Azerbaijan Air Force
Encyclopedia
The Azerbaijani Air and Air Defence Force often referred to as the Azerbaijani Air Force 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.
in 2006 and Soviet-made Il-76s. Azerbaijan is having talks with either China
or Pakistan
to purchase JF-17 Thunder aircraft. The MiG-29 has been designated as the standard aircraft for the AzAF.
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) 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.
was assassinated outside his home. 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. The post was vacant until another officer, Mehtiev, was appointed in December 2009.
On March 3, 2010, an Azerbaijani Air Force Su-25 crashed in the Tovuz region of Azerbaijan 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.
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.
The United States is the most active participant in the modernisation of Air Force airfields. 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.
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.
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. 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 SAM
s.
In 2009 Azerbaijan's Defence Ministry signed a contract with Russia's Rosoboroneksport company to buy two S-300 PMU-2 “Favorit” battalions.
.
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
. 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. The head of the Defense Industry, Yaver Jamalov, said that by the end of 2011 a total of 60 UAVs will be produced.
Air force
An air force, also known in some countries as an air army, is in the broadest sense, the national military organization that primarily conducts aerial warfare. More specifically, it is the branch of a nation's armed services that is responsible for aerial warfare as distinct from an army, navy or...
and air defence force of the Azerbaijani Armed Forces
Azerbaijani Armed Forces
The Azerbaijani Armed Forces were re-established according to the Law of the Republic of Azerbaijan on the Armed Forces from 9 October 1991. The Azerbaijan Democratic Republic had originally formed its own armed forces from 26 June 1918...
.
The roots of the current organisation go back to June 26, 1918, when the Azerbaijan Democratic Republic
Azerbaijan Democratic Republic
The Azerbaijan Democratic Republic was the first successful attempt to establish a democratic and secular republic in the Muslim world . The ADR was founded on May 28, 1918 after the collapse of the Russian Empire that began with the Russian Revolution of 1917 by Azerbaijani National Council in...
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 600 aircraft and 350 helicopters. This exceeds the numbers allowed to Azerbaijan under the Conventional Forces in Europe treaty, which specifies 100 aircraft and 50 helicopters. There are Soviet-made MiG-21s, MiG-23s, Su-24s and Su-25s, as well as fourth generation MiG-29s purchased from UkraineUkraine
Ukraine is a country in Eastern Europe. It has an area of 603,628 km², making it the second largest contiguous country on the European continent, after Russia...
in 2006 and Soviet-made Il-76s. Azerbaijan is having talks with either China
China
Chinese civilization may refer to:* China for more general discussion of the country.* Chinese culture* Greater China, the transnational community of ethnic Chinese.* History of China* Sinosphere, the area historically affected by Chinese culture...
or Pakistan
Pakistan
Pakistan , officially the Islamic Republic of Pakistan is a sovereign state in South Asia. It has a coastline along the Arabian Sea and the Gulf of Oman in the south and is bordered by Afghanistan and Iran in the west, India in the east and China in the far northeast. In the north, Tajikistan...
to purchase JF-17 Thunder aircraft. The MiG-29 has been designated as the standard aircraft for the AzAF.
Brinkster.net reported in October 2004 that the Azeri Air and Air Defence Force comprised a fighter squadron
Squadron (aviation)
A squadron in air force, army aviation or naval aviation is mainly a unit comprising a number of military aircraft, usually of the same type, typically with 12 to 24 aircraft, sometimes divided into three or four flights, depending on aircraft type and air force...
at Nasosnaya Air Base
Nasosnaya Air Base
Nasosnaya Air Base is a military airbase near the municipality of Nasosnaya , in the city of Sumqayit in Azerbaijan....
with МiG-25PDs and training variants, a bomber aviation regiment at Kyurdamir
Kyurdamir Air Base
Kyurdamir Air Base is a military airbase in Kyurdamir , the capital of the Kurdamir district in Azerbaijan....
with Su-17/24/25, MiG-21s, and L-29/39s, a transport aviation squadron at Ganja Airport
Ganja Airport
Ganja International Airport is an airport serving Ganja , the second-largest city in Azerbaijan.It is also used by the Azerbaijani Air and Air Defence Force and was previously used by the Soviet Air Force.-Facilities:...
with Il-76s(?), Аn-12/24, and Тu-134s, a helicopter squadron at Baku Kala Air Base
Baku Kala Air Base
Baku Kala Air Base is a military airbase in Baku , the capital of Azerbaijan.-Facilities:The air base resides at an elevation of above mean sea level. It has one runway designated 18/36 with a concrete surface measuring ....
with Мi-2/8/24s, two aircraft repair factories, and two air defence missile units. Other air bases include Dollyar Air Base
Dollyar Air Base
Dollyar Air Base is a military airbase in Dollyar , a municipality of the Shamkir district in Azerbaijan....
