Azerbaijan has officially confirmed that the JF-17C Block-III fighter jets it bought from Pakistan are now in service as part of a $1.6 billion deal signed in February.
The president’s office announced the news, showing Azerbaijan President Ilham Aliyev seated inside the aircraft during his inspection of it at the Azerbaijan International Defence Exhibition 2024 in Baku on September 25.
He was briefed by Defense Minister Col. Gen. Zakir Hasanov and Pakistan Aeronautical Complex Board Chairman Air Vice Marshal Hakim Raza about the aircraft’s tactical and technical specifications, operational guidelines, and key performance indicators.
On the same day, Azerbaijan’s ambassador to Iran (and formerly to Pakistan) Ali Alizada also published the news on X.
🇦🇿@Presidentaz on JF-17C ✊
JF-17C modern multi-purpose aircraft have been included in the arsenal of the #Azerbaijan Air Force . #JF17 #JF17C pic.twitter.com/p3qPhCgwBV
— Ali Alizada 🇦🇿 (@Ali_F_Alizada) September 25, 2024
The reported billion-dollar deal also includes pilot training and ammunition, such as air-to-surface missiles, and will be used to boost Baku’s defense capabilities amid tensions with Armenia.
JF-17C Block-III Aircraft
Pakistan Aeronautical Complex and China’s Chengdu Aerospace Corporation jointly developed the 4.5 generation multirole fighter jets.
The combat aircraft boasts high maneuverability at medium and low altitudes and can fly at a top speed of around Mach 1.6 (1,200 miles/1,910 kilometers per hour) with a range of 2,037 kilometers (1,265 miles).
It’s also fitted with weapons such as beyond visual range missiles and an advanced radar system, including an Active Electronically Scanned Array radar.
Azerbaijan is the third country to acquire the aircraft after Myanmar and Nigeria.
