Amid recent tensions between Pakistan and India, the Pakistan Air Force’s new, modern and multi-role fighter JF-17 Thunder shot down India’s Russian-made MiG-21 bison, making headlines around the world. There was a debate all over the world as to how India, the world’s fourth largest power in terms of number of aircraft, was killed by an air force with smaller and less aircraft like Pakistan. This whole debate has exposed the flaws in the Indian Air Force to the world. With latest technology information in mind, the question arises here, which of the JF-17 and Indian Tejas fighter jets is more dangerous? Chief of the Indian Air Force Air Marshal RKS Bhadoria in a statement said that India’s home-made Tejas fighter jet would be instrumental in carrying out surgical strikes like Balakot on terrorist hideouts with utmost skills. He says that Pakistan’s JF-17 fighter jets, manufactured with Chinese technology, can not stand in front of India’s light Tejas fighter jets in terms of quality, capability and precision. There is no competition between JF-17 of Pakistan and Tejas of India. Bhadoria says the four- and half-generation light Tejas fighter jets, the Light Combat Aircraft, are built with state-of-the-art technology and the weapons used in the aircraft are also locally manufactured. But, what experts say? Experts say Pakistan’s JF fighter jets are as light as the F-16 Falcon and have the ability to hit the ground and air in all weathers. They say the arrival of new JF-17 Block III would increase Pakistan’s military strength. These aircraft are capable of meeting all types of combat operations while meeting training requirements. JF-17 Block One and Block Two are being manufactured by Pakistan Aeronautical Complex. But while the JF-17 is a Block Three ‘Fourth Generation Fighter Jet’, the Tejas is a new ‘Four and a Half Generation’ light fighter. However, the number of fighter jets in the Indian Air Force is much higher than that of the Pakistan Air Force. In India their number is said to be more than 2000 while in Pakistan their number is said to be around 900.
