Azerbaijan has officially inducted JF-17C Block III multirole fighter jets into its air force, with the country’s Ministry of Defence (MoD) releasing the first footage of the aircraft in operational service.
The video showed two single-seat fighters, bearing serial numbers 24-501 and 24-502, taking off with three external fuel tanks each and no visible weapons. Patches worn by the pilots confirmed the aircraft are the advanced JF-17C Block III variant.
While the MoD did not disclose the location of the airbase, the aircraft were identified as operating from Nasosnaya Air Base, which has recently undergone major upgrades, including the construction of 16 hardened aircraft shelters.
The footage also revealed at least four JF-17s positioned inside the shelters, indicating that additional aircraft have already been delivered. Several Su-25 ground-attack aircraft were also visible at the base.
The newly inducted fighters feature the word “Jaguar” and the image of the wild cat on their tails, suggesting the creation of a dedicated JF-17 squadron. Azerbaijan’s upgraded Su-25 fleet, meanwhile, carries a wolf insignia on its nose despite continuing to operate under the Su-25 Squadron designation.
