On June 8, 2025, the American magazine Forbes published an article by columnist Paul Iddon titled How Armenia Might Respond To Azerbaijan’s JF-17 Fighter Acquisition. The piece focuses on the largest defense deal between Azerbaijan and Pakistan to date, under which Baku ordered 40 multirole JF-17 Thunder fighter jets for approximately $4.6 billion. Although the article is formally presented as an analytical overview, its tone clearly reflects the concern of Western and Armenian circles over Azerbaijan’s growing military capabilities.
Rather than acknowledging Azerbaijan’s legitimate right to strengthen its defense capabilities, the publication concentrates on the risks this poses for Armenia. The author raises the possibility of renewed escalation, recalls Armenia’s defeats in 2020 and 2023, and speculates about potential “provocations” by Baku, including the realization of the Zangezur Corridor project. Tellingly, even the purchase of modern aircraft is framed as a direct threat to Armenian interests.
Nevertheless, despite its evident bias, the article holds analytical value. It undeniably recognizes that Azerbaijan has reached a qualitatively new level as a regional military power. Even analysts critical of Baku admit that the JF-17s represent a technological leap compared to outdated Soviet aircraft and emphasize that the new platforms integrate seamlessly with Turkish and Israeli systems already in service with Azerbaijan.
The article also highlights Azerbaijan’s steady reduction of its dependency on the Russian defense industry. Armenia, by contrast, finds itself scrambling to find alternative suppliers following a decline in deliveries from Moscow, turning to France and India. However, such contracts are either financially burdensome or limited in scale and delivery timeframes. Even the potential purchase of French-made Dassault Rafale jets, discussed in the article, is portrayed as unlikely.
Underlying the entire piece is a palpable sense of anxiety: Azerbaijan has achieved a stable strategic advantage that is causing growing concern not only in Yerevan but also among pro-Western expert circles. This advantage stems not just from the scale of defense procurement, but from the quality of integration, the speed of modernization, and the political will behind it. The Forbes article ultimately reflects this new regional balance—serving as an indirect acknowledgment of Azerbaijan’s success in building a modern, technologically advanced military force.
