TheAzerbaijani Armed Forces (Azerbaijani:Azərbaycan Silahlı Qüvvələri) is the military of theRepublic of Azerbaijan. It was re-established according to the country's Law of the Armed Forces on 9 October 1991.[1] The originalAzerbaijan Democratic Republic's armed forces were dissolved after Azerbaijan was absorbed into the Soviet Union as theAzerbaijan Soviet Socialist Republic from 28 April 1920. After the Soviet Union dissolved in 1991–92, Azerbaijan's armed forces were reformed based on the Soviet bases and equipment left on Azerbaijani soil.
The armed forces have three main branches: theAzerbaijani Land Forces, theAzerbaijani Air Forces and theAzerbaijani Navy.[6] Associated forces include theAzerbaijani National Guard, theInternal Troops of Azerbaijan, and theState Border Service, which can be involved in state defense under certain circumstances.
InNagorno-Karabakh and the surrounding region, the Azerbaijani armed forces are repeatedly involved in fighting, especially with neighboringArmenia (e.g., theNagorno-Karabakh war in 2020 and the blockade of the Republic of Artsakh in 2022-23).
According to the Azerbaijani media sources, the military expenditure of Azerbaijan for 2009 was set at US$2.46 billion.[7] However, according toStockholm International Peace Research Institute, only $1.473 billion was spent that year.[8]IISS also suggests that the defence budget in 2009 was $1.5 billion.[9] TheMinistry of Defence Industry of Azerbaijan supervises the design, manufacturing, regulation and maintenance of military equipment. In the future, Azerbaijan hopes to start building tanks, armored vehicles, military planes and military helicopters.[10][11][12]
Since the fall of theSoviet Union, Azerbaijan has been trying to further develop its armed forces into a professional, well trained, and mobile military. Azerbaijan has been undergoing extensive modernization and capacity expansion programs, with the military budget increasing from around $300 million in 2005 to $2.46 billion in 2009.[13] The total armed forces number 56,840 personnel in the land forces, 7,900 personnel in the air force and air defence force, and 2,200 personnel in the navy.[9] There are also 19,500 personnel in the National Guard, State Border Service, and Internal Troops.[14] In addition, there are 300,000 former service personnel who have had military service in the last 15 years.[15] The military hardware of Azerbaijan consists of 220 main battle tanks, an additional 162 T-80 battle tanks were acquired between 2005 and 2010,[16] 595 armored combat vehicles and 270 artillery systems. The air force has about 106 aircraft and 35 helicopters.[17]
Since theDissolution of the Soviet Union Azerbaijan didn't join the Russian dominatedCSTO nor the western NATO. But Azerbaijan participates inNATO'sPartnership for Peace.
The country is a member of regional alliances: since 2013, Azerbaijan has been a member of the Eurasia Special Forces with Military Status, orTAKM, alongside Turkey, Kyrgyzstan, and Mongolia. Azerbaijan is also a member of theGUAM alliance, which plans to establish a plans to establishpeacekeeping forces. Azerbaijan has military exchange and support by Ukraine,Pakistan and the US and a very strong exchange and training with theTurkish armed forces.
Azerbaijan has acceded to theNuclear Non-Proliferation Treaty as a non-nuclear weapons state.
In 2003 Azerbaijan joined themulti-national force - Iraq and sent 150 troops to Iraq, and later troops to Kosovo. Azerbaijani troops have also served in Afghanistan withISAF in a small platon. For this foreign deployments theBaku "N" Military Unit" of theLand Forces was sent.
Despite the rise in Azerbaijan's defence budget,[18] 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.[19] Azeri victory in theSecond Karabakh War in late 2020 demonstrated how significantly Azerbaijan's military capabilities had grown.
