Pakistan’s defence industry: Islamabad has officially confirmed the signing of a US$4.6 billion (RM20.24 billion) agreement with Azerbaijan for the procurement of 40 JF-17 Thunder multirole fighter jets. This deal marks not only one of the largest military export contracts in Pakistan’s history but also a pivotal realignment of defence cooperation in the Caucasus and Central Asian regions.
Jointly developed by Pakistan Aeronautical Complex (PAC) and China’s Chengdu Aircraft Corporation (CAC), the JF-17 Thunder has become a symbol of affordable, advanced airpower, particularly for emerging nations seeking sophisticated capabilities without Western political strings attached. Its success now places Pakistan in an elite group of countries able to export high-performance combat aircraft on a global scale.
“This marks a significant step forward for Pakistan’s defence exports on the global stage,” a senior official at Pakistan’s Ministry of Defence Production stated, highlighting the strategic and economic value of the deal.
Azerbaijan had originally signed a contract in 2023 to acquire 16 JF-17 Block III aircraft. That deal, worth $1.6 billion, laid the foundation for the latest expanded agreement. Baku’s decision to increase its order to 40 units underscores its intent to fully modernize its air force with cutting-edge, fourth-generation-plus platforms.
All aircraft in the contract are of the Block III variant—the most sophisticated version of the JF-17. The Block III features:
- KLJ-7A Active Electronically Scanned Array (AESA) radar
- Advanced datalink and network-centric warfare capabilities
- Integration with long-range air-to-air missiles such as the PL-15
- Enhanced cockpit and avionics
- Improved thrust-to-weight ratio and maneuverability
These systems make the JF-17 Block III a multirole combat platform capable of air superiority, precision ground strikes, and intelligence, surveillance, and reconnaissance (ISR) missions.
The credibility of the JF-17 program was significantly bolstered during recent border tensions between Pakistan and India. Reports indicate that a JF-17 Block III downed an upgraded Indian MiG-29UPG using a PL-15 BVR (beyond visual range) missile—a milestone marking the first operational kill with this missile system in South Asia.
With a range exceeding 300 kilometers, the PL-15 missile provides JF-17 pilots with a formidable edge in long-range air engagements. In a separate operation, Pakistani JF-17s armed with hypersonic CM-400AKG missiles reportedly neutralized an Indian S-400 Triumf air defence battery deployed near Adampur. Video footage released by Pakistani authorities confirmed the use of dual CM-400AKG missiles, verifying long-suspected but previously unacknowledged capabilities.
These combat demonstrations have heightened interest in the JF-17 among other nations in Asia, Africa, and Latin America. The aircraft’s performance in real-world combat has helped it outpace rivals like India’s HAL Tejas, which has yet to secure a single foreign buyer.
India had aggressively pitched its HAL Tejas fighter to several countries, notably Malaysia. However, New Delhi lost the Malaysian contract to South Korea’s FA-50 Block 20—a setback for the Indian defence sector that underscores the intense competition in the global light fighter market.
In contrast, the JF-17 continues to win contracts through a mix of competitive pricing, combat credibility, and political alignment with buyers seeking alternatives to Western or Russian platforms.
The Azerbaijan deal is a milestone for Pakistan Aeronautical Complex (PAC) in Kamra, which will spearhead the production, assembly, and lifecycle support of the JF-17s. The factory is expected to undergo a significant expansion to accommodate the deal, including upgrades to production lines, testing facilities, and logistics infrastructure.
The influx of funds from the $4.6 billion deal is anticipated to create hundreds of skilled jobs, drive innovation in aerospace engineering, and deepen Pakistan’s strategic partnerships with both Azerbaijan and China.
Moreover, the geopolitical implications are profound. Azerbaijan’s shift from Russian-made MiG-29s to Chinese-Pakistani platforms marks a strategic pivot away from Moscow’s sphere of influence. This realignment reflects a broader trend among former Soviet republics to diversify their defence suppliers amid ongoing tensions involving Russia, NATO, and China.
