Will Armenia lean towards India as Pakistan begins delivery of JF-17C Thunder jets to Azerbaijan?

Pakistan has delivered three JF-17C Block III Thunder fighter aircraft to its ally Azerbaijan, reports said. Two single-seat JF-17Cs and one dual-seat trainer variant of the fourth-generation multi-role aircraft were spotted at Azerbaijan's Nasosnaya Airbase, reports said. The handover is reportedly part of the $4.6 billion defence partnership between the two nations.

The Azerbaijani Air Force has so far been dependent on the Russian MiG-29 Fulcrum and Su-25 Frogfoot and was desperate to switch to fourth-generation fighter jets. The aircraft spotted at Nasosnaya had Azerbaijani emblems, reports said, adding that Islamabad is said to have made the deliveries in early October. Post-delivery testing and pilot familiarisation phase is underway at the airbase situated north of Baku, they added. Under the deal, Pakistan is set to provide the Caucasus nation with 40 units of the JF‑17 Thunder Block III. It is said to be the largest ever export contract in Pakistan’s defence industry to date.

 

All eyes on Armenia

 

Azerbaijan and Turkey are Pakistan's closest allies, with the former having openly made statements backing Pakistan during 'Operation Sindoor'. Turkish drones were used by Pakistan against India during the conflict, further strengthening the talks about the "Ankara-Islamabad-Baku axis".

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Meanwhile, the delivery may pressure Armenia, Azerbaijan's rival, to modernise its Air Force as well. Although Baku had considerably higher defence spending than its neighbour, Armenia is likely to turn towards India or France for help. According to reports, Armenia may look to acquire radar, drone, and missile technologies to back their Russian-made S-300 and Tor-M2 systems to counter the threat that JF-17Cs could pose.

In March 2025, Armenia’s Foreign Minister visited India and the two countries signed MoUs for cooperation in regulating medical products and diplomatic training. The same month, Armenia’s Ambassador to India, Vahagn Afyan, met with Vishwesh Negi, the Joint Secretary of International Cooperation at the Indian Ministry of Defense

 

 

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What are Pakistan's JF-17 fighter jets?

 

The JF-17Cs are developed jointly by the Pakistan Aeronautical Complex (PAC) and the Chengdu Aircraft Corporation (CAC) from China. Capable of gaining speeds of around 1,909 km/h, this versatile combat jet can typically carry a total payload of 3,400 kg. Originally intended to be a low-cost rival to the reputed Russian Su-30MKI and MiG-29, as well as the French Mirage-2000, Pakistan is said to have lost at least a couple of JF-17Cs to India's long-range missiles during Operation Sindoor.

Defence