Azerbaijan secures $1.6 billion deal for JF-17 fighter jets from Pakistan
- In Reports
- 06:04 PM, Sep 27, 2024
- Myind Staff
Azerbaijan has purchased JF-17 Block III fighter jets from Pakistan in an agreement estimated to be worth USD 1.6 billion, according to a media report on Friday. The Pakistan Army said in a statement that "a contract for the sale of JF-17 Block-III fighter aircraft" to Azerbaijan was recently signed. The agreement was reportedly signed in February of this year, according to the Dawn newspaper.
According to reports in the Azerbaijani media, the aircraft were purchased for an undisclosed amount, armament for the jets, and training as part of a USD 1.6 billion deal. Following President Ilham Aliyev's official acceptance of the aircraft at the Heydar Aliyev International Airport on Wednesday, the Azerbaijani presidency released a statement stating, "The jets have already been integrated into the arsenal of Azerbaijan's Air Force."
President Aliyev was briefed about the jet's state-of-the-art tactical and technical specifications, operational guidelines, and key performance indicators during the ceremony, which was held on the sidelines of the Azerbaijan International Defence Exhibition 2024 in Baku. A picture showed President Aliyev seated inside a JF-17C Block III fighter aircraft. In addition to examining the aircraft, he saw an aerial display that demonstrated the fighter jet's agility and manoeuvrability.
According to Inter-Services Public Relations (ISPR), the military's media branch, Aliyev was "briefed on the combat capabilities and versatile employment options" of the fighter aircraft during his July visit to Islamabad. As per the report, President Aliyev praised the agreement and said it would "go a long way in consolidating the existing military cooperation between Pakistan and Azerbaijan, fostering closer defence collaboration."
Following Nigeria and Myanmar as the first two recipients of JF-17 fighter jets from Pakistan, Azerbaijan became the third. Rumours have long persisted that Iraq is also thinking of buying JF-17s from Pakistan. The Pakistan Aeronautical Complex and Chengdu Aircraft Industry Group in China developed the JF-17 Block III, which has sophisticated avionics including an Active Electronically Scanned Array radar and long-range missile capabilities.
The report states that the lightweight, single-engine fighter has a high degree of manoeuverability at medium and low altitudes and is intended for both air-to-ground and air-to-air operations.
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