The history of the modern Azerbaijan army dates back toAzerbaijan Democratic Republic (ADR) in 1918, when the Armed Forces of the Republic of Azerbaijan were created on 26 June 1918. Firstde facto Minister of Defense of ADR was Dr.Khosrov bey Sultanov. When the Ministry was formally established, Gen.Samedbey Mehmandarov became the minister, and Lt-Gen.Ali-Agha Shikhlinski his deputy. Chiefs of Staff of ADR Army were Lt-Gen.Maciej Sulkiewicz (March 1919 – 10 December 1919) and Maj-Gen. Abdulhamid bey Gaitabashi (10 December 1919 – April 1920).[20][21]
TheRed Army invaded Azerbaijan on 28 April 1920. Although the bulk of the newly formed Azerbaijani army was engaged in putting down an Armenian revolt that had just broken out inKarabakh, the Azerbaijanis did not surrender their brief independence of 1918–20 quickly or easily. As many as 20,000 of the total 30,000 soldiers died resisting what was effectively a Russian reconquest.[22] The national Army of Azerbaijan was abolished by the Bolshevik government, 15 of the 21 army generals were executed by the Bolsheviks.[20]
After the Sovietisation of Azerbaijan, the newly formedAzerbaijani Red Army replaced the previous army, taking part in theRussian Civil War, and theinvasion of Georgia.[23][24]
DuringWorld War II, Azerbaijan played a crucial role in the strategic energy policy of Soviet Union. Much of the Soviet Union's oil on theEastern Front was supplied by Baku. By a decree of theSupreme Soviet of the USSR in February 1942, the commitment of more than 500 workers and employees of the oil industry of Azerbaijan was recognised with orders and medals.Operation Edelweiss carried out by the GermanWehrmacht targetedBaku because of the importance of its oil fields to the USSR.[25] Some 800,000 Azerbaijanis fought within the ranks of the Soviet Army of which 400,000 died. Azerbaijani national formations of theRed Army included the223rd,227th,396th,402nd, and416th Rifle Divisions. Azerbaijani Major-GeneralHazi Aslanov was awarded a secondHero of the Soviet Union after a long post-war fight for recognition of his accomplishments.
During the Cold War, Azerbaijan had been the deployment area of units of the Soviet4th Army whose principal formations in 1988 included four motor rifle divisions (23rd Guards,60th, 75th, and295th).[26] The75th Motor Rifle Division was isolated inNakhchivan. The 4th Army also included missile and air defense brigades and artillery and rocket regiments. The 75th Division's stores and equipment were apparently transferred to the Nakhchivan authorities.[27] Azerbaijan also hosted the 49th Arsenal of the SovietMain Agency of Missiles and Artillery, which contained over 7,000 train-car loads of ammunition to the excess of one billion units.
The first president of Azerbaijan,Ayaz Mutallibov, did not wish to build an independent army, wanting to rely instead largely on Soviet troops. Even when the Parliament decided that an army should be formed in September 1991, disagreements between the government and the oppositionAzerbaijani Popular Front Party impeded creation of a unified force.[28] Around this time, the first unit of the new army was formed on the basis of the 18–110 military unit ofmechanized infantry of theSoviet Ground Forces (probably part of the4th Army) located inShikhov, south of Baku.[29] At the time of the parliamentary decision, Lieutenant-GeneralValeh Barshadli became the firstMinister of Defense of Azerbaijan, from 5 September to 11 December 1991.[30] Later from May to 4 September 1992 he served asChief of General Staff of Azerbaijani Armed Forces.
In summer 1992, the nascent Defense Ministry received a resolution by the Azerbaijani president on the takeover of units and formations in Azerbaijani territory. It then forwarded an ultimatum to Moscow demanding control over vehicles and armaments of the 135th and 139th Motor Rifle Regiments of the295th Motor Rifle Division.[31] In July 1992, Azerbaijan ratified theTreaty on Conventional Armed Forces in Europe (CFE), which establishes comprehensive limits on key categories of conventional military equipment.
