Nov 27, 2016 Bilal Khan
As per aviation journalist and close Pakistan Air Force (PAF)
watcher Alan Warnes, the Azerbaijani Air and Air Defence Force (or Azeri Air
Force) has rekindled its
interest in the JF-17 Thunder. It is also interested in the prospect
of using the MFI-395 Super Mushshak as a basic trainer.
The JF-17 notwithstanding, Azerbaijan and Pakistan have been
working to enhance bilateral defence ties.
In October, Prime Minister Nawaz Sharif made a three-day official visit to Baku, where he issued a statement
with Azerbaijan’s President Ilham Aliyev to engage in co-production and
training initiatives.
The two sides signed a bilateral defence cooperation agreement
at the beginning of November.
Azerbaijan’s First Deputy Prime Minister Yaqub Eyyubov attended
the International Defence Exhibition and Seminar (IDEAS), where he reiterated
his government’s interest in building relations with Pakistan.
Notes & Comments:
Pakistan has marketed the JF-17 as a suitable fast jet
replacement for legacy platforms. In Azerbaijan, the focus would be on offering
the JF-17 as a potent successor to the MiG-21 and Su-25.
In terms of the Su-25, Aselsan’s recent
confirmation that it is supplying its ASELPOD advanced
targeting pod for the JF-17 should resonate favourably in terms of promoting
the Thunder’s strike capabilities. In this respect, Azerbaijan has the option
of procuring precision-guided air-to-surface munitions from China or Turkey.
Stand-off range munitions (e.g. anti-ship missiles) are also available from
China. Alternatively, Azerbaijan could also utilize its ties with South Africa
to procure munitions from Denel Dynamics.
The JF-17 is a full multi-role platform capable of air-to-air
missions using beyond-visual-range air-to-air missiles and all-aspect
within-visual-range air-to-air missiles. Coupled with the platform’s
compatibility with a tactical data-link and modern electronic warfare and
electronic countermeasures suite, the JF-17 can be presented as a complete and
potent solution.
The Pakistan Air Force (PAF) sought the Thunder to disseminate
subsystems and capabilities found in costlier platforms to its mainstay fleet.
Managing cost and guaranteeing accessible sources for complex technology are
critical aspects to the JF-17, which the PAF is likely marketing in tandem with
the actual fighter. For countries locked in long-term cross-border tensions or
unable to readily access top-end technology from traditional industry leaders,
this message could resonate strongly.
Furthermore, the availability of active electronically-scanned
array (AESA) radar options from the Nanjing Research Institute of Electronics
Technology (NRIET) and Leonardo have made the JF-17 Block-III into a more
tangible factor in terms of discussion, especially with prospective customers.
In fact, during IDEAS, the PAF leadership made it a point to
convey their commitment to the JF-17 Thunder, noting that it is the fleet’s
primary asset and that its continued improvement would be prioritized ahead of
other needs. The question of another fighter platform was, at least during
IDEAS, an ancillary issue, albeit one being exploredthrough
Russia, China and “one or two” other countries.
Original post: quwa.org
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