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Revision as of 15:01, 16 January 2012

Azerbaijani Air and Air Defence Force
Azərbaycan Hərbi Hava Qüvvələri
Flag of Azerbaijan Air Force
Activec.1991- present
Country Azerbaijan
Size7,900 personnel
HeadquartersNasosnaya air base (in proximity of Sumqayit)
EngagementsNagorno-Karabakh War
Commanders
Current
commander		Major General Altay Mehdiyev[1]
Insignia
Roundel
Aircraft flown
AttackSu-17, Su-24 Su-25, Mi-24, Mi-35M
BomberSu-24
FighterMiG-21, MiG-29
InterceptorMiG-29, MiG-25
ReconnaissanceOrbiter UAV, Aerostar UAV, Elbit Hermes 450, IAI Searcher, IAI Heron
TrainerL-29, L-39
TransportIl-76, An-12, An-24, Mi-8, Mi-17, Mi-171

The Azerbaijani Air and Air Defence Force often referred to as the Azerbaijani Air Force (Azerbaijani: Azərbaycan hərbi hava qüvvələri) is the air force and air defence force of the Azerbaijani Armed Forces.

The roots of the current organisation go back to June 26, 1918, when the Azerbaijan Democratic Republic bought its first military aircraft. After independence in 1991-92, the presence of former Soviet air bases in Azerbaijan helped the Air and Air Defence Force develop.

Current organization

The Force has about 60 aircraft and 35 helicopters.[2] This exceeds the numbers allowed to Azerbaijan under the Conventional Forces in Europe treaty, which specifies 100 aircraft and 50 helicopters.[1] There are Soviet-made MiG-21s, MiG-23s, Su-24s and Su-25s, as well as fourth generation MiG-29s purchased from Ukraine in 2006 and Soviet-made Il-76s. Azerbaijan is having talks with either China or Pakistan to purchase JF-17 Thunder aircraft.[3] The MiG-29 has been designated as the standard aircraft for the AzAF.[4]

Brinkster.net reported in October 2004 that the Azeri Air and Air Defence Force comprised a fighter squadron at Nasosnaya Air Base with МiG-25PDs and training variants, a bomber aviation regiment at Kyurdamir with Su-17/24/25, MiG-21s, and L-29/39s, a transport aviation squadron at Ganja Airport with Il-76s(?), Аn-12/24, and Тu-134s, a helicopter squadron at Baku Kala Air Base with Мi-2/8/24s, two aircraft repair factories, and two air defence missile units. Other air bases include Dollyar Air Base (which Jane's Sentinel says is reported to be non-operational)[1] Nakhichevan Airport in the Nakhichevan exclave, Sanqacal Air Base, and Sitalcay Air Base.

Azeri pilots are trained at the Azerbaijan Air Force School and then develop their skills further within their units. Azerbaijan has an experience exchange with Turkey, the United States, Ukraine, and a number of other NATO countries. Turkish Air Force School plays a great role in the training of military pilots. The Azerbaijani pilots are also trained in Ukraine’s Pilot Training School.[5]

Recent events

On February 11, 2009, the commanding officer of the Air Force, General Lieutenant Rail Rzayev was assassinated outside his home.[6] Rzayev had been reportedly negotiating closer ties with the United States regarding air force modernisation before his death, possibly including the acquisition of US fighter aircraft.[7] The post was vacant until another officer, Mehtiev, was appointed in December 2009.[8]

On March 3, 2010, an Azerbaijani Air Force Su-25 crashed in the Tovuz region of Azerbaijan[9] killing the pilot, Famil Mammadli. An investigation is ongoing to determine the cause of the crash.

On February 3, 2011, an Azerbaijani Air and Air Defence Force Su-25UB crashed in the Kurdamir region of Azerbaijan. Both crew members were not injured.[citation needed]

Modernization

Jane's said in 2009 that 'efforts to acquire more modern hardware are understood to have been underway for several years, but funding constraints proved to be a stumbling block. Until quite recently, only limited success was achieved, with the most significant addition to the inventory being a handful of Su-25s that were obtained from Georgia in 2002. In 2007, however, Azerbaijan took delivery of the first of a substantial number of MiG-29 'Fulcrum' fighters. These are understood to have originated from disparate sources, including Belarus, Russia and Ukraine, with at least some having been overhauled at Odessa in Ukraine prior to delivery.[10]

The United States is the most active participant in the modernisation of Air Force airfields.[5] Airfields in Gala and the Nasosnaya Air Base near Haji Zeynalabidin settlement have been modernised with US support as part of the Azerbaijan-NATO Individual Partnership Action Plan. Special equipment were installed there to provide flight security. The starting command points, engineering control systems and engineering air force service were provided with new buildings. Negotiations over the modernisation of Kurdamir airfield are currently under way. An advanced Flight Control System has been installed at Dollyar Air Base with support from the United States.

