Iranian Air Force (IRIAF/IRGC-ASF) | News and Discussions

[OldTwilight]

Absolutely no doubt. The Iranians are 100% right to go with hypersonic missiles. They have proven to be one of the most effective modern weapons in the world. That is a big deal.

I dismissed the need for a modern air force for offensive reasons, but their defensive potential is glaring. China, Russia, Iran, etc need jet fighters for defense, to combine with strong air defense.

What would be wrong with MIG-35?

Hello ...

Mig company and Mig29 Mig 35 are gone and Mig 29 has no successful air to air combat record

 

[OldTwilight]

It depends on the role and requirements.

JF-17 Block 3 (Light weight) is optimized for affordability, ease of maintenance, and modern avionics. It’s ideal for nations seeking a capable multirole platform with low lifecycle costs and high sortie rates.

MiG-35 (Medium weight) offers superior kinematics, payload, and survivability in high-threat environments, but at a significantly higher operational and logistical cost.

For Pakistan, the JF-17 Block 3 represents a cost-effective backbone with indigenous production and upgrade potential. The MiG-35, while technically superior in some areas, may not offer proportional value unless air superiority and heavy strike roles are prioritized.

JF17 B3 has proven AESA radar while Russians fighters don't have any ...

 

[Ali_Baba]

It depends on the role and requirements.

JF-17 Block 3 (Light weight) is optimized for affordability, ease of maintenance, and modern avionics. It’s ideal for nations seeking a capable multirole platform with low lifecycle costs and high sortie rates.

MiG-35 (Medium weight) offers superior kinematics, payload, and survivability in high-threat environments, but at a significantly higher operational and logistical cost.

For Pakistan, the JF-17 Block 3 represents a cost-effective backbone with indigenous production and upgrade potential. The MiG-35, while technically superior in some areas, may not offer proportional value unless air superiority and heavy strike roles are prioritized.

I don't understand how people still think that Russian avionics and EW are "still" superior to their Chinese counterparts given how poorly Russian systems perform.

 

[Bengal71]

I don't understand how people still think that Russian avionics and EW are "still" superior to their Chinese counterparts given how poorly Russian systems perform.

Whole RAF was absent from the war in Ukraine. They launched some SOW from distance and ran away. Didn't operate in defended airspace. Russia itself has no confidence in it's AF.

 

[lightning f57]

I would request J10CEs maybe 50 of them and see if China will open the path for J35s.

Iran would need also to buy Chinese AWACs, air refuelers armament.

If J10s are not forthcoming JF17 Block3 50 or 60 for CAP and air denial will help but they need come with a package, awacs, refuelers, HQ9 SAMs.

 

[Pakistanithinktank]

I don't understand how people still think that Russian avionics and EW are "still" superior to their Chinese counterparts given how poorly Russian systems perform.

An aircraft’s value in a force structure goes beyond raw specifications, its operational role, weight category, and integration flexibility are what truly shape its utility. The JF-17 Block 3, equipped with the KLJ-7A AESA radar, helmet-mounted display, and potential IRST capabilities, is engineered for rapid deployment, affordability, and seamless networked warfare. As a lightweight platform, it consistently delivers strong performance for its class, particularly in maintenance efficiency and cost-effectiveness. While the MiG-35 when upgraded for deep strike missions may offer enhanced capabilities, it doesn’t necessarily guarantee superior performance over the JF-17 across all mission parameters.

 

[the saint]

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[the saint]

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[Nuffle]

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Pakistani media: Iranian Defense Ministry officials are currently in China to inspect 4.5-generation J-10C fighters

This is the right approach. Iran's aviation is frankly outdated and the past war has once again demonstrated this obvious fact. At the same time, the short-lived war between India and Pakistan demonstrated the high combat performance of Chinese aircraft in service with the Pakistan Air Force, as well as the excellent quality of air-to-air missiles.

So the purchase of new aircraft is quite obvious. Iran needs 4th generation fighters and higher, and in the future, 5th generation aircraft. Considering that only Russia and China can sell such aircraft to Iran, the choice is not particularly rich. And given that Russia cannot sell a large number of aircraft due to the busyness of the SVO, China will be the first choice, although after the end of the SVO, Russia could well sell Iran at least the Su-35. And in the future - Su-57 and Su-75. All this will of course not be cheap.

And we still need to buy modern S-400-level air defense systems. Modern radars, etc. In general, the Iranians will have a lot to do in the next few years.

 

[Blueishere]

I pray that Pakistan and China will allow the sale of fighter jets and awacs

6 KJ-500
100 JF-17
50 J-10CE
25 Z-10

It would be a good start, but still not enough for a country the size of Iran

@Persian Gulf

I suggest to immediately ban anyone that talks again about those "F-4AM+++" "F-14AM++" if Iran ever talks about that i'm giving up every hopes

I don't see how Pakistan can sell these Fighter Jets without getting sanctioned, for China this isn't a problem

 

[nang2]

I would request J10CEs maybe 50 of them and see if China will open the path for J35s.

Iran would need also to buy Chinese AWACs, air refuelers armament.

If J10s are not forthcoming JF17 Block3 50 or 60 for CAP and air denial will help but they need come with a package, awacs, refuelers, HQ9 SAMs.

Jet fighters alone won't perform well. You need a full air dominance package that includes other key pieces like AWACS and EW. Russian jets don't perform well over Ukrainian sky largely because of the lack of AWACS and EW. US and Israel air forces perform better because of the extensive monitoring and EW suppression capability.

 

[tower9]

And who blamed for that. Indian are given free visa access in Iran and why would even Pakistan trust Iran. It is worst than trusting Afghan.

Seriously. You have to wonder if Iranian policymakers are all Mossad considering how stupid their policy decisions have been.

 

[tower9]

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Even if Iran makes a deal for J-10Cs, it will be at least 3-4 years before they are going to be fielded effectively. It will take 2 years to set up the system and have a large number of pilots effectively trained even if the jets are delivered.

 

[nang2]

Even if Iran makes a deal for J-10Cs, it will be at least 3-4 years before they are going to be fielded effectively. It will take 2 years to set up the system and have a large number of pilots effectively trained even if the jets are delivered.

I doubt Iran will ask for J-10C. For one, it will estrange Russia, which just supplied Iran with Su-35. For two, it would be too ostentatious, given the current geopolitical atmosphere. Chinese don't like to be so "impolite" as to stick it in US' face.

 

[Ali_Baba]

I don't see how Pakistan can sell these Fighter Jets without getting sanctioned, for China this isn't a problem

Pakistan can manufacture them for China under contract, and China can "sell" them to Iran. That is how the Myanmar deal was done.