandan Varthaman was captured by Pakistan following the Balakot airstrikes that year, Pakistani officials famously offered him tea, footage of which became widely circulated. Several local news outlets in India and Pakistan reported the Indian officers at the Dubai airshow politely declined the tea, opting for water instead.

The aircraft is believed to be the Indian Tejas, India’s domestic light aircraft project  that has faced delays and technical setbacks since the 1980s.    

Indian fighter jet crashes at Dubai Airshow, killing pilot

ISLAMABAD: Pakistan&rsquo;s JF-17 Thunder Block-III was a major highlight at the Dubai Airshow 2025, drawing significant interest, as a memorandum of understanding (MoU) was signed with a &ldquo;friendly country&rdquo; for the aircraft&rsquo;s procurement, the Inter-Services Public Relations (ISPR) confirmed on Thursday. According to the military&#39;s media wing, the Pakistan Air Force&#39;s JF-17 was &ldquo;a major focal point,&rdquo; noting that several countries expressed interest in acquiring the fighter jet during the event. The jet is currently in service with the air forces of Pakistan, Nigeria, Myanmar, and Azerbaijan, which recently inducted the Block-III variant. Azerbaijan officially confirmed the induction of five jets into its air force during the November 8, 2025, Victory Day parade in Baku, with the Office of the President confirming that the aircraft have entered active service with the Azerbaijan Air Force and Air Defence Force. <div class="fr-embed"><div class="twitter-tweet twitter-tweet-rendered" style="display: flex; max-width: 550px; width: 100%; margin-top: 10px; margin-bottom: 10px;"><iframe id="twitter-widget-0" scrolling="no" frameborder="0" allowfullscreen="true" title="X Post" src="https://platform.twitter.com/embed/Tweet.html?dnt=false&embedId=twitter-widget-0&features=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%3D%3D&frame=false&hideCard=false&hideThread=false&id=1987130301147914545&lang=en&origin=https%3A%2F%2Fmain.d1wrm1qseko1cp.amplifyapp.com%2Farticles%2F&sessionId=15030c051fa754a507fe6f4d2911f4fb19c50a51&theme=light&widgetsVersion=2615f7e52b7e0%3A1702314776716&width=550px" style="position: static; visibility: visible; width: 550px; height: 626px; display: block; flex-grow: 1;">&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;</iframe></div>The identity of the country that signed the MoU has not yet been publicly disclosed, and no details on the number of aircraft or the financial terms have been released. The ISPR said the MoU represents &ldquo;another important milestone in Pakistan&rsquo;s expanding defence and industrial partnerships.&rdquo;</div> The PAF contingent at the airshow showcased the latest JF-17 Block-III variant, which ISPR described as a reflection of Pakistan&rsquo;s growing indigenous aerospace capability. The Super Mushshak trainer aircraft also featured in the display. On the sidelines of the airshow, Chief of the Air Staff Air Chief Marshal Zaheer Ahmed Baber Sidhu met senior UAE defence officials, including Lt Gen Pilot Ibrahim Nasser Al-Alawi, Undersecretary of Defence, and Maj Gen Rashid Mohammed Al-Shamsi, Commander of the UAE Air Force and Air Defence. The ISPR said the discussions focused on advanced training cooperation, emerging aerospace technologies, and enhancing operational coordination between the two air forces. <div class="fr-embed"><div class="twitter-tweet twitter-tweet-rendered" style="display: flex; max-width: 550px; width: 100%; margin-top: 10px; margin-bottom: 10px;"><iframe id="twitter-widget-2" scrolling="no" frameborder="0" allowfullscreen="true" title="X Post" src="https://platform.twitter.com/embed/Tweet.html?dnt=false&embedId=twitter-widget-2&features=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%3D%3D&frame=false&hideCard=false&hideThread=false&id=1991521200200380716&lang=en&origin=https%3A%2F%2Fmain.d1wrm1qseko1cp.amplifyapp.com%2Farticles%2F&sessionId=15030c051fa754a507fe6f4d2911f4fb19c50a51&theme=light&widgetsVersion=2615f7e52b7e0%3A1702314776716&width=550px" style="position: static; visibility: visible; width: 550px; height: 626px; display: block; flex-grow: 1;">&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;</iframe></div>&ldquo;The UAE military leadership lauded PAF&rsquo;s modernization initiatives and growing indigenous capabilities, with a shared resolve to further strengthen military engagement through joint exercises, professional exchanges, and forward-looking partnerships,&rdquo; the ISPR said.</div> JF-17 in combatThe highly capable 4.5-generation fighter, jointly developed by Pakistan and China, has become a key addition to the Pakistan Air Force&rsquo;s modern combat fleet, valued for its multi-role capabilities, including air-to-air combat, precision strikes, Suppression of Enemy Air Defences (SEAD), and reconnaissance. During the May 2025 conflict between Pakistan and India, the aircraft was frequently utilized for air defence patrols and precision strike missions along the Line of Control, proving its agility and versatility in modern aerial combat. In 2019, JF-17s were used in the Balakot strikes, providing precision targeting and tactical support. These deployments have strengthened the aircraft&#39;s image as a dependable, combat-proven platform, making it more appealing to potential foreign buyers.

