On July 5 (local time), the official website of the Azerbaijani Ministry of Defence announced that the Azerbaijani Air Force had conducted flight training with the JF-17C-a modern, lightweight, all-weather, multi-role aircraft (also known as the "Xiaolong" or "Thunder" Block III fighter).
The Ministry's announcement included photos and video footage from the scene. The video showed two JF-17C fighters-bearing tail numbers 24-501 and 24-502, indicating they were manufactured in 2024-undergoing static display and takeoff drills. Azerbaijani pilots, wearing flight suits featuring the national flag, were shown piloting the aircraft during the training session.
[Images]
JF-17 (Xiaolong) fighter displayed by the Azerbaijani Air Force (Source: Social Media)
In early 2024, the English-language Azerbaijani media outlet *AzerNews* reported that Azerbaijan and Pakistan had signed a $1.6 billion contract for the purchase of JF-17C fighter jets, along with associated ammunition, spare parts, and pilot training services. The report cited Dr. Mehmood-ul-Hassan Khan, head of the Geopolitics and Economics Department at Pakistan's *Defence Journal*, noting that Azerbaijan had become the third country-following Myanmar and Nigeria-to acquire the JF-17 fighter.
Although the wait for delivery following the contract signing was not particularly long, the delivery process itself involved some twists and turns.
On September 25, 2024, the Azerbaijani Ministry of Defence announced that President Ilham Aliyev had visited Heydar Aliyev International Airport in Baku to take delivery of a modern, lightweight, all-weather, multi-role aircraft; the JF-17C was showcased at the site.
[Image]
During the inspection, President Aliyev boarded the JF-17C on static display and donned a flight helmet to experience the cockpit. Photos show that while the fighter jet retained the standard Pakistan Air Force livery, the Pakistani national flag on its vertical stabilizer had been painted over.
Despite the high-profile display of the "Xiaolong" (JF-17) fighter, subsequent reports by Azerbaijani media indicated that the aircraft-belonging to the Pakistan Air Force-returned to Pakistan after a brief stay in Azerbaijan and resumed service with the Pakistan Air Force.
A year later, in November 2025, Pakistan announced that a Pakistan Air Force contingent had arrived in Azerbaijan to participate in a bilateral joint air exercise. The contingent comprised JF-17C fighter jets along with experienced aircrew and ground personnel. At the time, there was speculation that these Pakistan Air Force JF-17s would be handed over to Azerbaijan in an operational state, but the aircraft ultimately returned to Pakistan.
After several twists and turns, Azerbaijan finally took delivery of the "Xiaolong" fighter jets in July of this year.
Azerbaijan also plans to acquire additional "Xiaolong" fighters. In May of this year, AzerNews reported that Azerbaijan had ordered 40 ASELPOD electro-optical pods from Turkey to equip the JF-17C fighters delivered by Pakistan. The ASELPOD is an advanced third-generation multi-sensor electro-optical targeting pod developed by the Turkish company Aselsan. It is primarily designed to provide fighter jets with long-range reconnaissance, surveillance, and target-location capabilities, as well as the ability to guide laser-guided weapons for precision strikes. This implies that Azerbaijan's total JF-17C fleet will reach 40 aircraft.
