[62][63] Azerbaijan also operates two S-200 (SA-5 GAMMON) batteries near Baku and Mingachevir; the S-300PMU-2 represents a logical replacement for these systems offering coverage of the majority of the nation. It sent 150 troops to Iraq, and later troops to Kosovo. [46] Human Rights Watch and Amnesty International both condemned Azerbaijan's indiscriminate shelling of Armenian civilians, including the use of cluster munitions. In 2007, an agreement between Azerbaijani Navy and a US military company was concluded, which stated that a part of the Azerbaijani Navy would be equipped with advanced laser marksmanship systems. Despite the rise in Azerbaijan's defence budget,[19] the armed forces were assessed in 2008 as not having a high state of battle readiness and being ill-prepared for wide scale combat operations.[20]. In May 2011, President of the State Oil Company of Azerbaijan Republic Rovnag Abdullayev stated that Azerbaijan to start production of national warships after 2013. Agreement has also been reached with Turkish company Aselsan on the production of some types of defence output in Azerbaijan, specifically the latest types of weapons' sights. There are at least 2 divisions of S-300PMU2. [11], Azerbaijan cooperates with about 60 countries in the military-technical sphere and has an agreement on military-technical cooperation with more than 30 countries. It was established in April 1999 with officers and warrant officers who had participated in the First Nagorno-Karabakh War of 19911994. [28] The 75th Motor Rifle Division was isolated in Nakhchivan. The Azerbaijani Air Force using MiG-21, Su-24 and Su-25 aircraft, as well as the MiG-29 purchased from Ukraine in 2006 and Il-76 transport aircraft. Russia is one of Azerbaijan's main supplier of arms. Defence Academy of the United Kingdom, 2008, p.12, Azerbaijan is second big purchaser of tanks from Russia, Ukraine and Belarus in 20052010, http://nvo.ng.ru/wars/2007-02-09/2_poroh.html, " . [42] On the seventh day of the war, a major offensive was launched by the ground forces, advancing in the north, making some territorial gains while the fighting gradually shifted to the south. If I break my oath, I am ready to take responsibility with the full seriousness of the laws of the Republic of Azerbaijan. [73][74], The Naval Intelligence of Azerbaijan maintains the 641st Special Warfare Naval Unit. Azerbaijani national formations of the Red Army included the 223rd, 227th, 396th, 402nd, and 416th Rifle Divisions. Azerbaijan participates in NATO's Partnership for Peace. [21] It was the best performance among the countries of South Caucasus. [6] The Azerbaijan Democratic Republic (ADR) had originally formed its own armed forces from 26 June 1918 but were dissolved after Azerbaijan was absorbed into the Soviet Union as the Azerbaijan Soviet Socialist Republic from 28 April 1920. The 4th Army also included missile and air defense brigades and artillery and rocket regiments. [71] In 2010, the navy had a Petya class light frigate, Qusar (G 121), and a number of patrol craft, including one Turk class, Araz, P 223, one Brya (Project 722) class, P 218, one Shelon (Project 1388M) class, P 212, one Poluchat class (Project 368), P 219, one Luga class (Project 888), T 710, and four Petrushka (Polish UK-3 class), P 213, P 214, P 215, and P 216. [16] Other paramilitary agencies consist of Interior Ministry Internal Troops of Azerbaijan, 12,000 strong, and the land component of the State Border Service, 5,000 strong.[15]. [10] The Ministry of Defence Industry of Azerbaijan supervises the design, manufacturing, regulation and maintenance of military equipment. [15] The 2,500 men of the National Guard are also part of the ground forces. I will honorably protect the interests of the Republic of Azerbaijan, its sovereignty, territorial integrity and independence, for which I will spare no blood and soul. Caucasus Series 08/17. [15] The Air and Air Defence Force has around 106 aircraft and 35 helicopters. [78] The war was considered to be first time Azerbaijan has actively used all of its special forces units.