The transfer of the property of the 4th Army (except for part of the property of the 366th Motor Rifle Regiment of the23rd Guards Motor Rifle Division captured by Armenian armed formations in 1992 during the regiment's withdrawal from Stepanakert) and the 49th arsenal was completed in 1992. Thus, by the end of 1992, Azerbaijan received arms and military hardware sufficient for approximately four motor rifle divisions with prescribed army units. It also inherited naval ships. There are also reports that 50 combat aircraft from the disbanded19th Army of theSoviet Air Defence Forces came under Azerbaijani control.[citation needed]
“Full-fledged work on the creation of a national army in Azerbaijan began only in November 1993, when the ..situation.. began to stabilize.”[32] Articles for draft evasion and desertion were introduced.
The Azerbaijani armed forces took a series of devastating defeats by Armenian forces[33] during the 1992–1994Nagorno-Karabakh War, which resulted in the loss of control of Nagorno-Karabakh proper and seven surroundingrayons, comprising roughly 20%[34][35][36][37] of the territory of Azerbaijan. Azerbaijani sources insist that Armenian victory was largely due to military help from Russia and the wealthyArmenian diaspora. Armenians partially deny the allegation, claiming that Russian side was equally supplying Armenian and Azerbaijani sides with weapons and mercenaries. During the war, the Azerbaijani armed forces were also aided by Turkish military advisers, and Russian, Ukrainian, Chechen and Afghan mercenaries.
Azerbaijan approved the CFE flank agreement in May 1997.
A number of Azerbaijani human rights groups have been tracking non-combat deaths and have noted an upward trend in the early 2010s. Based on Defense Ministry statistics that had not been released to the public, the Group of Monitoring Compliance with Human Rights in the Army (GMCHRA) has recorded the deaths of 76 soldiers to date in non-combat incidents for 2011, and the injury of 91 others. In comparison, there were 62 non-combat deaths and 71 cases of injury in 2010. The string of non-combat deaths raises questions about the reform progress of the military. Factors behind the deaths include bullying, hazing, and the systemic corruption within the Azerbaijani Armed Forces (seeCorruption in Azerbaijan).[38]
In 2017, Azerbaijani authorities used large scale torture (theTartar Case) on Azerbaijani military personnel accused of treason.[39] Generals Nacmeddin Sadikhov and Hikmet Hasanov were accused of torturing Azerbaijani officers and soldiers and according to the authorities and human rights defenders, more than 400 people were subjected to torture in the course of the case. The Azerbaijani authorities claimed one person was killed as a result, while human rights defenders say the number is about 13, and many were wrongfully convicted and given hefty prison sentences.
TheSecond Karabakh War (also known in Azerbaijan as "The Patriotic War"[40] or "Operation Iron Fist"[41]) began on the morning of 27 September 2020 when Azerbaijan launched an offensive along the Line of Contact.[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. Followingthe capture ofShusha, the second-largest settlement in Nagorno-Karabakh, by Azerbaijani forces, aceasefire agreement was signed between Azerbaijan, and Armenia, ending all hostilities in the area.[43] Under the agreement, Armenia returned the surrounding territories it occupied in 1994 to Azerbaijan while Azerbaijan gained land access to itsNakhchivan exclave.[44] Total casualties were in the low thousands.[45]
During the war, the Azerbaijani army was widely accused of committing war crimes against Armenian soldiers and civilians.[46]Human Rights Watch andAmnesty International both condemned Azerbaijan's “indiscriminate” shelling of Armenian civilians, including the use ofcluster munitions.[47][48] In addition, videos of Azerbaijani soldiers mistreating or executing captive Armenians were circulated online and received widespread condemnation.[49][50]
