The JF-17 is a fourth-generation, all-weather, multirole fighter aircraft developed by China and Pakistan. In 1989, Pakistan abandoned the Sabre II project due to economic sanctions from the United States. The project was a joint effort with Grumman and China to modernize the existing Chengdu F-7 aircraft. Soon afterward, Grumman also withdrew from the project. In 1995, Pakistan and China signed an agreement to jointly develop a new aircraft. In June of that year, the Mikoyan Design Bureau (MiG) joined the project. Prototype production began in September 2002, and a full-scale mockup of the FC-1/Super 7 was presented at an air show in China in November of that year.

The first prototype, PT-01, was completed in May 2003 and delivered to the flight test center in Chengdu in preparation for its maiden flight. Due to various delays, the first flight did not take place until early September. Meanwhile, the Super-7 designation was replaced with JF-17. Flight testing continued until 2007. In March, the first batch of two aircraft arrived in Pakistan in disassembled form. By 2015, the number of fighters had increased to 66. The aircraft is currently in service with the air forces of Pakistan, Myanmar, and Nigeria, and deliveries to the Azerbaijani Air Force are expected.

The JF-17 was introduced in Update 2.39 "Dance of Dragons". The aircraft features powerful, albeit short-range, FOX-3 air-to-air missiles; exceptional maneuverability; a reliable radar; and a decent RWR. However, the cannon is inconveniently placed, the maximum speed is low, and the aircraft quickly loses energy during maneuvers. In some battles, the JF-17 may expend all its flares too early.