While the aircraft are Pakistani-Chinese in origin, Azerbaijan’s expanding military relationship with Turkey adds another layer of complexity and opportunity. Defence sources confirm that Baku may integrate Turkish-manufactured avionics and air-to-air missiles—including the Gökdoğan (BVRAAM) and Bozdoğan (WVRAAM)—into its JF-17 fleet.
These missiles, developed by TÜBİTAK SAGE, have recently entered serial production and are expected to significantly boost Azerbaijan’s air combat capabilities. The move underscores growing interoperability among Turkish, Azerbaijani, and Pakistani defence forces, as well as the maturing of Turkey’s own military-industrial base.
The trilateral defence cooperation was on full display during recent joint military exercises held in Turkey and Azerbaijan, involving air, land, and naval elements from all three countries.
Often referred to as a “budget fifth-generation fighter,” the JF-17 Block III incorporates several technologies derived from China’s fifth-generation J-20 Mighty Dragon, including stealth coatings, sensor fusion, and high-speed data networking.
Key among these is the KLJ-7A AESA radar, developed by China Electronics Technology Group Corporation (CETC). Chinese analysts have compared it favorably to the AN/APG-81 radar used in the U.S. F-35, noting its agility, beam-steering precision, and resistance to electronic countermeasures (ECCM).
The radar can track 15 to 20 aerial targets simultaneously and engage up to six, making it ideal for complex beyond-visual-range combat scenarios. With synthetic aperture radar (SAR) and ground moving target indicator (GMTI) modes, the JF-17 Block III also excels in reconnaissance and precision strike missions.
Another technological highlight is the fighter’s cockpit, which includes a wide-angle holographic heads-up display (HUD), digital fly-by-wire controls, and a helmet-mounted display system (HMDS) compatible with high off-boresight weapons like the PL-10.
The Azerbaijan contract significantly enhances the export credentials of the JF-17, placing it firmly in competition with established platforms like the F-16V, Gripen E, and the FA-50. Its affordability—reportedly under $50 million per unit fully equipped—combined with low maintenance costs and high sortie rate, makes it especially attractive for developing nations.
Countries in Africa (such as Nigeria and Egypt), the Middle East (including Iraq and Iran), and Southeast Asia (notably Myanmar and Malaysia) have expressed varying degrees of interest in the JF-17 Block III.
In contrast, the stagnation of India’s Tejas program on the international stage raises questions about New Delhi’s ability to compete in the aerospace export sector. Despite years of development and substantial government backing, the Tejas has failed to secure overseas buyers, further widening the gap with Pakistan in this arena.
Beyond the economics and technology, the JF-17 export success enhances Pakistan’s diplomatic toolkit. Defence exports are increasingly a vector for soft power, enabling nations like Pakistan to build influence, foster military partnerships, and shape regional security architectures.
This is especially relevant in regions like the Caucasus, where military hardware often comes bundled with training programs, intelligence sharing, and joint exercises. As Azerbaijan becomes a showcase for the JF-17’s capabilities, it could spur interest from other Turkic-speaking and Central Asian countries.
Moreover, the success of the JF-17 enhances the credibility of China’s defence technologies in third-party markets, reinforcing the China-Pakistan strategic nexus.
The $4.6 billion deal between Pakistan and Azerbaijan for 40 JF-17 Block III fighter jets is a landmark event with far-reaching implications. It validates the JF-17 platform as a competitive, combat-ready solution for modern air forces and repositions Pakistan as a serious player in global aerospace exports.
More broadly, it marks a shift in the regional balance of power—economically, militarily, and diplomatically. As Azerbaijan transitions to a new era of airpower anchored in Chinese-Pakistani-Turkish collaboration, the geopolitical ripples of this deal are likely to be felt far beyond South Asia and the Caucasus.