On 10 December, avictory parade was held in honor of the Azerbaijani Army onAzadliq Square,[51] with 3,000 soldiers marching alongside military equipment, unmanned aerial vehicles and aircraft.[52]
In August 2022, the UN Committee on the Elimination of Racial Discrimination expressed deep concern regarding "severe and grave human rights violations committed during 2020 hostilities and beyond by the Azerbaijani military forces against prisoners of war and other protected persons of Armenian ethnic or national origin, including extrajudicial killings, torture and other ill-treatment and arbitrary detention as well as the destruction of houses, schools, and other civilian facilities."[53]
Since the fall of the Soviet Union, there have been attempts in the defence ministry to reform the military to be more in line with the Turkish/NATO model, resulting in Soviet-legacy officers such asRovshan Akbarov andNajmeddin Sadikov being removed from power.[54][55]
Azerbaijan periodically holds drills to improve interaction and combat coordination between the servicemen during operations, its military personnel's combat readiness, as well as to develop commanders' military decision-making and unit management skills.[56]
TheAzerbaijani Land Forces number 85,000 strong, according to UKAdvanced Research and Assessment Group estimates.[14] The 2,500 men of the National Guard are also part of the ground forces. In addition, there are 300,000 former service personnel who have had military service in the last 15 years.[15] Other paramilitary agencies consist of Interior MinistryInternal Troops of Azerbaijan, 12,000 strong, and the land component of theState Border Service, 5,000 strong.[14]
Azerbaijan has signed numerous contracts to strengthen its armed forces and to train its military with Turkey's assistance. Over the last 15 years, Azerbaijan has been preparing its military for possible action against Armenian forces inNagorno-Karabakh.
The Land Forces consist of five army corps:[14]
The Land Forces include 23 motor rifle brigades, an artillery brigade, a multiple rocket launcher brigade, and an anti-tank regiment.[14] 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 '80–240 eff.' to support the army in the battlefield. (IISS 2007, p. 157)
Thepeacekeeping forces of Azerbaijan are mostly supplied from the Land Forces, though theInternal Troops of Azerbaijan do also supply some. As of March 2011, 94 peacekeepers were deployed with theInternational Security Assistance Force (ISAF) in Afghanistan.[57] In the past, it also actively supported the peacekeeping operation in Kosovo and Iraq.
The Azerbaijanipeacekeeping unit deployed in Iraq consisted of 14 officers, 16 sergeants and 120 privates, a total of 150 troops. The unit secured thehydroelectric power station and reservoir inAl Haditha from August 2003. In December 2008, Azerbaijan withdrew the unit from Iraq.
Reportedly in December 2014 Azerbaijan created the Separate Combined Arms Army in Nakhchivan.Karam Mustafayev became commander of the corps. 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.
TheAzerbaijani Air and Air Defence Force is a single unified service branch.[6] Some 8,000 men serve in the air force and air defence force.[14] The Air and Air Defence Force has around 106 aircraft and 35 helicopters.[17] The country has four major airbases.Nasosnaya (air base) has fighters,Kyurdamir Air Base a bomber regiment,Ganja Air Base transports, andBaku Kala Air Base the helicopter unit. There are also four other airbases which do not appear to have aircraft based there. These areDollyar Air Base,Nakhchivan Airport,Sanqacal Air Base, andSitalcay Air Base.
The Azerbaijani Air Force usingMiG-21,Su-24 andSu-25 aircraft, as well as theMiG-29 purchased from Ukraine in 2006 andIl-76 transport aircraft. The MiG-29 have been designated as the standard aircraft for the AzAF.[58] Azerbaijan is holding talks with either the People's Republic of China or Pakistan to purchaseJF-17 Thunder aircraft.[59]MiG-25s previously in service have been retired seemingly in the 2007–09 period.
