Pakistan deploys JF-17 Thunder Block III fighter jets to Azerbaijan

Pakistan Air Force (PAF) has deployed its latest JF-17 Thunder Block III fighter jets to Azerbaijan to participate in the bilateral air combat exercise Indus Shield Alpha, the service announced via its official channels on Sunday. According to the PAF, the deployment included a non-stop ferry flight from Pakistan, made possible through aerial refueling support provided by a PAF-operated IL-78 tanker aircraft. The JF-17 Thunder Block III, co-developed by Pakistan and China, is equipped with advanced avionics, a KLJ-7A AESA radar, and enhanced beyond-visual-range (BVR) combat capability. The Block III variant represents the most modern iteration of the platform currently in operational service with the PAF.