Iran's aging air force was virtually powerless against Israel during the 12-day war in June. As for Iran's immediate neighbors, most of them have already created or are creating air forces equipped with more modern fighter jets. This forces Tehran to urgently modernize its air force.

Axar.az reports with reference to Telegraf, which is reported in an article published in Forbes magazine.

The article emphasizes that on November 8, Azerbaijan demonstrated the new JF-17C Block III fighter jets it purchased from Pakistan. Baku has ordered 40 of the modern fighters with many advanced features, including phased array radars. The latest JF-17s can also shoot down China's PL-15E air-to-air missiles beyond visual range. Pakistan shot down at least one French-made Dassault Rafale aircraft with these missiles during its war with India in May.

"While there is no information on whether Azerbaijan has or will acquire the PL-15E, it is to be expected. After all, Baku recently purchased HQ-9BE ground-based strategic anti-aircraft missile systems from China," the article notes.

Forbes writes that Iran's most advanced combat aircraft remain the American Grumman F-14A Tomcats, purchased in the 1970s. Tehran had acquired 79 aircraft before the 1979 revolution, some of which are still in service. The most modern aircraft of its time, equipped with the AVG-9 radar and the AIM-54 Phoenix missile, the F-14 can hit air targets at a distance of up to 160 kilometers.

However, none of these missiles has the claimed 120-mile range of the PL-15E.

West of Iran, Turkey has also signed a new contract for the supply of 44 Eurofighter Typhoon 4 fighters. Ankara will also receive Meteor missiles equipped with modern radars for these 4.5-generation fighters. Turkey plans to purchase 40 fifth-generation Lockheed Martin F-35 Lightning II stealth fighters in the near future. It is also upgrading its own TF Kaan fighter.

Forbes notes that Saudi Arabia also hopes to buy the F-35. Ahead of the upcoming visit of Prince Mohammed bin Salman to the White House, there have been reports that Riyadh wants to buy 48 fighters. This is in line with several modern Western will further strengthen Saudi Arabia's air force, which has a fleet of 100 Western-made 4.5-generation Typhoons, Rafales and the upgraded F-15QA.

The United Arab Emirates was the first country to acquire more modern F-16 fighters than those in service with the US Air Force in the 2000s. Abu Dhabi has ordered 80 Rafale F4 multi-role fighters from France by the end of 2021, although it canceled a previous contract for the supply of 50 F-35s, signed at the end of Trump's first term. These French planes will be equipped with Meteor missiles and other modern weapons. The contract itself is comparable to Iran's significant purchase of F-14As 50 years ago.

Armenia, which maintains friendly relations with Iran, has only four modern aircraft, in addition to the Su-25s. There is a Su-30SM fighter.