JF-17 Over Baku? How the Sino-Pakistani Combat Jets Could Revolutionise Azerbaijan’s Air Force
Art work Azerbaijan....
Azerbaijan’s armed forces have expressed interest in acquiring the Sino-Pakistani JF-17 single engine fourth generation fighter since 2015, and the former Soviet republic could well become the third foreign client for the fighter jet after
and
. A number of reports indicate that the Azeri Air Force is set to finalise a contract for the acquisition of up to two dozen of the JF-17 Block II single engine multirole fighters with Pakistan to modernise its warfighting capabilities.
While Baku has enjoyed a close defence partnership with Israel, and increasingly with NATO countries and Turkey in particular, these parties are not capable of manufacturing a capable low cost combat jet suitable for the country’s Air Force. With relations relations with Russia remaining far from friendly, and the with the country looking to strengthen its defences against both neighbouring Armenia and Iran, the JF-17 could well be the ideal fighter jet for the country.