JF-17 Thunders! Azerbaijan Becomes 4th Country To Acquire Sino-Pak Jets; Block III Fighters Officially In Service Now

Azerbaijan has officially disclosed that the JF-17 Block III aircraft, developed jointly by Pakistan and China, has been inducted into service.

The JF-17 Block III aircraft was presented to Ilham Aliyev, the President and Supreme Commander-in-Chief of Azerbaijan, on September 25 at Heydar Aliyev International Airport.

“The jets have already been integrated into the arsenal of Azerbaijan’s Air Force,” read a statement from the President’s office.

According to the statement, the Defense Minister of Azerbaijan, Colonel General Zakir Hasanov, and Chairman of the Pakistan Aeronautical Complex Board, Air Vice Marshal Hakim Raza, briefed the President on the key performance indicators, operating directives, and tactical and technical characteristics of the aircraft at the ceremony.

A set of photographs were also released, showing the aircraft at the Heydar Aliyev International Airport. The President could be seen inspecting the aircraft and posing in the cockpit.

The acquisition is aimed at augmenting the country’s combat capability and readiness in the face of sustained tension with Armenia. The two South Caucasian countries have fought multiple conflicts over the years.

The disclosure of the acquisition comes months after reports in February 2024 indicated that a contract worth US $1.6 billion had been signed for the JF-17 Block III aircraft. The contract included a comprehensive package covering pilot training and armaments for the fighter jet. Rumors of the potential purchase go further back in time.

The President’s office did not mention the number of aircraft the country has received. However, previous reports in local Azeri media quoted Pakistani experts saying the deal would include eight fighter jets in the first tranche and a clause for a follow-on order of another eight JF-17s.

EurAsian Times could not independently verify these claims.

The acquisition comes as Baku has been diversifying its military purchases in a bid to move away from Russia, which has historically been the biggest supplier of equipment to its military.

Pakistan shares close ties with Azerbaijan and was the second country to recognize it as an independent country in 1991 after Turkey. The three states are together popularly known as “The Three Brothers.”

In addition, Pakistan has been a strong supporter of Azerbaijan in its conflict with Armenia, particularly regarding the Nagorno-Karabakh issue. During the 44-day Second Karabakh War, Azerbaijan reportedly received military advisors from Islamabad. There were also speculative reports of Pakistani boots on the ground.

The conflict has effectively ended, as the Armenian population in the region has evacuated in the wake of a significant assault and the disbandment of the unrecognized Nagorno-Karabakh Republic. Nevertheless, Azerbaijan and Armenia have initiated extensive military modernization programs in preparation for potential future hostilities.

Baku has acquired drones and fighter jets from Turkey and Pakistan, while Yerevan has acquired Akash surface-to-air missiles and Pinaka multi-barrel rocket launcher (MBRL) from India. Armenia also acquired radars, armored carriers, and howitzers from France.

The conflict has created two distinct alliances: one comprising Azerbaijan, Turkey, and Pakistan and the other of Armenia, India, and France.

This suits Pakistan, which has been looking for customers for the JF-17 Block III aircraft jointly produced with China. Azerbaijan is the fourth foreign country to acquire this aircraft after Myanmar, Nigeria, and Iraq.

The fighter aircraft was heavily promoted in Argentina, but it lost out to the second-hand Danish F-16 Fighting Falcons. Thus, the sale to Azerbaijan comes as a major boost.

What Is So Special About The JF-17 Block III Aircraft?

Jointly developed by the Pakistan Aeronautical Complex and China’s Chengdu Aircraft Industry Corp, the JF-17 Thunder combat aircraft has a Russian engine, a Chinese airframe, and Western avionics.

The JF-17 Thunder is a single-engine, lightweight, multi-role combat aircraft. With a service ceiling of 50,000 feet and a top speed of about 1,200 mph, the JF-17 is capable of performing a wide range of missions, such as aerial intercept and ground attack. It has a twin-barrel 23 mm autocannon and can support about 7,000 pounds of ammunition on seven hardpoints.

The JF-17 is designed to carry Chinese weapons on its seven hardpoints, including the PL-5 short-range air-to-air missile, LS-6 ‘Thunderstone’ GPS-guided glide bombs, and YJ-12 supersonic and YJ-83 subsonic anti-shipping missiles. Though not directly integrated, the JF-17 can also carry electro-optical/infrared sensors and self-defense jammers on external pods.

Since its induction in the PAF in 2007, the JF-17 has been upgraded several times. The Block III variant comes with “superior maneuverability, extended range, and enhanced combat capabilities.”

The JF-17 Block III is adaptable to various combat situations. It can be armed with various weapons, such as guided and unguided bombs, anti-ship missiles, air-to-air, and air-to-surface weaponry. It is now also outfitted with a 300-kilometer-range PL-15 Beyond Visual Range (BVR) missile.

Due to its lower radar cross-section, the JF-17 Block III has better stealth characteristics. The aircraft also uses more composites and has better avionics.

It boasts an active electronically scanned array (AESA) radar. According to reports, the KLJ-7A airborne active electronically scanned array (AESA) fire-control radar is reportedly installed aboard the aircraft.

The JF-17 Block III flaunts noticeable enhanced features like an integrated electronic warfare (EW) suite, Wide Angle Smart HUD, extra hard points, and Missile Approach Warning Systems (MAWS).

Since its induction, the JF-17 has become a mainstay of the Pakistani Air Force and is now all set to bolster Baku’s air fleet, giving it an edge in the southern Caucasus.