Azerbaijan is set to become the first international buyer of the JF-17 Thunder (Block-3) light combat aircraft!
KAZI ABUL MONSUR/SHERAZUR RAHMAN#
As part of its air force modernization efforts, Azerbaijan signed a deal with Pakistan on February 22, 2024, to purchase an unknown number of advanced JF-17 Thunder (Block-3) light combat aircraft for $1.6 billion. This deal likely includes 30 single-seat JF-17 (Block-3) fighter jets, along with training, maintenance for a specified period, logistics support, and weapons packages.
On September 25, Azerbaijan’s state-controlled media reported that a JF-17 (Block-3) Thunder fighter jet was formally presented to Azerbaijan’s president at the Defense Expo (Adex 2024), which took place last month. It is also believed that Pakistan Aeronautical Complex has already delivered a few aircraft from the first batch to Azerbaijan.
The JF-17 Thunder (Block-3) light combat aircraft, developed jointly by Pakistan and China, is the most advanced and high-tech version in the series. It addresses all limitations and shortcomings of the previous models with new engines, avionics systems, and modern weaponry. Pakistan first unveiled the Block-3 series to the world on December 15, 2019, and began serial production on December 30, 2020.
The aircraft features state-of-the-art technology, including the NRIET/CETC KLJ-7A air-cooled airborne fire-control active electronically scanned array (AESA) radar system. Additionally, it is equipped with a digital fly-by-wire flight control system, an infrared search and track (IRST) system, a helmet-mounted display and sight (HMDAS) system, and a missile approach warning system (MAWS).
The fighter jet uses the Russian-made Klimov RD-33 afterburner turbofan engine, specifically the RD-93MA variant, which generates 49.4 kilonewtons of thrust. However, Pakistan is expected to replace this engine in the near future with a more powerful Chinese-made Guizhou WS-13 afterburner turbofan jet engine, which can produce up to 56.75 kilonewtons of thrust.
According to Chinese and Pakistani media, the JF-17 (Block-3) Thunder aircraft is classified as a 4++ generation light combat aircraft. It is equipped with an advanced electronic warfare system, and composite materials are used in the airframe to reduce its radar cross-section (RCS) and overall weight.
The maximum speed of this fighter is 1.6 Mach or 1,910 kilometers per hour. Its combat range is 900 kilometers, but with drop tanks, it can conduct air combat missions up to 1,741 kilometers. The aircraft has a maximum payload capacity of 4,000 kilograms and is capable of carrying air-to-air missiles, air-to-ground missiles, and anti-ship missiles on its eight hardpoints.
Notably, it has provisions for the installation of China’s PL-15E (export version) beyond-visual-range air-to-air missile (BVR) with a range of 145 kilometers, which China promotes as a game-changer weapon. In addition to guided and unguided bombs, the aircraft is also equipped with a sophisticated 23mm GSh-23 twin-barrel autocannon.
Although Pakistan began production in 2020, the first public rollout image was released in early 2022. The first unit entered service in the Pakistan Air Force in March 2023. Interestingly, despite the extensive use of Chinese technology and weapons in the JF-17 Thunder series, China’s air force does not operate this aircraft and has not announced any plans to do so in the future.##