National interest: Azerbaijani air force adopts JF-17 Block III fighters
The Azerbaijani Air Force has officially begun operating modern fourth-generation multirole JF-17 Thunder fighters jointly developed by defense enterprises from China and Pakistan, writes the analytical publication The National Interest.
As noted in the article, the initial framework contract signed last summer called for the purchase of 16 JF-17 units, but Baku later increased the order to 40 aircraft. The total value of the large-scale agreement is estimated at $4.6 billion, of which $2 billion is allocated to joint industrial programs and investments in defense infrastructure. This deal became Pakistan's largest-ever military export contract and is aimed at completely modernizing the Azerbaijani Air Force fleet by replacing outdated Soviet MiG-29 fighters.
The JF-17 Block III modification represents a deep upgrade of the platform. The fighters are equipped with an active electronically scanned array (AESA) radar, a panoramic glass cockpit, a modern fly-by-wire flight control system, and a helmet-mounted targeting system that allows the pilot to engage the enemy by simply turning their head. The aircraft is adapted for the use of Chinese long-range PL-15 air-to-air guided missiles and precision ground-attack munitions. At the same time, the cost of one Block III aircraft is estimated at approximately $30 million, making it two to three times cheaper than Western counterparts (such as modern variants of the F-16 or F-35) while maintaining high combat effectiveness.
According to experts from the specialized publication Defence Security Asia, the arrival of the JF-17 in Baku's arsenal not only strengthens the national air force but also reinforces the strategic defense alliance along the Azerbaijan-Pakistan-Turkey line. The digital architecture and onboard systems of the JF-17 Block III are fully compatible with Turkish unmanned aerial systems, targeting pods produced by Aselsan, and tactical data links built to NATO network-centric standards.