Azerbaijan's helicopter force is concentrated atBaku Kala Air Base and according to the IISS consists of a single regiment with around 14–15 Mi-24, 12–13 Mi-8 and 7 Mi-2.Jane's Information Group and the IISS give figures which agree with only a single aircraft's difference.[60] Recently, end of 2010 Russian Rosvertol announced that Azerbaijan armed forces signed a deal for 24 pieces of Mi-35M (Hind-E) gunships what would further enhance the Azerbaijani ground attack formations.[61][62]
The Air Force hasL-39 advanced training aircraft in store. TheAzerbaijan Border Guard and Voluntary Society of Defense, Patriotism and Sport haveYakovlev light training aircraft.
Azerbaijan has missile and radar systems intended to defend Azerbaijani airspace. There are at least 2 divisions ofS-300PMU2.[63] Thereby the country has one of the most capable SAMsurface-to-air missile system in the region.[64][65] 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.[65] The country also has about 100 NATO designatedSA-2 Guideline (original name S-75),SA-3 Goa (S-125 Pechora-2M), and theSA-5 Gammon (S-200) are in static installations.[66] These may be around Baku and the central part to cover the whole Azerbaijani aerospace.
However, August 2011 investigations shows that after purchase ofS-300surface-to-air missiles, the largest apparent gap in Azerbaijan's air defense system may have been filled.[67]
Also in Azerbaijan there was a former Soviet early warning radar. TheGabala Radar Station was a bistatic phased-array installation, operated by theRussian Space Forces. The contract was signed in 2002 and was due to expire in 2012 where it was to be given back to the Azerbaijani government. The contract costed Russia $7 million per year. The radar station had a range of up to 6,000 kilometres (3,700 miles), and was designed to detectintercontinental ballistic missile launches as far as from the Indian Ocean. In December 2012 Russia announced that negotiations had been unsuccessful and that they had stopped using the radar station.[68] The site was given back toAzerbaijan[69] and all the equipment dismantled and transported toRussia.[70] Nowadays, Russia covers the area from theArmavir Radar Station.
The main naval base of the Soviet Union in the Caspian Sea was based in Baku. When the Soviet Union collapsed, Azerbaijan inherited the naval base and parts of theCaspian Sea Flotilla.[71] TheAzerbaijan Navy has about 2,200 personnel.[72] In 2010, the navy had aPetya class light frigate,Qusar (G 121), and a number ofpatrol 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. There are fourminesweepers consisting of 2Sonya class minesweeper and 2Yevgenya class minesweepers. (Jane's Fighting Ships 2010)
The Navy is also attributed with 5landing craft, 3 Polnochny and 2 Vydra (IISS 2007), plus three research ships, 1 Project 10470, A 671, ex Svyaga, 1 Balerian Uryvayev class survey vessel (AG) and one Vadim Popov class survey vessel (AG).
The U.S. Navy has helped train the Azerbaijani Navy. There is also an agreement to provide US support to refurbish Azerbaijani warships in theCaspian Sea. In 2006, the US Government donated 3 motorboats to the Azerbaijani Navy. In 2007, an agreement between the 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. The US company specialists were also to give training on the use of the new equipment.[73] A number of separate U.S. programmes are underway under theCaspian Guard Initiative, focused mostly on enhancing Azerbaijani and Kazakh maritime border security.
In May 2011, the president of theState Oil Company of Azerbaijan RepublicRovnag Abdullayev stated that Azerbaijan would start production of national warships after 2013.[74][75]
The Naval Intelligence of Azerbaijan maintains the641st Special Warfare Naval Unit. The special forces were trained by theU.S. Navy SEALs[76] Unit 641 has severalmidget submarines such as Triton-1M and Triton 2 at their disposal as well as underwater tool motion for individual divers. The special unit is composed of 3 reconnaissance groups, 2 groups for mountainous warfare, and one diving group. Obligatory training includes parachute jumping day and night, on land and on water.[71][77]
TheSpecial Forces of Azerbaijan are part of the Ministry of Defence. It was established in April 1999 with officers and warrant officers who had participated in theFirst Nagorno-Karabakh War of 1991–1994.[78] The TurkishSpecial Forces Command played a role in the formation of the unit. During the 2020 Nagorno-Karabakh War, personnel of the Special Forces reclaimed the city ofJebrayil and nine surrounding villages from theArmenian Army. On November 8, Aliyev congratulated the commander of the Special Forces on their "liberation of Shusha".[79] The war was considered to be first time Azerbaijan has actively used all of its special forces units.[80]
TheMinistry of Defence Industry of Azerbaijan directs domestic military supplies for Azerbaijan. It was established in 2005. 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.
