SOURCE: RAUNAK KUNDE / NEWS BEAT / IDRW.ORG
The Brazilian Air Force (FAB) is at a crossroads as it seeks to modernize its fighter fleet by replacing its ageing Northrop F-5FM Tiger II jets, which have been in service for decades and now sit below the FAB’s more advanced Saab F-39 Gripen NG fighters. In a bid to secure this lucrative contract, Pakistan has offered its JF-17 Block-III fighter jet, a lightweight, multirole aircraft co-developed with China, to the FAB. This proposal comes on the heels of India’s offer of its indigenously developed Tejas Mk1A, a 4.5-generation fighter, as a potential replacement.
Adding a layer of complexity, the Brazilian Air Force Chief has proposed a barter deal to India, suggesting the supply of Embraer’s C-390M military transporter to the Indian Air Force (IAF) in exchange for Tejas Mk1A jets. As Brazil weighs its options, the competition between the JF-17 Block-III and Tejas Mk1A highlights not only technical and operational considerations but also strategic and geopolitical dynamics.
The FAB has been actively working to modernize its fleet to meet evolving defense and security needs, particularly in the vast and challenging terrain of South America, which includes the Amazon region. The Northrop F-5FM Tiger II, a third-generation fighter jet, has served Brazil well since the 1970s but is now outdated, lacking the advanced avionics, sensors, and multirole capabilities required for modern aerial warfare. The FAB has already inducted the Saab F-39 Gripen NG (Gripen-E), a 4.5-generation fighter, as its primary frontline aircraft, with 36 units on order and the first batch delivered in 2019. However, the Gripen-E is a relatively expensive platform, and the FAB seeks a cost-effective, lightweight fighter to complement it, taking on roles such as air policing, ground attack, and secondary combat missions.
The F-5FM fleet, numbering around 40 aircraft as of 2025, is nearing the end of its operational life, with Brazil planning to retire these jets in the coming years. The FAB’s requirement for a replacement has attracted global attention, with both Pakistan and India vying to fill the gap with their respective offerings: the JF-17 Block-III and the Tejas Mk1A. The competition is not just about technical specifications but also about cost, geopolitical alignment, and potential for strategic partnerships, including the proposed barter deal with India involving the C-390M transporter.
Pakistan’s proposal to supply the JF-17 Block-III to the FAB was formalized in early April 2025, as reported by multiple sources on X. A key highlight of the discussions was Pakistan’s offer to provide a detailed capabilities dossier, positioning the JF-17 as a cost-effective and multirole option for Brazil’s modernization plans. The JF-17 Block-III, developed jointly by the Pakistan Aeronautical Complex (PAC) and China’s Chengdu Aircraft Corporation (CAC), is a 4+ generation fighter that has been the backbone of the Pakistan Air Force (PAF) since its induction in 2007. The Block-III variant, operationalized in 2024, features significant upgrades over its predecessors, including the NRIET/CETC KLJ-7A Active Electronically Scanned Array (AESA) radar, a three-axis digital fly-by-wire system, an Infrared Search and Track (IRST) system, and a Helmet-Mounted Display and Sight (HMD/S) system.
The Tejas Mk1A is powered by the General Electric F404-IN20 engine, which delivers 53.9 kN of dry thrust and 90 kN with afterburner, offering a thrust-to-weight ratio of 1.00:1.07, superior to the JF-17’s 0.84:0.95. The aircraft has a maximum speed of Mach 1.8, a combat range of 500 km with drop tanks, and a payload capacity of 5,300 kg, giving it an edge over the JF-17 in terms of endurance and weapons load. The Tejas also benefits from a lower radar cross-section (RCS) of 0.5 m² due to its extensive use of composite materials, compared to the JF-17’s 1.5 m². With a unit cost of approximately $37.8 million, the Tejas Mk1A is slightly more expensive than the JF-17 but offers advanced features and greater reliability, with the F404 engine boasting an MTBO of 2,000 hours and a service life of 6,000 hours.
Despite its capabilities, the Tejas has struggled to secure export orders, losing out to competitors like South Korea’s FA-50 in Malaysia and the F-16 in Argentina. However, the IAF’s growing confidence in the platform—evidenced by its deployment in forward bases like Leh and participation in international exercises like Tarang Shakti 2024—has bolstered its profile. The IAF has ordered 180 Tejas Mk1A aircraft, with the first delivery expected by March 31, 2025, following delays due to supply chain issues with the F404 engine.
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