Indian LCA Tejas, Chinese J-10C, and Pakistani JF-17: High-stakes
showdown anticipated at Dubai Air Show
The Dubai Airshow 2023 is gearing up for a substantial
face-off as India's Tejas fighter jets prepare to vie for attention alongside
China's J-10C and Pakistan's JF-17 Thunder Block-3 fighter aircraft. Taking
place from November 13 to 17 at the Dubai World Central, this globally esteemed
aviation event serves as a platform for a diverse range of commercial,
business, and military aircraft.
India, China, and Pakistan are among the nations set to
showcase their indigenous aircraft, emphasizing their capabilities on the
global stage. While the Tejas is domestically produced in India and the J-10C
in China, Pakistan's JF-17 is a collaborative effort between the Pakistan
Aeronautical Complex and China’s Chengdu Aerospace Corporation.
JF-17
fighter jet gaining traction in the developing world
Despite their collaborative origins, these neighboring
nations aim to highlight their locally manufactured aircraft, asserting their
positions in the international aviation arena.
The Indian Air Force officially confirmed the arrival of the
indigenous LCA Tejas aircraft at the Al Maktoum International Airport in Dubai
on November 8. The Tejas will participate in static displays and aerial
performances throughout the airshow.
While the Pakistani Air Force has not officially confirmed
the participation of the JF-17 Thunder Block-3, the Dubai Air Show's website
lists the Pakistani fighter aircraft among the showcased planes. This inclusion
allows spectators to directly compare it with the Indian Tejas.
Regarding the Chinese J-10C fighter jet, seven multi-role
jet fighters from the Chinese Air Force’s August 1st Aerobatics Team are set to
participate in the Dubai Air Show. This marks the first appearance of the
PLAAF’s Aerobatics Team at the show since 2017 and the J-10C’s first public
display in the Middle East after a significant upgrade in 2018.
Iraq
reportedly set to acquire Chinese-Pakistani JF-17 Thunder Fighters
The Tejas and JF-17 are often viewed as rivals, frequently
competing against each other in various international bids. The JF-17, a
Sino-Pakistani aircraft, has a history of withdrawing from international air
shows where it was set to be showcased alongside India’s Tejas fighter jet.
Rahul Manohar Yelwe, a Senior Research Fellow at the Center
for Security Studies, highlights that the primary objective of a country's
indigenous fighter jet participating in international exhibitions is to
showcase its capabilities. He notes that while the Tejas incorporates
high-grade components from Israel, the West, and India, the JF-17 primarily
relies on Chinese components.
Yelwe acknowledges the success of the JF-17 in the export
market, attributing it to economies of scale and the absence of political
conditions attached to its purchase. He suggests that the Dubai Air Show
provides an ideal platform for India and Pakistan to showcase their respective
aircraft to potential buyers.
China's J-10C, a medium-weight fighter aircraft, is
perceived as a strategic effort to explore opportunities in the Middle East
market. Equipped with advanced features, it aims to attract foreign buyers,
especially in the aftermath of the United States imposing severe sanctions on
Russia.
Yelwe suggests that middle-income and low-income countries
may find advanced Chinese fighter jets appealing due to the absence of
political conditions attached to their purchase and the streamlined procurement
process provided by China's self-suffi
Source: https://www.eurasiantimes.com/