A traditional Russian ally snubbed Moscow's latest fighter jets for competitors from Pakistan and Turkey

• Azerbaijan's biggest arms supplier has been Russia but it will likely acquire jets from elsewhere.
• The rumored deal suggests the longtime ally is detaching more from Moscow, a defense analyst said.
• Russia's answer to America's F-22 and F-35, the Su-57, has severe shortcomings.

The small, oil-rich South Caucasus country of Azerbaijan has big plans to upgrade its modest fleet of fighter jets over the next decade. However, rather than turn to Russia, its traditional arms supplier for decades, Baku will likely acquire modern fighters from Pakistan and Turkey.