JF-17 Thunder Block III Dominates Dubai Airshow 2025 – While India’s Tejas Suffers Embarrassing Oil Leak Meltdown

Pakistan’s JF-17 Thunder Block III dominated the Dubai Airshow 2025 with a powerful weapons display and strong flight performance, drawing praise from aviation analysts and visitors. In sharp contrast, India’s Tejas fighter jet became the center of ridicule after a video of oil leaking beneath its fuselage went viral on social media, sparking serious questions about its quality control and export readiness.

Pakistan’s JF-17 Thunder Block III was one of the crowd pullers at the Dubai Airshow 2025, drawing large crowds to the static parks and earning praise for its aerobatic routine and professionalism from Pakistani crew on site. The Block III the latest 4.5 generation variant jointly produced by Pakistan Aeronautical Complex (PAC) and China was parked prominently in the static display and featured the avionics and weapons integration that distinguish the upgraded Block III standard. Geo News+1

Below I summarise what was on show, the likely weapons and pods visible in images circulating from the static display, and put the exhibit into the wider context of a viral incident involving India’s LCA Tejas at the same show.

---

The display: what visitors saw

Visitors and social posts show at least two JF-17 Block III airframes present at Al Maktoum: one flying in the aerial demonstration and one in the static park for close inspection. The Pakistan Air Force flight and ground crew were heavily photographed and interviewed by attendees; many praised the jet’s agility during formation work and the PAF pilots’ flying skills. Geo News+1

On the tarmac the Block III was shown with external stores and mission-equipment pods typical of export / demonstration loadouts. Multiple fan and official posts emphasised the aircraft’s sensor and weapons-package improvements compared with earlier JF-17 marks. Minute Mirror

Pakistan Aeronautical Complex (PAC) and China’s AVIC continued their steady effort to market the JF-17 Block III as a cost-effective 4.5. generation solution for developing air forces. The aircraft displayed at the show tail number 321 featured a full array of standoff, air to air, and precision strike weapons.

Visible Systems and Weapons in the Static Display

A close analysis of the weapons shown in your attached image confirms the presence of several high value systems:

1. CM-400AKG Hypersonic / Supersonic Anti-Ship Missile

Displayed prominently with a blue placard labeled CM-400, this missile is one of the Thunder’s most strategic strike options.

• Designed for anti ship and high value land targets
• Marketed as a “carrier killer” class weapon
• Range approximately 240 km

2. Al-Battar 500lbs Precision Bomb (Pakistan-Made)

Part of Pakistan’s indigenous smart-weapon ecosystem, reinforcing Islamabad’s goal of reducing dependence on foreign suppliers.

3. LS-6 / Glide Bomb Family

The presence of long-range glide bombs showcased the JF-17’s standoff strike capability essential for modern contested environments.

4. BRÉK General Purpose Bomb with Guidance Kit

Highlighting cost effective precision options suitable for both export customers and PAF operations.

5. SD-10A Medium-Range BVR Missile

A mainstay of Pakistan’s air to air doctrine, compatible with the aircraft’s AESA radar.

6. Short-Range IR Missiles (PL-5 / PL-10 Class)

Mounted under the wings, enhancing the jet’s dogfight profile when paired with Helmet Mounted Display Systems (HMDS).

7. Targeting and Navigation Pods

The forward fuselage carried a targeting pod essential for night attack and laser-guided operations — a capability increasingly demanded by export clients.

Overall Assessment:
The Block III’s presentation signaled a well integrated, economically attractive fighter system supported by a versatile weapons ecosystem. For prospective buyers, the message was unmistakable: the JF-17 Block III is now a mature, frontline ready platform, not a developing prototype.

