ISLAMABAD

Azerbaijan has signed a contract to buy JF-17 Block-III fighter jets from Pakistan, an official statement said on Thursday. 

The procurement of JF-17 aircraft "will bolster the airpower capabilities of Azerbaijan," the Pakistani military said in a statement.

It is part of Islamabad's "efforts to enhance defense cooperation with friendly countries," it added.

The deal on the JF-17s, co-produced by Pakistan and China, came following Azerbaijani President Ilham Aliyev’s trip to Pakistan in July.

Aliyev was "briefed on the combat capabilities and versatile employment options of JF-17 Block-III fighter aircraft" during that trip, said the Pakistani army.

Pakistan deployed an Air Force contingent to Azerbaijan’s capital Baku to attend this week’s Azerbaijan International Defense Exhibition (ADEX), showcasing the aerial prowess and static display of the JF-17 Thunder Block-III.

Aliyev visited the static display of JF-17 Block-III and later witnessed an aerial demonstration of the JF-17 Thunder, showcasing the agility and maneuverability of the fighter jet alongside the professional competence of Pakistani Armed Forces pilots, according to the statement.

The JF-17 Thunder Block-III is capable of undertaking a wide array of combat missions providing contemporary air power employment options.

Pakistan’s Air Force formally inducted the JF-17 Thunder Block II dual-seater fighter aircraft into its fleet in 2020 and also launched the production of the fighter aircraft, jointly developed by Islamabad and Beijing.