The defense industry has emerged as an autonomous entity with a growing production capability. The ministry is cooperating with the defense sectors of Ukraine, Belarus and Pakistan.[82] Along with other contracts, Azerbaijani defence industries and Turkish companies, Azerbaijan will produce 40mm revolver grenade launchers, 107mm and 122mm MLRS systems, Cobra 4×4 vehicles and joint modernization of BTR vehicles in Baku.[83][84][85][86]
The major military companies of Azerbaijan are:
In early 2008, reports indicated that an agreement with Turkey had been signed which would lead to Azerbaijan producing armoured personnel carriers, infantry fighting vehicles, and small calibre artillery pieces.[10]
Azerbaijan cooperates with about 60 countries in the military-technical sphere and has an agreement on military-technical cooperation with more than 30 countries.[88]
Azerbaijan and Israel cooperate on numerous areas of the defense industry. Israel was Azerbaijan's largest weapon supplier with $4.85 billion in sales during 2016 alone. As of 2023, Turkey was Azerbaijan's largest weapon supplier.[89] Azerbaijan has shown great interest in Israeli technology over the years. In particular, an agreement was reached over the construction of the factory of intelligence and combat drones in Azerbaijan.[90][91]
The Israeli defense companyElta Systems Ltd has had cooperation from Azerbaijan in building theTecSAR reconnaissance satellite system, which can take high-definition photos of ground surfaces in all weather conditions.[92][93] According to Azerbaijani military experts, the TecSAR system will be indispensable for military operations in the mountainous terrains of Azerbaijan.[90]
As of June 2009, Israel and Azerbaijan had been negotiating on the production ofNamer armouredinfantry fighting vehicles in Azerbaijan.[94] There is no further information as to whether any agreement has been made.
In December 2009, an agreement on military assistance was signed by Turkey and Azerbaijan. The agreement envisionsAnkara supplying Azerbaijan with weapons, military equipment, and, if necessary, soldiers in case war with Armenia over Karabakh resumes.[95]
Turkey has provided Azerbaijan with infantry weapons, tactical vehicles (jeeps, trucks, etc.) professional training, military organization, technology transfer, licensed military hardware production, and other services. Due to help from Turkish specialists and instructors, thousands of Azerbaijani officers have been trained to western standards.[96]
The military position as an area of international importance of Azerbaijan increased with an agreement between Azerbaijan and Turkey on the participation of an Azerbaijani peacekeeping platoon in the staff of the Turkish battalion in Kosovo.[97]
Since 1992, Azerbaijan and Turkey have signed more than 100 military protocols, some of the major protocols include:[98]
In May 2011, Azerbaijan had discussed the purchase of long-range rockets from two Chinese companies, the minister of the defence industry has said. Other arms deals were signed with Turkey. Turkish Defence Minister Vecdi Gonul and Yaver Jamalov signed a protocol of intent on future joint production of two types of output – 107-mm rockets and the national rifle, possibly the Mehmetçik-1. A protocol of intent was signed the same day with the Mechanical and Chemical Industry CorporationMKEK on the joint production of 120-mm mortar launchers. This project will come into force in a few months time. 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. These projects will probably happen in the near future too.[100] Recently, Turkish defense industries secretariat told that an export version of the T-155 Firtina self-propelled howitser is almost done and could start production. T-155 has been powered by a German MTU power pack, which restricts the sale to some countries like Azerbaijan. 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.
