Key Points:
- PAF confirms arrival of JF-17 Block III fighters in Azerbaijan for Indus Shield Alpha
- Non-stop flight executed with mid-air refuelling by IL-78 aerial tanker
- Exercise focuses on modern aerial warfare, interoperability, and tactical coordination
- Move reflects growing Pakistan-Azerbaijan defence collaboration and regional outreach
ISLAMABAD: The Pakistan Air Force (PAF) on Sunday confirmed that its latest JF-17 Thunder Block-III fighter jets have landed in Azerbaijan to participate in a bilateral aerial combat exercise titled Indus Shield Alpha.
In an official statement posted on X (formerly Twitter) by DGPR (Air Force) [@DGPR_PAF], the PAF said its contingent—comprising “cutting-edge JF-17 Thunder Block-III fighter jets, accompanied by skilled air and ground crew”—had arrived in Azerbaijan on 19 October 2025 for the joint drills.
The PAF noted that its fighter aircraft had completed a non-stop flight from Pakistan with air-to-air refuelling conducted by a PAF IL-78 aerial tanker, underscoring the Air Force’s “operational prowess and endurance.” The mid-air refuelling operation, carried out with what the statement called “utmost precision,” demonstrated the long-range deployment capability of the Block-III variant and highlighted “the professional excellence and preparedness of PAF aircrew to undertake extended international missions.”
PAF CONTINGENT ARRIVES IN AZERBAIJAN FOR BILATERAL EXERCISE INDUS SHIELD ALPHA
19 October, 2025: Pakistan Air Force contingent comprising the cutting-edge JF-17 Thunder Block-III fighter jets, accompanied by skilled air and ground crew, has landed in Azerbaijan to participate in… pic.twitter.com/pDgyg9rwMM
— DGPR (AIR FORCE) (@DGPR_PAF) October 19, 2025
According to the statement, Exercise Indus Shield Alpha aims to enhance mutual understanding, tactical coordination, and interoperability between the two “brotherly Air Forces.” The drills will focus on modern aerial warfare tactics, joint mission planning, and execution in technologically evolving airpower environments, serving as a platform to exchange operational insights and strengthen collaborative responses to emerging aerial threats.
The PAF added that the exercise reaffirms its “enduring commitment to regional stability and global military cooperation” and reflects its resolve to “continuously evolve and adapt to the demands of contemporary warfare.”
Defence analysts note that the joint excercise comes amid Azerbaijan’s ongoing fighter recapitalisation programme, under which Baku has contracted 40 JF-17 Block-III aircraft in a deal reportedly valued at around $4.6 billion. The aircraft—co-developed by Pakistan Aeronautical Complex (PAC) Kamra and China’s Chengdu Aircraft Industry Group—are equipped with an AESA radar (active electronically scanned array), advanced electronic warfare systems, and beyond-visual-range missile capability, placing them among the most capable fourth-generation fighters in their class.
Military cooperation between Pakistan and Azerbaijan has expanded in recent years, building on shared diplomatic alignment and training exchanges. Observers view the latest deployment as both a technical milestone—given the successful long-range refuelling flight—and a strategic signal of deepening defence ties between Islamabad and Baku.
