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

[OldTwilight]

Ir

Iran is Big

85 J10s is the absolute basic you need to take on any enemy coming from Israel, that leaves the rest of Iran open to attack

The JF17 is indeed smaller, but it's a package that is able to do everything the big boys can do at a much more reasonable price and is FLEXIBLE
It's much more more economical to maintain
Much more economical to fly
And can be used as a fighter that can be inducted in mass to cover areas of Iran including ports, cities, important sites
Provide backup support to heavy fighters and it's BVR capable

But most importantly
Will China give Iran any ability or support to incorporate iranian weapon with the J10????
If the answer is YES! Then go for the J10 and be done with it


If the answer is no, then it would be a good idea to induct the JF17 and use it as a platform to induct iranian weapons, cruise missiles, glide bombs, SOWs, anti ship weapons etc etc

All those weapons can be incorporated into the platform for a few


In addition, during peacetime, your day to day duties as a airforce can be carried out by the JF17, thus leaving heavier platforms to be used only for hard training and conflict

That why I ask for JF17 B3 for Iran, we can cooperate with Pakistan and if Pakistan-india war happen again , Pakistan could rely on us to support its JF17 in time of conflict as well. ( win-win situation for both countries )

Its not logical for china to sell anything to Iran which make Iran AF more capable than Pakistan ... our countrymen just don't have any common sense when its comes to real politics ...

 

[ShapurII]

This kind of mentality is the reason we have aging AF right now ...

J10c is better but China is not willing to sell it , so all the comparisons are invalid especially when we are in the middle of war ...

Pakistan openly supports us in this conflict, so I rather to act now and get what is more in my reach ...

For sure JF17B3 can patrol our sky and track and hunt down the enemy drones and disrupt enemy air raids with PL12 ( I doubt china agree to sell PL15 to us ) ...

let's be honest, even J10c has little chance against Israelis F35i and F15i supported by USA combat control systems ...

We just need something to support our AD network, hunt enemy drones and create enough cover for BM launchers to act and JF17B3 with support of some of AWACs can do it ...

I disagree. In my opinion, your mentality is the reason we don't have an air force.

You don't know that. China has not refused to sell us J-10C yet. And as I said, JF-17 is also a Chinese platform. If China says no, Pakistan will not be able to sell us even a single unit.

It is beyond delusional to think that Pakistan is independent enough to support us militarily, even the Pakistanis do not claim that. Pakistan has not militarily supported Iran during the conflict. Pakistan has nominated Trump for the Nobel peace prize, the guy that said "sometimes you have to fight it out". Yesterday, Pakistan publicly stated that it would recognize the state of Israel if a Palestinian state is formed. Pakistan is friendly to us, but it is not our ally. It is in fact closer to Turkey, Saudi Arabia and Republic of Azerbaijan. Iran comes 4th in the region, in the best case scenario.

But you think JF-17 stands a chance against F-35? lol You don't know if J-10C stands a little chance against F-15i. Nobody knows.

No, we need the best we can buy. If China is willing to sell us J-35, then we should buy that too. If you don't want to spend money on your air force, then you should stop picking a fight with countries like Israel.

 

[Ali_Baba]

I did. Actually, I just finished watching it for the 2nd time.

How do you want to defend your AEW&C without an air force?
And why do you want to buy 100 JF-17? Who wants to sell you this platform to begin with? It's still a Chinese platform after all. And J-10C is superior to JF-17 for our purposes.

Rumors say we will receive 85 J-10C fighters eventually. Not bad at all. The only question is when it will be delivered and how much training of our pilots will take.

We have a clear problem over north-western Iran. We need to secure the sky of that area first.

Iran may well choose to deploy its new assets in the south east of Iran, so that it can be out of range of the IAF, and then launch missions to defend Northwest from those bases. Iran will need to use its large size to it advantage by careful placement of assets when they arrive.

 

[OldTwilight]

I disagree. In my opinion, your mentality is the reason we don't have an air force.

You don't know that. China has not refused to sell us J-10C yet. And as I said, JF-17 is also a Chinese platform. If China says no, Pakistan will not be able to sell us even a single unit.

It is beyond delusional to think that Pakistan is independent enough to support us militarily, even the Pakistanis do not claim that. Pakistan has not militarily supported Iran during the conflict. Pakistan has nominated Trump for the Nobel peace prize, the guy that said "sometimes you have to fight it out". Pakistan has publicly stated that it would recognize the state of Israel if a Palestinian state is formed. Pakistan is friendly to us, but it is not our ally. It is in fact closer to Turkey, Saudi Arabia and Republic of Azerbaijan. Iran comes 4th in the region, in the best case scenario.

But you think JF-17 stands a chance against F-35? lol You don't know if J-10C stands a little chance against F-15i. Nobody knows.

No, we need the best we can buy. If China is willing to sell us J-35, then we should buy that too. If you don't want to spend money on your air force, then you should stop picking a fight with countries like Israel.

Then have good luck ... and there is more chance China agreeing on selling JF17 through Pakistan than selling J10c to us directly ( just look at China economy ties with PGCC and compare it to their economy exchange with Iran to understand real politics) ...

