| Azerbaijan Air Force | |
|---|---|
 Azeri MiG-29 at Sumgayit airbase |
|
| Active | 26 June 1918 |
| Country |  Azerbaijan |
| Size | 7,900 personnel 220 aircraft and 76-? helicopters 5 airbases |
| Insignia | |
| Roundel |  |
| Aircraft flown | |
| Attack | Su-17, Su-24 Su-25, Mi-24 |
| Bomber | Su-24 |
| Fighter | MiG-21, MiG-29 |
| Interceptor | MiG-25, MiG-29 |
| Reconnaissance | MiG-25, Orbiter UAV, Aerostar UAV |
| Trainer | L-29, L-39, YaK-52 |
| Transport | Il-76, An-12, An-24, Tu-134, Mi-2, Mi-6, Mi-8, Mi-17, Mi-171 |
The Azerbaijan Air Force (AzAF, Azeri: Azərbaycan hərbi hava qüvvələri) is the air force of the military of Azerbaijan.
The roots of the current organization go back to the June 26, 1918, when Azerbaijan Democratic Republic bought their first military aircraft.
State of war and useful landscape, as well as deployment of former Soviet air bases in Azerbaijan enabled the air unit of Azerbaijani army to develop in the period of independence.
The Azerbaijani Air Force has over 220 aircraft and more than 75 helicopters. The country has 8 major military airports:
- Baku Kala Air Base
- Dollyar Air Base
- Ganja Air Base
- Kyurdamir Air Base
- Nakhichevan Airport
- Nasosnaya Air Base
- Sanqacal Air Base
- Sitalcay Air Base
There are USSR-made MiG-21, MiG-23, MiG-25, Su-24 and Su-25, as well as fourth generation of MiG-29 purchased from Ukraine in 2006, Soviet-made Il-76. Azerbaijan is holding talks with Pakistan to purchase JF-17 Thunder aircraft.[1]
MiG-29 has been appointed as the standard aircraft for the AzAF.[2]
In June 2008, Azerbaijan acquired six Orbiter, six Aerostar and another three IAI Searcher unmanned aircraft produced by Israel’s Aeronautics Company. These aircraft were demonstrated for the first time during the military parade in Baku in 2008. According to the Israeli newspapers, Azerbaijan is holding the talks for purchasing Hermes and Heron-TP unmanned crafts now.
The Air Force stockpiles L-29 and L-39 practice fighter jets produced in Czech Republic and Ukraine. The Azerbaijan Border Guard and Voluntary Society of Defense, Patriotism and Sport have Yakovlev assault light aircraft.
On February 11, 2009 the top commanding officer of Azerbaijan's Air Force, Lieutenant-General Rail Rzayev was assassinated outside his home. [3]
Contents |
Training and education
Azerbaijani pilots are trained in the Azerbaijan Air Force School and then developing their skills in the military bases. Azerbaijan has an experience exchange with Turkey, Ukraine, the United States and number of NATO countries. Turkish Air Force School has a great role in the training of military pilots. The Azerbaijani pilots are also trained in the Ukraine’s Pilot Training School.[4]
Modernization
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The United States is the most active participant in the modernization of the Azerbaijani Air Force. Azerbaijani airfields in Gala and Haji Zeynalabidin Tagiyev settlements were modernized with the US support in the framework of the Azerbaijan-NATO Individual Partnership Action Plan. The special equipments were installed there to provide security of the flights. The starting command points, engineering control systems and engineering air force service were provided with the new buildings. Now modernization of the Kurdamir airfield is negotiated now.
Unprecedented Flight Control System in the region has been installed in Dallar airdrome with support of the United States.
Since September, 2008, Turkey has participated in the project of modernization of Central Command of Air Forces. According the agreement reached, central command management center will be installed in accordance with NATO standards. A great number of projects such as joint manufacture of Attack helicopters, unmanned aircraft and etc. will be implemented with Turkey in the near future.
Industry
Azerbaijani military companies as IGLAM SPE and RPE IGLIM also is developing its own aircraft industry both for civilian and for military purposes in Azerbaijan.[5] The Azerbaijan Defense Industry is cooperating with Russian, Ukrainian, Turkish and Czech companies.[6]
Ukraine is the main aircraft provider state for Azerbaijan. 125 million-dollar agreement was signed with Ukraine in 2005 and this country provides Azerbaijan with fourth generation MIG-29 aircraft.