Since September 2008, Turkey has helped to modernise the Air Force central command headquarters. According to a Turkish-Azeri agreement, a NATO standard central command management center will be installed there. A great number of projects such as joint manufacture of unmanned aircraft will be implemented with Turkey in the near future.[11][12]

Air Defence Force

Azeri air bases (not all shown).

The Air Defence Force is a component of the Air and Air Defence Force of Azerbaijan.[1] There are some installations of the Cold War era left by the Soviets in 1990.

The Gabala OTH Radar in Azerbaijan is operated by the Russian Space Forces. The radar station has a range of up to 6,000 kilometres (3,728 mi), and was designed to detect missile launches as far as from the Indian Ocean. It is not known whether Russia shares any of the radar's data with Azerbaijan.

In 2006, the US provided Azerbaijani military with additional radar installations. Plans were announced for the US to modernize one radar station near the Iranian border at Lerik and another near the border with Georgia at Agstafa. Joint work also commenced on two radar stations on the Russia-Azerbaijani border and Iran-Azerbaijani border to monitor Caspian Sea traffic.[13]

Azerbaijan has also a number of missile systems covering Azeri airspace. The NATO designated SA-2 Guideline (original name S-75 Dvina) has been installed in and around Baku and additional installations are near the border with Iran and Dagestan. Some are installed to defend against Armenian aircraft. In terms of numbers, the IISS reported in 2002 that Azerbaijan had 100 S-75 Dvina, S-125 Neva/Pechora, and S-200 systems.[14] Among them are the medium range SA-4, for short range the SA-8 and the SA-13 mobile SAM vehicles. Azerbaijan also has many lighter AA guns and shoulder launched SAMs.[citation needed]

In 2009 Azerbaijan's Defence Ministry signed a contract with Russia's Rosoboroneksport company to buy two S-300 PMU-2 “Favorit” battalions.[15][16]

Aircraft inventory

In September–October 2010, Azerbaijan purchased 24 Mi-35M from Rostvertol.[17][18][19]

With the arrival of the MiG-29s, the Air Force appears to have retired the MiG-25 aircraft that it used to fly from Nasosnaya Air Base. IISS estimates in 2007 reported 26 as still in service; other figures previously placed the total as high as 38.

The Air Force retains in store L-29 and L-39 fighter training aircraft produced in the Czech Republic and Ukraine.[5] The Azerbaijan Border Guard and Voluntary Society of Defense, Patriotism and Sport have Yakovlev assault light aircraft.

Azerbaijan also manufactures Israeli-designed spy planes. Among the licensed pilotless spy plane is the Orbiter-2M and the Aerostar. Both are manufactured at the government-owned Azad Systems Company plant near Baku.[20][21] The head of the Defense Industry, Yaver Jamalov, said that by the end of 2011 a total of 60 UAVs will be produced.[22][23]

Aircraft Origin Type Versions Active[24] Notes
Fighter Aircraft
Mikoyan-Gurevich MiG-21  Soviet Union Fighter MiG-21MF Fishbed-J 4 (IISS 2007: 1 in store)[25]
Mikoyan-Gurevich MiG-25  Soviet Union Interceptor MiG-25PD Foxbat-E
MiG-25PU Foxbat-B 		20
3 		9+ MiG-25PD in storage,[25] total up to 41[26] MiG25-PU are unarmed training models
Mikoyan-Gurevich MiG-29  Soviet Union/ Ukraine Multi-role fighter MiG-29 Fulcrum-A
MiG-29UB Fulcrum-B 		20
2 		50[27] The bulk of the Fulcrum fleet retained in storage.[25][28]
Ground-Attack Aircraft
Sukhoi Su-24  Soviet Union Tactical bomber Su-24 8[5]
Sukhoi Su-25  Soviet Union Close air support aircraft Su-25 30[29]
Trainer Aircraft
Aero L-29 Delfín  Czechoslovakia Military trainer aircraft L-29 28[30] (IISS 2007: 28)
Aero L-39 Albatros  Czechoslovakia Military trainer aircraft L-39 28[30] (IISS 2007: 12)
Attack Helicopters
Mil Mi-24  Soviet Union/ Ukraine/Template:Russia Attack helicopter Mi-24
Mi-35M 		60[31][32]
24[17]
Transport and Utility Helicopters
Mil Mi-8  Soviet Union Gunship/transport helicopter Mi-8
Mil Mi-17  Soviet Union/Template:Russia Transport helicopter Mi-17 30
Mil Mi-171  Soviet Union/Template:Russia Gunship/transport helicopter Mi-171 ?
Transport Aircraft
Ilyushin Il-76  Soviet Union Strategic airlifter Il-76 13
Antonov An-12  Soviet Union Military transport aircraft An-12
Antonov An-24  Soviet Union Transport aircraft An-24
Unmanned Aerial Vehicle
Orbiter  Israel UAV Orbiter 2M [33]
Aerostar  Israel UAV Aerostar [34]
IAI Searcher  Israel UAV Searcher 2 [35]
Elbit Hermes 450  Israel UAV Elbit Hermes 450 10[36]
IAI Heron  Israel UAV Heron 1 [35]