(which Jane's Sentinel says is reported to be non-operational) Nakhichevan Airport
Nakhichevan Airport
-References: Polyot-Sirena...
in the Nakhichevan
Nakhichevan
The Nakhchivan Autonomous Republic is a landlocked exclave of Azerbaijan. The region covers 5,363 km² and borders Armenia to the east and north, Iran to the south and west, and Turkey to the northwest...
exclave, Sanqacal
Sanqaçal
Sanqaçal is a settlement and municipality in Baku, Azerbaijan. It has a population of 4,108....
Air Base, and Sitalcay
Sitalçay
Sitalçay is a village and municipality in the Khizi Rayon of Azerbaijan. It has a population of 1,234.The Sitalchay air base was the location of the first Soviet Air Forces Sukhoi Su-25 unit....
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
Turkey
Turkey , known officially as the Republic of Turkey , is a Eurasian country located in Western Asia and in East Thrace in Southeastern Europe...
, the United States
United States
The United States of America is a federal constitutional republic comprising fifty states and a federal district...
, Ukraine
Ukraine
Ukraine is a country in Eastern Europe. It has an area of 603,628 km², making it the second largest contiguous country on the European continent, after Russia...
, and a number of other NATO countries. Turkish Air Force School
Turkish Air Force Academy
The Turkish Air Force Academy was founded in 1951, replacing the Army Flight School and with the mandate to train the officers of the Turkish Air Force. Today it is a four-year institution of higher learning, providing an engineering education to Air Force cadets from Turkey as well as a number of...
plays a great role in the training of military pilots. The Azerbaijani pilots are also trained in Ukraine’s Pilot Training School.
Recent events
On February 11, 2009, the commanding officer of the Air Force, General Lieutenant Rail RzayevRail Rzayev
Lieutenant General Rail Rzayev Gurban oglu was the Commander of the Azerbaijani Air Force from shortly after Azerbaijan's independence in the early 1990s, to his death in 2009.-Early life:Rzayev was born on March 10, 1945 in Baku, Azerbaijan...
was assassinated outside his home. 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. The post was vacant until another officer, Mehtiev, was appointed in December 2009.
On March 3, 2010, an Azerbaijani Air Force Su-25 crashed in the Tovuz region of Azerbaijan 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.
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 GeorgiaGeorgia (country)
Georgia is a sovereign state in the Caucasus region of Eurasia. Located at the crossroads of Western Asia and Eastern Europe, it is bounded to the west by the Black Sea, to the north by Russia, to the southwest by Turkey, to the south by Armenia, and to the southeast by Azerbaijan. The capital of...
in 2002.
Belarus
Belarus , officially the Republic of Belarus, is a landlocked country in Eastern Europe, bordered clockwise by Russia to the northeast, Ukraine to the south, Poland to the west, and Lithuania and Latvia to the northwest. Its capital is Minsk; other major cities include Brest, Grodno , Gomel ,...
, Russia and Ukraine, with at least some having been overhauled at Odessa
Odessa
Odessa or Odesa is the administrative center of the Odessa Oblast located in southern Ukraine. The city is a major seaport located on the northwest shore of the Black Sea and the fourth largest city in Ukraine with a population of 1,029,000 .The predecessor of Odessa, a small Tatar settlement,...
in Ukraine prior to delivery.
The United States is the most active participant in the modernisation of Air Force airfields. Airfields in Gala and the Nasosnaya Air Base
Nasosnaya Air Base
Nasosnaya Air Base is a military airbase near the municipality of Nasosnaya , in the city of Sumqayit in Azerbaijan....
near Haji Zeynalabidin
Haci Zeynalabdin
Hacı Zeynalabdin is a village and municipality in Sumqayit, Azerbaijan. It has a population of 20,929. The place was named after Zeynalabdin Taghiyev....
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
Kyurdamir Air Base
Kyurdamir Air Base is a military airbase in Kyurdamir , the capital of the Kurdamir district in Azerbaijan....
are currently under way. An advanced Flight Control System has been installed at Dollyar Air Base
Dollyar Air Base
Dollyar Air Base is a military airbase in Dollyar , a municipality of the Shamkir district in Azerbaijan....
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.
