The aircraft in question are said to be the latest and most advanced iteration of the JF-17 family—Block III—a 4.5-generation fighter co-developed by Pakistan and China and hailed as one of the most cost-effective combat aircraft in the current global market.
At present, speculation is mounting within global defence circles that Azerbaijan may have dramatically increased its procurement of JF-17 “Thunder” light multirole fighter aircraft from an initial 16 units to a staggering 40, in a deal reportedly valued at US$4.2 billion (RM18.48 billion).
The aircraft in question are said to be the latest and most advanced iteration of the JF-17 family—Block III—a 4.5-generation fighter co-developed by Pakistan and China and hailed as one of the most cost-effective combat aircraft in the current global market.
Despite the intensity of reports circulating in both regional and international media, there has been no official confirmation thus far from the Azerbaijani, Pakistani, or Chinese governments regarding the alleged expansion of the order.
If confirmed, however, the expanded deal would represent a historic breakthrough for Pakistan’s aerospace industry, symbolizing its evolution from a domestic defence producer to a competitive arms exporter capable of winning high-value contracts on the global stage.
The JF-17 Thunder program, jointly spearheaded by Pakistan Aeronautical Complex (PAC) in Kamra and China’s Chengdu Aircraft Industry Group, has matured into a cornerstone of Islamabad’s defence diplomacy and industrial autonomy.
This potential mega-order by Azerbaijan would not only amplify Pakistan’s credentials as a serious player in the global arms trade but also inject substantial economic momentum into PAC, enabling capacity expansion and advanced R&D investment.
In stark contrast, India’s indigenous Tejas program—though technically sophisticated—has yet to secure a single export client, with even its bid to supply the Royal Malaysian Air Force losing out to South Korea’s FA-50 Block 20 fighters.
Malaysia’s selection of Korea Aerospace Industries (KAI)’s FA-50 over India’s Tejas highlights the growing competition in the light fighter market, where cost-effectiveness, operational readiness, and political alignment are key factors.
Should Azerbaijan indeed increase its JF-17 acquisition to 40 aircraft, it would become the largest single export customer of the Thunder series and mark the largest fighter jet export deal in Pakistan’s history, eclipsing previous sales to Nigeria and Myanmar.
PAC’s ability to deliver on such a contract would likely see increased assembly line activity, demand for local aerospace subcontractors, and the upskilling of a new generation of Pakistani aeronautical engineers and technicians.
Azerbaijan had already officially inducted 16 JF-17 Block III fighters in 2023, with the handover conducted in a televised ceremony at Heydar Aliyev International Airport in the presence of President Ilham Aliyev.
Photographs released by the Azerbaijani presidency show President Aliyev personally seated in the cockpit of one of the newly delivered fighters, inspecting its onboard systems—a rare gesture underscoring the strategic significance of the acquisition.
Pakistan
According to a presidential statement at the time, “Pesawat-pesawat pejuang itu (JF-17 Block III) telah pun diintergrasikan ke dalam Tentera Udara Azerbaijan,” confirming full operational status of the jets within the national air force.
These aircraft are set to replace Azerbaijan’s ageing MiG-29 fighters of Russian origin, many of which are now facing obsolescence amid rising maintenance costs and supply chain limitations exacerbated by Moscow’s ongoing war in Ukraine.
The shift from Russian to Pakistani-Chinese airframes signifies a broader strategic pivot by Baku, as it seeks to diversify its defense partnerships and reduce dependence on traditional suppliers like Russia.
For Beijing and Islamabad, this contract—confirmed or not—represents a geo-strategic victory: a successful penetration into Central Asia’s lucrative defence market, traditionally dominated by Russian aerospace giants such as Sukhoi and Mikoyan.
Militarily, the JF-17 Block III introduces significant enhancements over previous variants, incorporating avionics, weapons, and radar systems drawn from China’s fifth-generation J-20 “Mighty Dragon” stealth fighter lineage.
Foremost among these upgrades is the KLJ-7A Active Electronically Scanned Array (AESA) radar, developed by China Electronics Technology Group Corporation (CETC), which provides the JF-17 Block III with vastly superior situational awareness.
The KLJ-7A radar can detect and track fighter-sized targets at ranges exceeding 170 to 200 kilometers, and simultaneously track up to 20 targets while engaging multiple threats with long-range missiles such as the PL-15, a radar-guided missile with a range of 200–300 km.
Chinese analysts claim that the KLJ-7A is comparable in capability to the American AN/APG-81 radar found on the F-35 Lightning II, and the Russian N036 Byelka radar used in the Su-57 Felon—marking a technological leap for a fighter in this price class.
With its LPI (Low Probability of Intercept) mode, electronic counter-countermeasures (ECCM), and synthetic aperture radar (SAR) modes for ground mapping and GMTI (Ground Moving Target Indicator) capabilities, the KLJ-7A turns the JF-17 into a true multirole asset.
In terms of air-to-air armament, the Block III is designed to carry China’s PL-10 short-range infrared-guided missile, which boasts high off-boresight targeting and thrust vectoring, giving it capabilities on par with the U.S. AIM-9X.
For long-range engagements, the aircraft can deploy the PL-15, which provides it with beyond visual range superiority over most regional threats, including India’s Astra Mk-1 and R-77 derivatives.
However, media reports from September 2023 indicated that Azerbaijan may opt to integrate Turkish air-to-air missiles, namely the Gökdoğan BVRAAM and Bozdoğan WVRAAM, into its JF-17 fleet—signaling a multi-vector defence alignment involving Ankara.
These missiles, developed by TÜBİTAK SAGE, offer NATO-standard capabilities and reflect the deepening military-industrial synergy between Turkey and Azerbaijan, both of whom share strategic and ethnic ties.
In addition, the avionics suite of Azerbaijan’s JF-17 Block III fighters is expected to include Turkish-built components, further localizing the platform’s support base and boosting its survivability against Western electronic warfare.
This interoperability with Turkish and potentially NATO systems grants Azerbaijan unique flexibility in future joint operations and regional contingencies, especially in volatile theatres such as Nagorno-Karabakh.
Ultimately, Azerbaijan’s reported 40-aircraft acquisition, if formally confirmed, could redefine the export trajectory of the JF-17 program, and serve as a template for future trilateral defence cooperation between Pakistan, China, and Turkey.
The success of the JF-17 in Azerbaijan could also trigger interest among other Central Asian and African nations seeking affordable, high-performance fighter jets not encumbered by Western export restrictions or Russian supply constraints.
With the global fighter market becoming increasingly polarized between expensive Western fifth-gen platforms and aging Soviet-era hardware, the JF-17 Block III offers a “middle-power solution” for emerging air forces seeking both lethality and economic sustainability.
