Azerbaijan has significantly expanded its air defense and air force capabilities amid regional security concerns following the Iran war, with recent acquisitions including JF-17C Block III fighter jets and Chinese HQ-9BE air defense systems.

Axar.az reports, citing Forbes, that Baku officially confirmed the introduction of the JF-17C Block III aircraft into its air force in July.

Azerbaijan increased its order from 16 to 40 jets in 2025, raising the value of the deal to $4.2 billion.

The report said the JF-17C represents a major upgrade over Azerbaijan’s aging MiG-29 fleet and could make the Azerbaijani Air Force the most capable in the South Caucasus.

Azerbaijan has also added HQ-9BE strategic air defense missile systems from China to its arsenal, which already includes Russian S-300 systems and Israeli Barak air defense platforms.

The report noted that the acquisitions reflect Azerbaijan’s efforts to strengthen its ability to counter a range of aerial threats, including drones and missile attacks.

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