PAF completes non-stop flight to Azerbaijan, conducts precise aerial refueling operations
A contingent of Pakistan Air Force (PAF), comprising advanced JF-17 Thunder Block-III fighter jets along with trained air and ground crews, has arrived in Azerbaijan to participate in the bilateral air combat exercise Indus Shield Alpha.
The PAF aircraft conducted a non-stop flight from Pakistan to Azerbaijan, carrying out precise mid-air refueling operations. The complex mid-air refueling, carried out by the PAF’s own IL-78 refueling aircraft, “reaffirmed the long-range capability of the PAF’s combat aircraft” and highlighted the “professional excellence and readiness of the PAF aircrew” for extended international missions, according to a statement given by the ISPR.
According to the Air Force, the Indus Shield Alpha exercise aims to improve mutual understanding, tactical coordination and interoperability between the two “fraternal air forces”. The exercises will focus on modern air warfare tactics, joint mission planning and operational execution in an environment shaped by rapid technological change and evolving air power dynamics.
The PAF said the exercise will also serve as a “vital platform to exchange operational information and strengthen collaborative responses to emerging air defense challenges.”
Participation in Indus Shield Alpha, the PAF added, reflects its “enduring commitment to regional stability and global military cooperation”, as well as its determination to “continuously evolve and adapt to the demands of contemporary warfare” while maintaining a tradition of excellence in all areas of air operations.