Section 907 of the United StatesFreedom Support Act bans any kind of direct United Statesaid to the Azerbaijani government. Since a waiver was made in 2001 there has been extensive U.S. military cooperation with Azerbaijan. This has included Special Forces and naval aid, consultations withUnited States European Command, and linkages through the U.S. National GuardState Partnership Program.
On 19 May 2006, Azerbaijani Defense MinisterSafar Abiyev and the then commander ofUnited States Air Forces in Europe GeneralTom Hobbins met inBaku to discuss military cooperation. He said the objective of his visit was to become familiar with the state of Azerbaijani armed forces.[101] Hobbins pointed to the progress made in the NATO-Azerbaijan relations, saying that the successful implementation of the NATOPartnership for Peace program in Azerbaijan has brought the country even closer to the alliance. He said that the two countries' air forces will expand cooperation.[102]
The U.S. state ofOklahoma is linked with Azerbaijan through theU.S. National GuardState Partnership Program (SPP).Oklahoma National Guard troops have been sent on training and humanitarian missions to Baku.
Russia is one of Azerbaijan's main suppliers of arms. "As of today, military and technical cooperation with Russia is measured at $4 billion and it tends to grow further," PresidentIlham Aliyev said after meeting with Russian PresidentVladimir Putin in Baku in 2013.[103]
Azerbaijan and Israel cooperate on numerous areas of the defense industry. Israel was Azerbaijan's largest weapon supplier with $4.85 billion in sales during 2016 alone. As of 2023, Turkey was Azerbaijan's largest weapon supplier.[104] Azerbaijan has shown great interest in Israeli technology over the years. In particular, an agreement was reached over the construction of the factory of intelligence and combat drones in Azerbaijan.[90][105]
The Israeli defense companyElta Systems Ltd has had cooperation from Azerbaijan in building theTecSAR reconnaissance satellite system, which can take high-definition photos of ground surfaces in all weather conditions.[92][106] According to Azerbaijani military experts, the TecSAR system will be indispensable for military operations in the mountainous terrains of Azerbaijan.[90]
As of June 2009, Israel and Azerbaijan had been negotiating on the production ofNamer armouredinfantry fighting vehicles in Azerbaijan.[107] There is no further information as to whether any agreement has been made.
TheNorth Atlantic Treaty Organization (NATO) and Azerbaijan cooperate. Azerbaijan'sIndividual Partnership Action Plan (IPAP) and itsPartnership for Peace (PfP) linkages lay out the programme of cooperation between Azerbaijan and NATO.
The Azerbaijani government has however delayed implementing IPAP-recommended reforms, however, in part at least because no decision had been taken to seek NATO membership. This is because Azerbaijan's foreign policy 'seeks to balance interests with the U.S., EU, Russia and Iran.'[108]
According to a NATO diplomatic source some key officials at NATO headquarters inBrussels were pushing hard for engaging Azerbaijan on the membership question. "Turkey, Romania, Italy, Poland, the United Kingdom and theBaltic states," are among the member-states also backing a fast track for Azerbaijan's NATO membership.[109]
However, Azerbaijan made its policy ofnot being aligned with a geopolitical/military structure official when it became a full member of theNon-Aligned Movement in 2011.
