Azerbaijan interested in purchase of JF-17 Thunder

[Interceptor]

Azerbaijan interested in purchase of JF-17 Thunder fighters

Mon 09 August 2010
29129

JF-17

Pakistani fighter Catic JF-17 Thunder has been demonstrated at an airshow in Farnborough.

It has attracted the interest of a number of countries including Azerbaijan.

JF-17 Thunder fighter was initially developed by Chinese engineers for the needs of the Pakistani army. First fighters JF-17 Thunder (Chinese FC-1 Saolun) were supplied to the Pakistani armed forces in 2007.

Now the project is entering a new level and the Chinese-Pakistani producers are searching ways to the international market.

Among potential customers who demonstrated interest to the innovation are Azerbaijan, Iran, Egypt, Turkey, Venezuela and a number of other countries.

Earlier, the press spread information about an agreement with Azerbaijan regarding the purchase of at least 24 JF-17 fighters estimated at about $17m each, which envisions the volumes of supply at about $500,000,000.

The JF-17 fighter is 14 m in length, the wing span is 8.5 m and it is equipped with RD-93 engine.

The capacity of the plane is 3720 kg, the battle radius at the fighter version is 1200 km, maximal flight range is 3000 km. It can be equipped with different types of air-air and air-land rockets, as well as air bombs.

News.Az - Azerbaijan interested in purchase of JF-17 Thunder fighters

[keysersoze]

Yeah this has been in the pipeline for a while now anyone know if it is progressing?

[Interceptor]

Well reading arround the web about this deal I learned that the deal was pretty genuine with Azerbaijan defence attache visiting Pakistan in 2007. But it seems that the deal is hanging on internal politics. Pakistani lobbying would be required to convince them to replace their aging fleet with the low-cost JF's which in all reasonable circumstances provide much more than their price tags.

There are high level talks between the two nations just on July 29 president visited Azerbaijan on invitation and days before PM urged more trade between two countries.