According to reports from Air Operation Syndicate, eight JF-17 Thunder Block-III fighter jets were sold initially, with an option for Azerbaijan to purchase an additional eight aircraft later. The agreement covers aircraft, pilot training, and ammunition while Armenia builds its defence with Indian and French arms sales.
The JF-17 Thunder is a joint effort between the Pakistan Aeronautical Complex and China’s Chengdu Aircraft Industry Corp. The Block III version can carry the PL-15 Beyond Visual Range (BVR) missile, with a range of up to 300 kilometres. The JF-17 Block III has a new engine, possibly an improved derivative of the RD-33MK or WS 10A, allowing speeds in excess of Mach 2. With an AESA radar, helmet HMD and the eventual inclusion of an internal infrared search and track (IRST) system, the Block III enhances situational awareness and target tracking, vital for air combat scenarios.
The new fleet would replace Azerbaijan’s existing MiG-29 fighters.