Dubai airshow features the JF-17 Thunder Block-III: Courtesy ISPR

Pakistan’s JF-17 Thunder Block-III drew international attention at the Dubai Airshow 2025. ISPR confirmed a MoU with a friendly country for its procurement, highlighting the jet’s combat-proven capabilities and export potential.

Pakistan’s JF-17 takes the spotlight at Dubai Airshow, MoU signed with friendly country

Pakistan TV Satellite

ISLAMABAD: A dramatic moment at the Dubai Airshow 2025 pushes India&rsquo;s LCA Tejas and Pakistan&rsquo;s JF-17 Thunder fighter jets into comparison, after the Indian combat aircraft suffered an oil leak that went viral on social media.&nbsp;The incident left Tejas drawing noticeably lighter footfall at its display area. In stark contrast, Pakistan&rsquo;s JF-17 Thunder continued to attract a steady stream of aviation enthusiasts, defence professionals, and families, reinforcing Pakistan&rsquo;s rising profile in the regional aerospace arena. Appearing on Pakistan Television&rsquo;s programme Newsroom, Air Marshal (retd) Arshad Malik, former vice chief of air staff, who played a key role in the development of JF-17, said both Tejas and the JF-17 were products of broader modernisation and self-reliance efforts by India and Pakistan respectively. &ldquo;India calls it Made in India, whereas Pakistan simply stated that it is going to be an indigenous product. Of course, we joined hands with our time-tested friend China,&rdquo; Air Marshal (retd) Malik said. The retired air marshal explained that when evaluating aircraft, experts focus on design, operational maturity, adaptability, flexibility, and overall feasibility. He said international airshows like Dubai, Farnborough, and Paris attract &ldquo;all aviation enthusiasts&rdquo; who closely examine the technical and aesthetic strengths of the aircraft on display. Referring to the Dubai incident, Air Marshal (retd) Malik said while technical issues such as leaks can occur in any aircraft, the manner in which the situation was handled raised concerns.&nbsp; &ldquo;When an aircraft projected as a modern, lightweight, indigenized platform starts to have leaks&mdash;well, leaks could be there, that&rsquo;s not a problem. But how you handle it, that&rsquo;s a pity,&rdquo; he remarked. Taking a swipe at the response to the oil leak, the former vice chief of air staff said: &ldquo;Putting up shoppers to control the leakage reflects the mindset, training, and skills of the Indian Air Force. It&rsquo;s worrisome not only for India but also for aviation enthusiasts observing these platforms.&rdquo; Calling the episode &ldquo;unprecedented&rdquo; and reflective of &ldquo;poor professionalism&rdquo;, he suggested that the Indian Air Force has struggled to project Tejas as a credible platform. In contrast, Air Marshal (retd) Malik highlighted Pakistan&rsquo;s success with the JF-17 program, particularly the Block III variant.&nbsp; &ldquo;Pakistan Air Force has demonstrated through the JF-17 program that it is a viable, adaptable, flexible, and versatile aircraft,&rdquo; he said.&nbsp; He emphasised that JF-17&rsquo;s integration flexibility, including modern radar systems and advanced onboard missiles, was achieved indigenously.&nbsp;&ldquo;We have combat-proven it in 2019 and again in 2025,&rdquo; he added. The retired air marshal said India would find it &ldquo;very difficult&rdquo; to prove Tejas is compatible with the JF-17, especially in light of international acceptance.&nbsp; &ldquo;Argentina has inducted JF-17. Myanmar has inducted it. And very soon, we are going to sign deals with Iraq and Azerbaijan,&rdquo; he said, describing these developments as signals of confidence from professional air forces. Discussing the production framework of the JF-17, he noted that 58% of the parts are manufactured in Pakistan and 42% in China, with 100% of the assembly carried out in Pakistan.

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