[79]. [22], After the Sovietisation of Azerbaijan, the newly formed Azerbaijani Red Army replaced the previous army, taking part in the Russian Civil War, and the invasion of Georgia.[25][26]. The defense industry has emerged as an autonomous entity with a growing production capability. Israel is Azerbaijan's largest weapon supplier with $4.85 billion in sales during 2016 alone. The Land Forces consist of five army corps:[15], The Land Forces include 23 motor rifle brigades, an artillery brigade, a multiple rocket launcher brigade, and an anti-tank regiment. Azerbaijani Major-General Hazi Aslanov was awarded a second Hero of the Soviet Union after a long post-war fight for recognition of his accomplishments. Reportedly in December 2014 Azerbaijan created the Separate Combined Arms Army in Nakhchivan. Today 'National Hero of Azerbaijan' is the highest national title in the country, awarded for outstanding services of national importance to Azerbaijan in defense, as well as other deeds in other spheres. [citation needed]. I am a citizen of the Republic of Azerbaijan, and I swear that I will be loyal to my homeland, Azerbaijan and its people, when I join the Azerbaijani Armed Forces. Azerbaijan has acceded to the Nuclear Non-Proliferation Treaty as a non-nuclear weapons state. [55] In the past, it also actively supported the peacekeeping operation in Kosovo and Iraq. The army was created based on the Nakhchivan 5th Army Corps to strengthen defense capability of Nakhchivan Autonomous Republic, increase of combat capability of military units and formations of the Armed Forces, improve central control, reports quoting the Defence Ministry said. Azerbaijani troops are still serving in Afghanistan. I will study the military work in good faith, continue and develop the military traditions of my ancestors with honor, and I will be ready to stand up for the Motherland at any moment with a weapon in hand. They also serve in the rear, signal troops, and intelligence forces. [105], The purpose of Azerbaijani military education & training is to train soldiers, officers, and non-commissioned officers to have independent and creative thinking and commitment to the Azerbaijani people and the government. [15] The IISS Military Balance reported in 2007 that the Land Forces had an estimated 40 SA-13 Gopher, SA-4 Ganef, and SA-8 Gecko air defence missile systems, with '80240 eff.' Azerbaijan has been undergoing extensive modernization and capacity expanding programs, with the military budget increasing from around $300million in 2005 to $2.46billion in 2009. However, August 2011 investigations shows that after purchase of S-300 surface-to-air missiles, the largest apparent gap in Azerbaijan's air defense system may have been filled.[65]. Today, the museum displays 5 tanks, 9 armored personnel carriers, 16 artillery pieces, 6 aircraft, 4 helicopters, 6 different military equipment of the Air Force. [119] The oath is administered by the commanding officer of the unit. The Ministry of Defence Industry of Azerbaijan directs domestic military supplies for Azerbaijan. These are Dollyar Air Base, Nakhchivan Airport, Sanqacal Air Base, and Sitalcay Air Base. [70] The Azerbaijan Navy has about 2,200 personnel. In December 2008, Azerbaijan withdrew the unit from Iraq. The Turkish manufacturer MKEK, has announced that they have found an alternate supplier for the power pack where Azerbaijan showed interest to buy the high tech, more capable 155mm 52 caliber from Turkish authorities. [31] At the time of the parliamentary decision, Lieutenant-General Valeh Barshadli became the first Minister of Defense of Azerbaijan, from 5 September to 11 December 1991. The Azerbaijani Air and Air Defence Force is a single unified service branch. During the war, the Azerbaijani armed forces were also aided by Turkish military advisers, and Russian, Ukrainian, Chechen and Afghan volunteers. The activity of the committee was limited to Baku until the early 1970s. The US company specialists were also to give training on the use of the new equipment. [113] Cossacks, associated with the Association of Cossacks of Azerbaijan, often join the Azerbaijani Armed Forces.

