JF-17 Block III vs Tejas Mk-1A Specs, Price & Dog-Fight Winner (2025)

 

JF-17 Block III vs HAL Tejas Mk-1A: Which Light Fighter Wins the Sky in 2025?

---

Table of Contents

1. Head-to-Head at a Glance

2. Design & Stealth – Tail-less Delta vs Compound Delta

3. Engines & Thrust – RD-93MA vs GE F404-IN20

4. Weapons & Payload – PL-15E vs Astra, BrahMos-NG Future

5. Radars & Cockpits – KLJ-7A vs EL/M-2052 AESA

6. Price Tag & Delivery – 32 M vs 42 M USD

7. Reliability – Combat-Proven vs Prototype Growing Pains

8. FAQ – Everything Google Autocompletes

9. Conclusion – Who Should Buy What?

---

1. Head-to-Head at a Glance 

Spec	JF-17 Block III	Tejas Mk-1A
Unit Cost	USD 32 M	USD 42 M
Top Speed	Mach 1.6	Mach 1.8
Combat Radius	1,200 km	739 km
Payload	4,600 kg on 9 pylons	5,300 kg on 9 pylons
Radar	KLJ-7A AESA 170 km	EL/M-2052 AESA 150 km
Dispatch Rate	98 % (PAF)	93 % (IAF)
Combat Record	Operation Swift Retort 2019	None yet

---

2. Design & Stealth – Tail-less Delta vs Compound Delta 

The JF-17 Block III sticks to a conventional aluminium-lithium skin with bolt-on reduced-RCS treatments: saw-tooth edges, radar-absorbent paint around the intake.

Tejas Mk-1A, by contrast, is 45 % carbon-fibre composite from nose to tail, giving it a naturally smaller radar signature and lighter empty weight. Add a RAM (radar-absorbent material) coating on leading edges and the Indian jet wins the stealth skirmish—though neither aircraft is a true fifth-generation platform.

Long-Tail Win: “Tejas Mk-1A vs JF-17 Block III radar cross-section”

---

3. Engines & Thrust – RD-93MA vs GE F404-IN20 

Compare thrust-to-weight, top speed, combat radius—RD-93MA 98 kN vs GE F404-IN20 85 kN.

Pakistan’s RD-93MA pumps out 98 kN on after-burner, giving the lighter JF-17 a thrust-to-weight ratio of 1.03 at combat load.

India’s GE F404-IN20 delivers 85 kN, but because the Tejas airframe is lighter, its thrust-to-weight ratio hits 1.07—the highest in the light-fighter class.

Top-end speed: Tejas Mach 1.8 vs JF-17 Mach 1.6.

Range game: JF-17’s 1,200 km combat radius beats Tejas (739 km) thanks to larger internal fuel fraction and in-flight refuelling probe on both jets.

Long-Tail Win: “JF-17 Block III vs Tejas speed difference”

---

4. Weapons & Payload – PL-15E vs Astra, BrahMos-NG Future 

PL-15E range, Astra Mk-1 BVRAAM, BrahMos-NG on Tejas, hard-points comparison

Both jets carry 9 hard-points, but Tejas lifts 5,300 kg versus JF-17’s 4,600 kg.

Beyond-visual-range missiles:

✅PL-15E on JF-17 reaches 145 km with active AESA seeker.

✅Astra Mk-1 on Tejas tops 110 km (Mk-2 in testing hits 160 km).

✅Anti-ship punch: JF-17 fields the Mach 4 CM-400 AKG 

✅hypersonic missile today; Tejas will integrate BrahMos-NG (Mach 3.5, 300 km) by 2026.

✅Precision bombs: JF-17 uses LS-6 glide kits; Tejas drops Spice-250 and Sudarshan LGBs.

✅Long-Tail Win: “Can Tejas carry BrahMos?”

---

5. Radars & Cockpits – KLJ-7A vs EL/M-2052 AESA 

KLJ-7A 170 km vs EL/M-2052 150 km; both AESA, but who locks first?

✅KLJ-7A (China) offers 170 km vs 150 km for EL/M-2052 (Israel) on current Tejas batches.

✅Track-while-scan targets: 15 vs 64 – edge to EL/M-2052 for multi-target engagement.

✅Helmet-mounted sight: JF-17 third-gen vs Tejas second-gen Elbit DASH.

✅HUD: Tejas holographic; JF-17 tri-color MFD stack.

✅Long-Tail Win: “Does JF-17 have AESA radar?”

---

6. Price Tag & Delivery – 32 M vs 42 M USD 

JF-17 Block III unit cost, Tejas Mk-1A fly-away price, delivery time

Fly-away cost:

 ✅JF-17 Block III USD 32 M

✅Tejas Mk-1A USD 42 M

Delivery timeline: 18 months (PAC) vs 24 months (HAL).

Life-cycle cost: JF-17 benefits from Chinese parts and Pakistani labour; Tejas carries Western avionics premiums and rupee inflation.

Export scoreboard:

✅JF-17: Pakistan, Myanmar, Nigeria (total 170+ air frames)

✅Tejas: India only, In spite of efforts still no international buyer.

✅Long-Tail Win: “Why is Tejas more expensive than JF-17?”

---

7. Reliability – Combat-Proven vs Prototype Growing Pains 

Dispatch rates, crash history, combat sorties – who is more battle-ready?

✅JF-17 Block III: Zero documented crashes; 98 % dispatch rate PAF 2024 audit.

✅Combat proven: Operation Swift Retort 2019 (Balakot flare-up) – night strike missions.

✅Tejas Mk-1A: 93 % dispatch rate IAF; one prototype crash Dubai Airshow 2025 (no fatalities).

✅Combat use: None yet; IOC-2 achieved March 2025.

Long-Tail Win: “JF-17 Block III vs Tejas dog-fight winner”

---

8. Master FAQ – Rich-Snippet Ready 

Q1. Which is better JF-17 Block III or Tejas Mk-1A?
A: Pick JF-17 for range and cost; pick Tejas for payload, speed and stealth.

Q2. Does JF-17 Block III have AESA radar?
A: Yes, KLJ-7A with 170 km range.

Q3. Can Tejas carry BrahMos?
A: BrahMos-NG integration planned 2026; today carries Astra Mk-1.

Q4. JF-17 Block III vs Tejas range comparison?
A: JF-17 1,200 km combat radius vs Tejas 739 km.

Q5. Which fighter will Malaysia choose?
A: RFP closes 2026; Tejas offers US engine commonality, JF-17 offers price and faster delivery.

---

9. Conclusion – Who Should Buy What? 

Budget-conscious air force needing quick delivery and proven combat? JF-17 Block III is your jet.

Air force that values top speed, composite stealth, Western avionics and is willing to pay 30 % more?.

In a pure within-visual-range dog-fight, thrust-to-weight gives Tejas a slight edge; in beyond-visual-range, PL-15E reach tips the scale to JF-17. Ultimately, the “best” light fighter is the one that fits your strategic wallet and diplomatic alignment—because both jets are formidable in 2025 skies.

 

You May Read This Also