Did you except Pakistanis send their AF to help us!? Did we send our AF in their conflict against India or give them Shahed 136s to target Indians!?

Why you want something from Pakistan that we were not willing to do for them!?

 

[ShapurII]

Iran may well choose to deploy its new assets in the south east of Iran, so that it can be out of range of the IAF, and then launch missions to defend Northwest from those bases. Iran will need to use its large size to it advantage by careful placement of assets when they arrive.

I agree. Probably the east of Iran is a better choice (south of Khorasan), as it will be less prone to reconnaissance by the USN.

 

[ShapurII]

Then have good luck ... and there is more chance China agreeing on selling JF17 through Pakistan than selling J10c to us directly ...

Did you except Pakistanis send their AF to help us!? Did we send our AF in their conflict against India or give them Shahed 136s to target Indians!?

Why you want something from Pakistan that we were not willing to do for them!?

Pakistan hasn't finished their own side of the gas pipeline since 2015, which is a civilian project and completely justified by international law, and they are required to do so by a binding contract. Do you seriously think Pakistan will accept to be sanctioned by the US, and the entirety of the European Union, to sell us jet fighters when it's not even obligated to do so? Are you out of your mind?

Pakistan never asked us for military support during its conflict with India. I'm sure if Pakistan shows interest in purchasing military weapons from us, we will happily provide them with what we have. But even that is impossible because Pakistan will never buy weapons from us because of secondary sanctions. So, apples and oranges.

 

[hussain0216]

That why I ask for JF17 B3 for Iran, we can cooperate with Pakistan and if Pakistan-india war happen again , Pakistan could rely on us to support its JF17 in time of conflict as well. ( win-win situation for both countries )

Its not logical for china to sell anything to Iran which make Iran AF more capable than Pakistan ... our countrymen just don't have any common sense when its comes to real politics ...

Iran needs to be more pragmatic

Iran needs a airforce of around 300-400 fighters
That's considering how BIG iran is and how much enemies Iran has

If Irans main enemy was Armenia, then you could get away with 100-150 fighters, but it isn't

So Iran could form a potent airforce with

100-150- J10s for air superiority
36-50- Su30s for a heavier platform
100 - JF17s to do the day to day work, provide full coverage to the landmass of Iran and provide support and numbers in war as it is BVR capable

The above will give Iran 250-350 fighters

Iran then needs to keep an eye on 5th Gen platforms

And also induct AWACs, E.W platforms and ground radars all talking to each other alongside a layered A.D network



With the above Iran would be very very difficult to attack


Be pragmatic, if you can't get anything then go for what you can get

 

[Ali_Baba]

Pakistan hasn't finished their own side of the pipeline since 2015, which is a civilian project and completely justified by international law. Do you seriously think Pakistan will accept to be sanctioned by the US, and the entirety of the European Union, to sell us jet fighters? Are you out of your mind?

Pakistan never asked us for military support during its conflict with India. I'm sure if Pakistan shows interest in purchasing military weapons from us, we will happily provide what we have to them. But even that is impossible because Pakistan will never buy weapons from us because of secondary sanctions. So, apples and oranges.

If Iran wanted to buy the FC1 Block III, then it would be via a contract with China. Pakistan will deliver to China and China will deliver to Iran. This is how the Burma deal was structured to overcome issues over delivery. This way Pakistan does not face the risk of sanctions.

Iran first needs to make decisions of procurement and then they can be actioned. Lets see if Iran does indeed decide to make any procurements, or will they sit on the fence again ?

 

[ShapurII]

If Iran wanted to buy the FC1 Block III, then it would be via a contract with China. Pakistan will deliver to China and China will deliver to Iran. This is how the Burma deal was structured to overcome issues over delivery.

Exactly. Tell him that. It is impossible to bypass China in this. If China says no, then it's a no.

 

[Ali_Baba]

Exactly. Tell him that. It is impossible to bypass China in this. If China says no, then it's a no.

Yes, it is impossible, but why would you want to bypass China ?

 

[hussain0216]

If Iran wanted to buy the FC1 Block III, then it would be via a contract with China. Pakistan will deliver to China and China will deliver to Iran. This is how the Burma deal was structured to overcome issues over delivery.

Iran first needs to make decisions and then they can be actioned. Lets see if Iran does indeed decide to make any procurements, or will they sit on the fence again ?

Absolutely

The ONLY production line for JF17 is in Pakistan, not that China couldn't reopen it's line


But Iran places a order with China for FC1 block 3

China then places a order for JF17 block 3, which is produced and delivered to China, after which Pakistan has nothing to do with it

Iran gets the JF17

That's what officially happens, in reality Iran just places a order and we fullfil that order and go through China

 

[ShapurII]

Yes, it is impossible, but why would you want to bypass China ?

He thinks the Chinese will not sell us J-10C, but will sell us JF-17 through Pakistan.
I think the Chinese would rather prefer to sell us J-10C because it's more expensive, and because the Chinese share of the deal will be whole.
If the Chinese agree to do the deal, they will do it for money obviously. Why get $1.5B-2B if you can secure $6B? It makes no sense.

