Abhijit Iyer-Mitra, a senior fellow at the Institute of Peace and ConflictStudies in New Delhi, explained why foreign nations are favoring the JF-17over India’s Tejas to the EurAsian Times. He outlined ten key reasons forTejas’ lackluster performance and the JF-17’s attractiveness:
1. Tejas has limited weapon compatibility, predominantly with Indian andsome Western arms, which may not be suitable for foreign buyers.2. The JF-17 aligns with China’s extensive supply of proven weapons, makingit a more attractive choice for potential buyers.
3. China’s Security Council Veto power gives buyers influence over SecurityCouncil decisions, while India lacks this advantage.4. The JF-17 serves as a suitable replacement for older fighter aircraftand armed trainers, offering the right capabilities and price point.5. Tejas lacks a clear market segment, making it a confusing choice forbuyers.
6. The JF-17 boasts modest but proven advancements in its design.7. Tejas lacks a track record and instills little buyer confidence due toits mixed components.8. JF-17’s equipment allows for re-export to third countries, while Tejascomponents do not.
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9. Tejas relies on components from countries that prohibit re-export,further limiting its appeal.10. Tejas faces reduced buyer confidence as it lacks major operators, evenwithin the Indian Air Force.
In contrast, the JF-17 Thunder program has been successful, with over 100units in service with the Pakistan Air Force, simplifying logistics,servicing, and upgrades. This explains why countries like Myanmar andNigeria have chosen the JF-17 Thunder over other options. Other nationslike Azerbaijan, Iraq, and Argentina are also considering advanced JF-17variants due to affordability, after-sale services, and financing options.