References

  1. ^ a b c d Jane's Sentinel Security Assessments - Russia and the CIS: Air Force, dated 18 June 2009
  2. ^ IISS (2007). The Military Balance 2007. London: Routledge for the IISS. p. 158. ISBN 978-1-85743-437-8. The IISS list 37 fighter aircraft, 15 fighter-ground attack aircraft, four transport aircraft, 50 training aircraft (including five combat capable trainers), 15 attack helicopters, and 20 transport helicopters
  3. ^ China supplies FC-1 multipurpose fighters to Azerbaijan
  4. ^ Azerbaijan shows 4th generation MiG-29 multirole fighter jets.
  5. ^ a b c d Azerbaijani Press Agency, Azerbaijan's military aviation opportunities, February 14, 2009
  6. ^ New York Times, Head of Azerbaijan's Air Force Shot Dead, February 11, 2009
  7. ^ Eurasia Critic, Only Bridge Between West and Caspian Falling Apart
  8. ^ http://aisor.am/en/news/2009/12/14/azerbaijan-mehtiev/
  9. ^ Military aircraft crashed in Azerbaijan
  10. ^ Jane's Sentinel Security Assessment, Russia and CIS, June 18, 2009, http://www.janes.com/extracts/extract/cissu/azers120.html
  11. ^ Turkish company Global Teknik offers joint production of unmanned aircraft to Azerbaijan.
  12. ^ Turkey to propose joint production of drones with Azerbaijan.
  13. ^ Azerbaijan & U.S. joint installations and U.S. radars in Azerbaijan
  14. ^ IISS Military Balance 2002, via Brinkster.net
  15. ^ Russian press: Azerbaijan signed a contract to buy C-300 surface-to-air missile systems from Russia – UPDATED
  16. ^ Russian press: Azerbaijan signed a contract to buy C-300 surface-to-air missile systems from Russia
  17. ^ a b [1]
  18. ^ ""Роствертол" увеличил в прошлом году чистую прибыль в 3 раза". "1News". February 23, 2011. Retrieved February 23, 2011.
  19. ^ "Azerbaijan purchased from Russia 24 Mi-35M". "Arms-Tass". February 24, 2011. Retrieved February 24, 2011.
  20. ^ Azerbaijan's Spying Carpets
  21. ^ "Azad Systems starts UAV production". "Flightglobal". April 8, 2011. Retrieved April 8, 2011.
  22. ^ "Azərbaycan ilin sonuna qədər 60 ədəd pilotsuz təyyarə istehsal edəcək". "ANS Press". May 11, 2011. Retrieved May 11, 2011.
  23. ^ "До конца года Азербайджан произведет 60 беспилотников". Retrieved 12 May 2011.
  24. ^ Milaviapress.com, Azerbaijani military aviation OrBat
  25. ^ a b c [2]
  26. ^ [3]
  27. ^ "Strike and Fighter Aircraft, Ukraine Exports". Article. Deagle. Retrieved 25 May 2011.
  28. ^ Mikoyan-Gurevich MiG-29#Operators
  29. ^ Belarus exports five Su-25 fighter jets to Azerbaijan
  30. ^ a b Aviation Week and Space Technology 2009 Sourcebook Azerbaijan
  31. ^ Azerbaijan buys 11 Mi-24 from Ukraine
  32. ^ [4]
  33. ^ http://en.apa.az/news.php?id=147288
  34. ^ http://en.apa.az/news.php?id=147288
  35. ^ a b http://www.flightglobal.com/articles/2011/04/18/355665/iai-offers-to-sell-heron-searcher-uavs-to-azerbaijan.html
  36. ^ [5]
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