 

[Ali_Baba]

He thinks the Chinese will not sell us J-10C, but will sell us JF-17 through Pakistan.
I think the Chinese would rather prefer to sell us J-10C because it's more expensive, and because the Chinese share of the deal will be whole.
If the Chinese agree to do the deal, they will do it for money obviously. Why get $1.5B-2B if you can secure $6B? It makes no sense.

I have never followed Iranian procurement history long enough to know or understand its context and its ups and downs, and of course the sanctions history. I do know that Russia has not been good with actual delivery of weapons on time to Iran, but without of course knowing the detail of those procurements, ie where are the Su-35s ??

China, will make a strategic decision of whether or not the sale of military equipment to Iraq is in its strategic interests or not. Only China can make that. However, if you consider that China made a number of deliveries of military equipment during the height of the war, then you can can assume that some of the 'will to sell' is there otherwise why risk it during a time of hostilities? Iran can pay in oil ( a new railway line has been commissioned via the central Asian republics just before the war started for the supply of oil via trains amongst other things ) then you have more of the ingredients for a successful sale, than not. It is only a matter of time imho, before an oil pipeline is setup to supply China directly via the Central Asian republics.

Place an order for something, ask to pay in oil and see what happens. They will either deliver, or not, right ?

Examples of China interaction with Iran, despite the USA 'sanctions'.

https://www.bloomberg.com/news/articles/2025-07-02/major-chinese-ports-keep-iranian-oil-flowing-despite-sanctions

https://www.cnbc.com/2025/06/27/china-us-sanctions-shadow-fleet-top-iranian-oil-buyer-trade.html

https://www.reuters.com/business/energy/trump-says-china-can-continue-purchase-oil-iran-2025-06-24/

China does not care as much about USA actions as people think.

Right now, given the importance of a land route for the supply of oil to China from Iran, it is in the strategic interest of China to ensure the security of that supply from Iran by Iran having the ability to defend itself.

COMMENT: Iran new rail link to China played a role in provoking the 12-day war

Iran launched its first-ever direct railway connection to China in May, the country’s first rail link to Asia that does not rely on transshipment ...

www.intellinews.com

Israel's 12 day war was most likely the last throw of the dice to see if they could force a regime change in Iran to plant a proxy they could control, before Iran and China get closer and Iran's relationship with the GCC countries improves(which China helped kick-off between Iran and Saudi Arabia(!!)), which could give Iran more resources for military procurements down the road.

 

[ShapurII]

I have never followed Iranian procurement history long enough to know or understand its context and its ups and downs, and of course the sanctions history. I do know that Russia has not been good with actual delivery of weapons on time to Iran, but without of course knowing the detail of those procurements, ie where are the Su-35s ??

China, will make a strategic decision of whether or not the sale of military equipment to Iraq is in its strategic interests or not. Only China can make that. However, if you consider that China made a number of deliveries of military equipment during the height of the war, then you can can assume that some of the 'will to sell' is there otherwise why risk it during a time of hostilities? Iran can pay in oil ( a new railway line has been commissioned via the central Asian republics just before the war started for the supply of oil via trains amongst other things ) then you have more of the ingredients for a successful sale, than not. It is only a matter of time imho, before an oil pipeline is setup to supply China directly via the Central Asian republics.

Place an order for something, ask to pay in oil and see what happens. They will either deliver, or not, right ?

Examples of China interaction with Iran, despite the USA 'sanctions'.

https://www.bloomberg.com/news/articles/2025-07-02/major-chinese-ports-keep-iranian-oil-flowing-despite-sanctions

https://www.cnbc.com/2025/06/27/china-us-sanctions-shadow-fleet-top-iranian-oil-buyer-trade.html

https://www.reuters.com/business/energy/trump-says-china-can-continue-purchase-oil-iran-2025-06-24/

China does not care as much about USA actions as people think.

Right now, given the importance of a land route for the supply of oil to China from Iran, it is in the strategic interest of China to ensure the security of that supply from Iran by Iran having the ability to defend itself. Israel's 12 day war was most likely the last throw of the dice to see if they could force a regime change in Iran, before Iran and China potentially get closer and Iran's relationship with the GCC countries improve, which will give Iran more resources for military procurements.

I personally trust the Chinese a lot more than I trust the Russians.

First of all, China is not thoroughly infiltrated by the Zionist agenda, like Russia is. Secondly, China has actually sold us weapons during the Iraq-Iran war, namely C-802 missile. Thirdly, the Chinese are now at a better position to maintain an independent policy towards Iran compared to 2008, while nothing has fundamentally changed in Russia's regional policies since 2008, when it chose to delay the sale of S-300 to Iran for 7 years. Still, I think the chance of the J-10C deal going through is not that high.

 

[BigMela2onin]

Ultimately, nothing will guarantee Iran's territorial integrity and deterrence other than nuclear weapons in my opinion.

It's increasingly clear IR will never under any circumstances go for nukes. They'd rather get slowly picked off one by one like Hezbollah did. Even Araghchi was targeted and he's still talking about how diplomacy is always an option.