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Azerbaijan has significantly expanded its acquisition of Pakistani JF-17 Thunder fighter jets from an initial 16 to 40 units, establishing the largest export contract in Pakistan's defense industry history through a comprehensive $4.6 billion defense agreement.
The Pakistani government confirmed the expanded defense cooperation through its official social media channels, announcing that Azerbaijan has signed a $2 billion investment package and a $4.6 billion defense deal for the procurement of 40 JF-17 Block III aircraft.
The agreement positions Azerbaijan as the largest export customer for the JF-17 Thunder series, surpassing previous sales to Nigeria and Myanmar.
The JF-17 Thunder, jointly developed by Pakistan Aeronautical Complex and China's Chengdu Aircraft Corporation, has become an attractive option for nations seeking advanced capabilities without the high costs associated with Western fourth-generation fighters.
Azerbaijan President Ilham Aliyev personally inspected the JF-17 Block III aircraft at Heydar Aliyev International Airport in late 2024, announcing that the fighters would soon be delivered to the Azerbaijan Air Force.
Aliyev praised the aircraft's capabilities and expressed support for Pakistan's technological achievements.
The JF-17 Block III represents the most advanced version of the series, featuring Active Electronically Scanned Array (AESA) radar, enhanced avionics, and compatibility with long-range PL-15 and PL-10 air-to-air missiles.
The variant first flew in 2019 and incorporates significant technological improvements over earlier versions.
Defense analysts note that Azerbaijan might plan to integrate Turkish-manufactured Gokdogan and Bozdogan missiles into the JF-17 platform, demonstrating the deepening trilateral defense cooperation between Pakistan, Türkiye, and Azerbaijan.
The aircraft will also be equipped with ASELPOD targeting pods, adding Azerbaijan to the list of users alongside Pakistan and Nigeria.
This integration was observed during President Aliyev's inspection of the aircraft.
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