Azerbaijan's APA TV news agency reported that JF-17 Block III has been introduced to the Azerbaijani Air Force inventory on the livestream of the aerobatics show performed by the Pakistani-Chinese lightweight fighters.
Claims regarding Azerbaijan’s acquisition of JF-17 Block III had been around for a few years, until the confirmation through the announcement by the two parties.
Azerbaijan will acquire 40 JF-17 Block III fighters in total, with a contract valued at $4.6 billion.
Up to this point, the Azerbaijani Air Force’s fighter wing consisted of 11 ex-Soviet MiG-29 fighters. Thus, JF-17 Block III will not only bring a larger fleet but also modern capabilities to keep up with the times.
JF-17 Block III
JF-17 Block III is the latest variant in the JF-17 line of fighters jointly developed by Pakistani PAC and Chinese CAC. As a single-engine fighter, JF-17 Block III can be described as a type that is compact and more affordable.
The JF-17 Block III comes equipped with the Chinese KLJ-7A AESA radar, onboard IRST, and a 20000 lbf class turbofan engine. Its airframe also benefits from an increased share of composite materials, enhancing durability. Armament-wise, JF-17 Block III supports a mix of Chinese and Pakistani weapons:
- PL-15E BVRAAM (China)
- PL-10E WVRAAM (China)
- IREK and Al-Batter precision-guided bombs (Pakistan)
- Raad-2 cruise missile (Pakistan)
- ASELPOD targeting pod (Turkiye)
Author: Kaan Azman
Editor: Özgür Ekşi
