Azerbaijan Buys 40 Advanced JF-17 Fighter Jets From Pakistan in $4.6 Billion Deal

Pakistan is selling 40 advanced JF-17 Thunder fighter jets to Azerbaijan, a deal that is causing serious concern in Armenia and across the South Caucasus. The sale, reported by Forbes, marks Pakistan’s largest-ever defense export — a deal worth a staggering $4.6 billion.

According to official announcements from Pakistan’s government, Azerbaijan expanded its original order from 16 to 40 aircraft. The first JF-17 fighter jet was delivered to Azerbaijan on September 25, 2024. The new order significantly increases Azerbaijan’s airpower, at a time when the region remains tense following the 2020 war and the ethnic cleansing of Artsakh (Nagorno-Karabakh).

The version of the fighter jet Azerbaijan is receiving is the JF-17C Block III. This is an advanced aircraft equipped with modern radar systems and weapons usually found on more expensive Western or Russian planes.

Even though the JF-17 is not as stealthy as fifth-generation or future sixth-generation fighters, analysts say it is a cost-effective choice for Azerbaijan. The jet can integrate easily with many Turkish-made weapons systems already used by the Azerbaijani military.

Sam Lichtenstein, a defense analyst, explained that this allows Azerbaijan to replace its older, Soviet-era aircraft with newer, more capable jets. It also allows closer military cooperation between Azerbaijan, Turkey, and Pakistan — a troubling military alliance for Armenia and the wider region.

For Armenia, this growing military cooperation and arms buildup is a clear threat to regional stability. Azerbaijan already used advanced drones and weaponry, with the support of Turkey, during the 2020 war against Armenians in Artsakh. The addition of 40 modern fighter jets only raises the risk of further aggression.

Azerbaijan has a long track record of using military force rather than diplomacy. Just last year, it launched an unprovoked attack on Artsakh, forcing over 120,000 Armenians to flee their ancestral homes. This fighter jet deal signals that Baku is continuing to invest in offensive capabilities, rather than peace or reconciliation.

Pakistan’s massive arms sale to Azerbaijan is not just another business deal — it is a dangerous signal that will fuel an already unstable situation. 

With these new fighter jets, Azerbaijan will have greater power to intimidate its neighbors and potentially launch new attacks.

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