Air Defence Force
The Air Defence Force is a component of the Air and Air Defence Force of Azerbaijan. There are some installations of the Cold WarCold War
The Cold War was the continuing state from roughly 1946 to 1991 of political conflict, military tension, proxy wars, and economic competition between the Communist World—primarily the Soviet Union and its satellite states and allies—and the powers of the Western world, primarily the United States...
era left by the Soviets in 1990.
The Gabala OTH Radar
Qabala Radar
The Qabala Radar or Qabala Radar Station is a Daryal-type bistatic phased-array early warning radar, built by the Soviet Union in the Qabala district of the Azerbaijan SSR in 1985 located at...
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
Indian Ocean
The Indian Ocean is the third largest of the world's oceanic divisions, covering approximately 20% of the water on the Earth's surface. It is bounded on the north by the Indian Subcontinent and Arabian Peninsula ; on the west by eastern Africa; on the east by Indochina, the Sunda Islands, and...
. 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
Lerik, Azerbaijan
Lerik is the capital city of Lerik Rayon in the southern, ethnic-Talysh area of Azerbaijan not far from the Iranian border.- References :* – World-Gazetteer.com...
and another near the border with Georgia at Agstafa
Agstafa
-Overview:Agstafa raion was created on 24 January 1939 as an independent administrative unit out of larger Qazakh region of Azerbaijan. On 4 December 1959, the status of the raion was abolished and it was incorporated into Qazakh Rayon...
. Joint work also commenced on two radar stations on the Russia-Azerbaijani border and Iran-Azerbaijani border to monitor Caspian Sea
Caspian Sea
The Caspian Sea is the largest enclosed body of water on Earth by area, variously classed as the world's largest lake or a full-fledged sea. The sea has a surface area of and a volume of...
traffic.
Azerbaijan has also a number of missile systems covering Azeri airspace. The NATO designated SA-2 Guideline (original name S-75 Dvina
S-75 Dvina
The S-75 Dvina is a Soviet-designed, high-altitude, command guided, surface-to-air missile system...
) has been installed in and around Baku and additional installations are near the border with Iran and Dagestan
Dagestan
The Republic of Dagestan is a federal subject of Russia, located in the North Caucasus region. Its capital and the largest city is Makhachkala, located at the center of Dagestan on the Caspian Sea...
. 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-75 Dvina
The S-75 Dvina is a Soviet-designed, high-altitude, command guided, surface-to-air missile system...
, S-125 Neva/Pechora, and S-200 systems. 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 SAM
Shoulder-launched missile weapon
A shoulder-fired missile, shoulder-launched missile or man-portable missile is a projectile fired at a target, small enough to be carried by a single person, and fired while held on one's shoulder...
s.
In 2009 Azerbaijan's Defence Ministry signed a contract with Russia's Rosoboroneksport company to buy two S-300 PMU-2 “Favorit” battalions.
Aircraft inventory
In September–October 2010, Azerbaijan purchased 24 Mi-35M from RostvertolRostvertol
Rostvertol is a Russian helicopter manufacturing company located in Rostov-on-Don. It was founded on 1st of July 1939. Rostvertol is the only helicopter manufacturing company in Russia not controlled by the government.It produces Мi-26T, Mi-24 and Mi-28N....
.
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
Nasosnaya Air Base
Nasosnaya Air Base is a military airbase near the municipality of Nasosnaya , in the city of Sumqayit in Azerbaijan....
. 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
Czech Republic
The Czech Republic is a landlocked country in Central Europe. The country is bordered by Poland to the northeast, Slovakia to the east, Austria to the south, and Germany to the west and northwest....
and Ukraine
Ukraine
Ukraine is a country in Eastern Europe. It has an area of 603,628 km², making it the second largest contiguous country on the European continent, after Russia...
. The Azerbaijan Border Guard
Azerbaijan Border Guard
The State Border Service of Azerbaijan Republic also known as Border Guard of Azerbaijan is a governmental law enforcement agency in charge of protecting the borders of Azerbaijan Republic.-History:...
and Voluntary Society of Defense, Patriotism and Sport have Yakovlev
Yakovlev
The Yak Aircraft Corporation is a Russian aircraft designer and manufacturer...
assault light aircraft.
Azerbaijan also manufactures Israeli-designed spy planes. Among the licensed pilotless spy plane is the Orbiter-2M and the Aerostar
Aerostar
Aerostar S.A., is an aeronautical manufacturing company based in Bacău, Romania.-History:Since its establishment in 1953, the company's name has changed in turn from U.R.A. to I.R.Av, I.Av. and finally Aerostar...
. Both are manufactured at the government-owned Azad Systems Company plant near Baku. The head of the Defense Industry, Yaver Jamalov, said that by the end of 2011 a total of 60 UAVs will be produced.