Pakistan's military said on September 26 that the country has signed a contract to sell JF-17 Block III fighter jets to Azerbaijan. The aircraft is co-produced by the Pakistan Aeronautical Complex and developed jointly with China, with whom Islamabad has grown increasingly close as ties with its traditional military ally, the United States, have weakened over the last few years. The military did not provide the cost or quantity of jets agreed to, but said in a statement that the sale was part of Islamabad's efforts to enhance defense cooperation with friendly countries and bolster the air-power capabilities of Azerbaijan. Pakistan is also a close ally of Turkey, which backed Azerbaijan in its standoff with Armenia when clashes erupted between the two South Caucasus countries last year, resuming decades-old hostilities.
Pakistan Signs Contract To Sell JF-17 Fighter Jets To Azerbaijan
Pakistani Air Force personnel stand guard in front of 14 JF-17B multirole aircraft at a ceremony in 2020.