Aircraft inventory
| Aircraft | Origin | Type | Versions | Active[7] | Notes | |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Fighter Aircraft | ||||||
| Mikoyan-Gurevich MiG-21 |  Soviet Union |
Fighter | MiG-21 | 21 | ||
| Mikoyan-Gurevich MiG-25 | Soviet Union |
Interceptor/Reconnaissance | MiG-25 | 38 | ||
| JF-17 Thunder |  China/ Pakistan |
Fighter | JF-17 | 26 (reportedly on order, no confirmation) | ||
| Mikoyan-Gurevich MiG-29 |  Ukraine  Russia |
Multirole fighter | MiG-29 | 49 [4] | ||
| Ground-Attack Aircraft | ||||||
| Sukhoi Su-17 | Soviet Union |
Fighter-bomber | Su-17 | 4 | ||
| Sukhoi Su-24 | Soviet Union |
Attack aircraft | Su-24 | 19 | ||
| Sukhoi Su-25 | Russia  Georgia |
Close air support aircraft | Su-25 | 29 | ||
| Trainer Aircraft | ||||||
| Aero L-29 Albatros |  Czechoslovakia |
Military trainer aircraft | L-29 | 8 | ||
| Aero L-39 Albatros | Czechoslovakia |
Military trainer aircraft | L-39 | 22 | ||
| Yakovlev Yak-52 |  Romania |
Military trainer aircraft | YaK-52 | 12 | ||
| Attack Helicopters | ||||||
| Mil Mi-24 | Soviet Union/ Ukraine |
Attack helicopter | Mi-24 | 49 | ||
| Transport and Utility Helicopters | ||||||
| Mil Mi-2 | Soviet Union |
Light armored transport helicopter | Mi-2 | ? | ||
| UH-1 Iroquois |  United States |
Light armored transport helicopter | UH-1 Iroquois | 32 | ||
| Mil Mi-6 | Soviet Union |
Heavy transport helicopter | Mi-6 | 4 | ||
| Mil Mi-8 | Soviet Union |
Gunship/transport helicopter | Mi-8 | 13-? | ||
| Mil Mi-17 | Russia |
Transport helicopter | Mi-17 | 4 | ||
| Mil Mi-171 | Russia |
Gunship/transport helicopter | Mi-171 | 6 | ||
| Transport Aircraft | ||||||
| Ilyushin Il-76 | Soviet Union |
Strategic airlifter | Il-76 | 3 | ||
| Antonov An-12 | Soviet Union |
Military transport aircraft | An-12 | 1 | ||
| Antonov An-24 | Soviet Union |
Transport aircraft | An-24 | 1 | ||
| Tupolev Tu-134 | Soviet Union |
Airliner | Tu-134A | 1 | ||
| Unmanned Aerial Vehicle | ||||||
| Orbiter |  Israel |
UAV | Orbiter | 6 | ||
| Aerostar | Israel |
UAV | Aerostar | 6 | ||
| IAI Searcher | Israel |
UAV | Searcher | 3 | ||
Future development
Azerbaijan will develop it air force opportunities in the next five years. 50 percent of the aviation fleet will be innovated by the modern fighter jets in 2008-2010. JF-17 Thunder, Su-27 and Su-30, as well as new generation of MiG aircraft will be added to the fleet until 2015.
Azerbaijani Air Force has following development directions:
- Purchasing of new planes and helicopters
- Modernization of existed aviation techniques
- Modernization of the mission control centers
- Improvement of air force crew and personnel, modern education
- Air fleet extension by means of local production
See also
- Azerbaijan
- Azerbaijan Air Defense Force
- Azerbaijan Army
- Azerbaijan Border Guard
- Azerbaijan Coast Guard
- Azerbaijan Defense Industry
- Azerbaijan Interior Guard
- Azerbaijan National Guard
- Azerbaijan Navy
- Military of Azerbaijan
References
- ^ Azerbaijan to buy JF-17 multirole fighters from Pakistan
- ^ Azerbaijan shows 4th generation MiG-29 multirole fighter jets.
- ^ Head of Azerbaijan's Air Force Shot Dead
- ^ a b Azerbaijan’s military aviation opportunities
- ^ Azerbaijan to manufacture its own aircraft and helicopters
- ^ Azerbaijan to manufacture its own aircraft and helicopters
- ^ Azerbaijani military aviation OrBat
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