to support the army in the battlefield. As of March 2011, 94 peacekeepers were deployed with the International Security Assistance Force (ISAF) in Afghanistan. The Azerbaijani armed forces took a series of devastating defeats by Armenian forces[34] during the 19921994 Nagorno-Karabakh War, which resulted in the loss of control of Nagorno-Karabakh proper and seven surrounding rayons, comprising roughly 20%[35][36][37][38] of the territory of Azerbaijan. The North Atlantic Treaty Organization (NATO) and Azerbaijan actively cooperate on defence institutional reforms and have developed practical cooperation in many other areas. The Defence Industries Ministry subsumed the State Department for Military Industry and for Armaments and the Military Science Center, each of which was formerly a separate agency within the Azerbaijani Defense Ministry. Harbiy qasamyod to'g'risida", " - ()", "An excursion was organized to the Military History Museum of Azerbaijan on the occasion of the 100th anniversary of establishment of Armed Forces of the Republic of Azerbaijan in Binagadi district - News - BINAGADI REGION Executive Power", Transformation of the Azerbaijani Armed Forces, Official YouTube Channel of Azerbaijani Soldier program, https://en.wikipedia.org/w/index.php?title=Azerbaijani_Armed_Forces&oldid=1092336660, CS1 maint: bot: original URL status unknown, Articles with dead external links from July 2017, Articles with permanently dead external links, Short description is different from Wikidata, Articles containing Azerbaijani-language text, Articles with unsourced statements from February 2010, Wikipedia articles incorporating text from the World Factbook, Wikipedia articles incorporating text from the United States Department of State Background Notes, Creative Commons Attribution-ShareAlike License 3.0, Radiogurashdirma, communication means and radio-electronic, RPE Neftgazavtomat, devices and automation systems for monitoring technological processes, RPE Automatic Lines, non-standard equipment and products for application in electrotechnical and machine engineering, Avia-Agregat, multi-purpose aviation equipment, various airdrome conditioners, universal container of board conductor, air-to-air radiators, fuel-oil, air-to-air heat exchangers and ventilators, National security cooperation in the topographical area, Forming and training of profession school of forces kind of Baku, Carrying out of the material and technical purchasing, Development of the 5th Army Corps also known as Nakhchivan Army Corps in, Cooperation in the area of military history, military archives and museum work and military publication, Assistance on training, material and technical between the, Long-term economical and military cooperation and application of the financial aid, Application of material and technical provision, Secondary Military Medical School of Azerbaijan, Baku Military Court (formed in August 1992), Medal "For distinction in military service", Medal "For merit in military collaboration", 18 October Day of the First Military Unit. A number of Azerbaijani human rights groups have been tracking non-combat deaths and have noted an upward trend in early 2010s. Currently, the number of exhibits totals 11,000. I will be sincere, brave, disciplined, will not give military secrets, will fulfill the requirements of military regulations, and will unconditionally obey the orders of commanders and chiefs. Captions are provided by our contributors. [64] These may be around Baku and the central part to cover the whole Azerbaijani aerospace. This has included Special Forces and naval aid, consultations with United States European Command, and linkages through the U.S. National Guard State Partnership Program.

Non-commercial use only, not for resale. The Turkish Air Force School has a great role in the training of Azerbaijani military pilots. [117] In October 2020, the first female military casualty was reported, a combat medic who died while taking wounded soldiers from the battlefield.[118]. Azerbaijan joined the multi-national force in 2003. The peacekeeping forces of Azerbaijan are mostly supplied from the Land Forces, though the Internal Troops of Azerbaijan do also supply some. The agreement envisions Ankara's supplying Azerbaijan with weapons, military equipment and, if necessary, soldiers in case war with Armenia over Karabakh resumes. [10] There are also 19,500 personnel in the National Guard, State Border Service, and Internal Troops. These projects will probably happen in the near future too. [96], Azerbaijan and Israel cooperate on numerous areas of the defense industry. By military law, if the battle flag is lost in battle, the commander of the military unit and the servicemen under its command are brought to court, and the unit is abolished. [72] A number of separate U.S. programmes are underway under the Caspian Guard Initiative, focused mostly on enhancing Azerbaijani and Kazakh maritime border security. Azerbaijani sources insist that Armenian victory was largely due to military help from Russia and the wealthy Armenian diaspora. [49][50], On 10 December, a victory parade was held in honor of the Azerbaijani Army on Azadliq Square,[51] with 3,000 distinguished military servicemen marching alongside military equipment, unmanned aerial vehicles and aircraft. After the Soviet Union dissolved in 199192, the armed forces were reformed based on Soviet bases and equipment left on Azerbaijani soil.