https://arab.news/whhex
- Military says the deployment and midair refueling demonstrate operational capability beyond borders
- UK’s Royal International Air Tattoo is one of the world’s most prestigious military aviation exhibitions
ISLAMABAD: Pakistan has deployed its latest JF-17 Thunder Block-III fighter jets to the United Kingdom for the Royal International Air Tattoo (RIAT), said an official statement on Thursday, marking a high-profile demonstration of airpower weeks after a brief but tense military standoff with neighboring India.
The aircraft landed at Royal Air Force Base Fairford in southern England ahead of RIAT 2025, one of the world’s largest and most prestigious military aviation exhibitions. Held annually, the three-day event attracts air forces from around the world, offering a platform for aerial demonstrations, aircraft displays and military diplomacy.
This year’s show includes participation from over 60 nations and is themed “Eyes in the Skies,” highlighting advances in airborne surveillance and global security.
“Contingent of the Pakistan Air Force comprising state-of-the-art JF-17 Thunder Block-III fighter aircraft and the C-130 Hercules transport aircraft, has landed at the Royal Air Force Base Fairford, United Kingdom, to participate in the prestigious Royal International Air Tattoo – 2025,” the military’s media wing, Inter-Services Public Relations (ISPR), said in a statement.
“Pakistan Air Force’s JF-17 Thunder Block-III fighters executed successful Air-to-Air Refueling operations en route to United Kingdom with the support of a PAF IL-78 aerial refueling tanker,” it continued. “The intricate refueling operation demonstrated PAF’s long-range operational capabilities and the proficiency of its air and ground crew in conducting extended operations beyond national borders.”
The JF-17 Block-III is a 4.5-generation, multi-role fighter equipped with an AESA radar and long-range beyond-visual-range (BVR) missile capability. Co-developed by Pakistan and China, the aircraft has become the centerpiece of Pakistan’s indigenous airpower strategy.
The deployment is part of PAF’s broader effort to highlight its modernization and operational readiness.
The statement also noted heightened interest in the JF-17’s arrival, particularly among defense observers and aviation enthusiasts following the recent India-Pakistan conflict, during which the PAF downed several Indian fighter jets.