There is also a limited amount of military cooperation with the other countries ofGUAM: Georgia, Ukraine, Azerbaijan, and Moldova.[110]
The purpose of Azerbaijani military education and 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. Military education in the Azerbaijani Armed Forces have been described as either being secondary education, further education, or higher education.[111]
Azerbaijani pilots were formerly trained in the Azerbaijan Air Force School, where they would then develop their skills in operational units. Azerbaijan has an experience exchange with Turkey, Ukraine, the United States and a number of NATO countries. TheTurkish Air Force School has a great role in the training of Azerbaijani military pilots. Azerbaijani pilots are also trained in Ukraine's Pilot Training School.[112]
The following is a list of educational institutions in the armed forces, under the auspices of theNational Defense University:
Military Courts act as courts of first instance deals. The Military Court is composed of a President and judges. The following military courts exist in Azerbaijan:[113]
During the first war, Russians, who were alarge minority in Azerbaijan at the time, served in the units of the Azerbaijani Army, many of whom formerly served in the Soviet Army. According to theRussian Ministry of Defence more than 300 officers of the 7th Army, based in the capital of Baku, refused to leave Azerbaijan at the outset of the war.[115] During the Second Karabakh War, the death of an ethnicRussian Azerbaijani soldier, Dmitry Solntsev, was reported.[116] There was also Denis Aliyev (born as Denis Pronin) from theXətai raion, who was killed inJabrayil.[117] He was later posthumously awarded theMedal "For the Liberation of Jabrayil" in December.[118] Cossacks, associated with the Association of Cossacks of Azerbaijan, often join the Azerbaijani Armed Forces.[119]
Female military personnel in the military are generally involved in education, office work, medical care, and the development of international cooperation. They also serve in the rear, signal troops, and intelligence forces. Women are exempt from conscription, which means that female service is purely on a voluntary basis. There are currently 1,000 female personnel in the Azerbaijani military, accounting for 3% of the armed forces.[120] During the Karabakh Conflict, 2,000 of the 74,000 Azerbaijani soldiers were women, and 600 of them directly took part in military operations, with a women's battalion being established in 1992.[121] The enrollment of females in Azerbaijani higher military schools began in 1999.[121] According to soldier Tehrana Bahruzi in her book, “Zakir Hasanov: the Ideal Minister", Defence MinisterZakir Hasanov was responsible for launching the first female unit in theSpecial Forces of Azerbaijan.[122] In October 2020, the first female military casualty was reported, a combat medic who died while taking wounded soldiers from the battlefield.[123]
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.
The military oath (Azerbaijani:Hərbi and) is taken byconscripts as a legal basis of the beginning of their military service.[124] The oath is administered by the commanding officer of the unit. The following is the text for the current version of the oath:[125]
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.
I solemnly swear:
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. 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.
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.
If I break my oath, I am ready to take responsibility with the full seriousness of the laws of the Republic of Azerbaijan.
A battle flag for a military unit is a symbol of honor which remains forever in the unit unless it is dissolved. 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. Battle flags have the color of theState Flag, with the slogan "For Azerbaijan" being embroidered with golden silk on a blue stripe along the upper edge of the fabric.[126] Outside the battle flag, the Azerbaijani military also utilizes the Turkish military tradition ofpennants as symbols.
These are the military holidays observed by all service personnel of the Armed Forces:
Azerbaijan Military History Museum is a structure under the Ministry of Defense. It was established on 10 December 1992 by the order of the Minister of Defense and in accordance with a decree signed on 29 October 1992 "On the transfer of the Museum of Combat Glory of the VI Army Garrison of the Commonwealth of Independent States". 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. Currently, the number of exhibits totals 11,000.[129]
After theSecond World War, veterans movements were launched in Azerbaijan, with the Baku Veterans Committee being established on 10 June 1960. The activity of the committee was limited to Baku until the early 1970s. During the leadership of First Secretary Heydar Aliyev, there was a revival in the veteran movement, during which the committee gradually expanded to the republic. The establishment of the Republican Veterans Organization took place on 21 March 1987. Despite the official registration of the RVO with the Ministry of Justice, the activity of the organization was largely formal due to the tensions in the country with the Karabakh War, as well as the attitude of the government towards Red Army veterans in general. One of the first laws signed by the President Aliyev was the Law "On Veterans" (28 June 1994), which restored the mandate for the RVO.[130]
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This article incorporatespublic domain material fromThe World Factbook.CIA. This article incorporatespublic domain material fromU.S. Bilateral Relations Fact Sheets.United States Department of State.
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