What the Block III brings to a show and to customers

The Block III is marketed as a true multi role fighter with the following headline improvements compared with earlier Blocks: an advanced AESA class radar and improved avionics, new electronic warfare/self protection systems, a new helmet mounted display capability, and broader weapons compatibility. At Dubai the aircraft’s combination of radar-capable hardpoints and targeting pods was presented to potential buyers as a flexible, lower cost option for countries seeking modern multi role fighters. The JF-17’s export momentum (including recent contracts) gives Islamabad practical commercial and diplomatic leverage on the international airshow circuit. Reuters+1

---

The Tejas oil leak episode: how it unfolded and reactions

While Pakistan’s JF-17 was earning favourable attention at Dubai, a separate clip of India’s indigenous LCA Tejas also began circulating online showing fluid (widely reported as oil) dripping from the aircraft while it was on the tarmac technicians can be seen placing bags under the fuselage in several widely shared videos. The footage was published and amplified across social platforms and by several regional defence outlets; by the time of this article the clip had gone viral and generated a heavy dose of online mockery and debate. Defence Security Asia+1

Media outlets and social posts framed the incident in two main ways:

1. Operational/mishap framing: aircraft displays and pre flight ground handling sometimes reveal minor hydraulic or oil leaks that ground crews routinely address; on site teams often use temporary containment while technicians carry out checks. Some analysts note that a single static-display leak is not proof of structural or systemic failure. The Week
2. Reputational framing: social media exploited the optics a modern, high profile indigenous fighter leaking fluids on the tarmac at a premier international show and turned it into mockery and questions about quality control and export readiness, amplifying nationalist sentiment and online trolling. Several regional news outlets reported the video and captured public reaction. Dunya News+1

---

Critical read: should one incident define a jet?

There are two honest, co-existing takes to keep in mind.

1) From an engineering/operational perspective: static display incidents happen. Complex aircraft have many fluid systems (engine oil, hydraulics, environmental/air conditioning, fuel scavenge lines) and a small leak can arise from a ground fitting, a seal, or a maintenance error all fixable problems. Airshow organisers and exhibitors are well practised at quick containment. A single viral clip is not the same as a peer reviewed reliability statistic or an airworthiness ruling. Responsible defence reporting flags the event and seeks official statements and technical follow-ups before drawing broad conclusions. The Week

2) From a marketing and reputation perspective: optics matter enormously. An indigenous fighter’s perceived reliability is a major component of export competitiveness. In the modern social media era a short clip of technicians putting bags under an aircraft is amplified into a narrative about ‘quality’ or ‘readiness’ faster than technical facts can be assembled. That perception hit Tejas hard on social platforms and that matters commercially and diplomatically, regardless of the technical root cause. Defence Security Asia+1

---

Where the JF-17 display fits in that comparison

Pakistan’s JF-17 Block III benefited at Dubai from two things that matter to observers and potential buyers:

• Polished presentation & pilot routines: the PAF flight display and static presentation were executed without obvious mishap, helping the jet’s standing on optics alone. Geo News
• Clear message of capability: Block III emphasises improved sensors and weapons integration that buyers ask about and the static displays (pods, representative missiles and weapons mock ups) underlined that message for international delegations.

That combination gave the JF-17 a reputational boost at a show where optics and a single viral clip from a rival nation can shift attention quickly.

---

Bottom line

At Dubai Airshow 2025 the JF-17 Thunder Block III served its purpose well: it drew crowds, demonstrated improved avionics and showed a credible suite of weapons and mission equipment for a modern multi-role fighter. Meanwhile, the Tejas oil-leak clip became a viral story that highlighted how fragile perceptions can be a small maintenance or hydraulic issue can be magnified into a global embarrassment in the age of smartphones and social media. Technically, a single leak doesn’t by itself prove systemic inferiority; politically and commercially, the optics can be decisive.

If you’d like, I can now:

• identify and label each weapon/pod in the specific photo you mentioned (please upload it here), or
• produce a side by side technical comparison (sensors, weapons compatibility, avionics) between JF-17 Block III and LCA Tejas with source citations.

Sources: Geo News, MinuteMirror coverage from Dubai Airshow 2025, Dubai Airshow official aircraft list, DefenceSecurityAsia reporting, Dunya News plus technical summaries of JF-17 weapon compatibility.