Azerbaijan showcases military innovation, strength at defence exhibitions details / photo

The Azerbaijan International Defence Exhibition ADEX-2024 and the Securex Caspian International Exhibition for Internal Security, Protection, and Rescue Equipment, held in Baku at the end of September, are now part of history.

However, the significance of this major event extends well beyond its timeframe. Defence exhibitions are typically held in countries with a robust defence industry and a stable economy. Therefore, the significant interest shown in the Azerbaijan International Defence Exhibition ADEX-2024 underscores Azerbaijan's growing importance and leadership in the region.

A tremendous effort in organising this event was undertaken by the Azerbaijani Ministry of Defence Industry. Now, as potential hotspots of tension and even conflict arise in neighbouring countries and regions, and amid global unrest, the relevance of the international arms market has never been more pronounced.

Almost every country is arming, rearming, producing, or modernising its weapons according to its capabilities and interests. In this context, the ADEX-2024 exhibition, which was first reviewed by Azerbaijani President Ilham Aliyev, served as a significant showcase, illustrating the evolving landscape of the market and technologies. It provided clear evidence of the changes taking place, changes that cannot be ignored.  

The well-known phrase, "A nation that does not feed its army will be forced to feed someone else's," is particularly relevant in this context. Reinterpreting this idea, a country that fails to adequately equip itself with modern weapons is destined to remain in a subordinate position.

Azerbaijan has recognized this necessity in a timely manner, allowing the nation to firmly establish its place in the global arms market. Azerbaijan collaborates with various countries around the world, and its efforts in this area are actively ongoing. 

Now, a month after the exhibition concluded, two significant implications are becoming increasingly clear: first, the demonstration of the growing capabilities of Azerbaijan's defence industry, and second, the positioning of Azerbaijan as an international hub for networking and securing mutually beneficial contracts in the fields of defence and armaments. This is even corroborated by statistics— in 2024, the scale of the "ADEX" and "Securex Caspian" exhibitions significantly expanded compared to previous years.  

A total of 218 companies from 40 countries participated, including not only Azerbaijan but also nations such as Belarus, Bulgaria, the United Kingdom, Hungary, Israel, Spain, Italy, Qatar, China, Lithuania, the UAE, Pakistan, the Russian Federation, Serbia, Singapore, Slovakia, the US, Türkiye, Ukraine, and others. This year’s exhibition saw a notable influx of new companies, which account for 34 per cent of all participants. 

Hungary, Qatar, Singapore, and Slovakia joined the roster of exhibitors for the first time. All this shows that Azerbaijan, through the ADEX and Securex Caspian exhibitions, has confidently positioned itself among the select few countries where leading military powers actively participate. These nations are not just attending for the sake of formality; they are showcasing their most advanced developments and technological innovations, thoroughly presenting them to the audience in Baku.

An important detail is that 14 countries were represented with national pavilions, including Azerbaijan, Belarus, Hungary, Israel, Italy, Qatar, China, Pakistan, Russia, Serbia, Slovakia, Türkiye, Ukraine, and the Czech Republic. Compared to 2022, the number of participants increased by 32 per cent.        

Some 53 high-level official delegations from 27 countries, along with over 300 official delegates representing nations such as Algeria, Belarus, Bahrain, Hungary, Vietnam, Georgia, Egypt, Israel, Jordan, Italy, Kazakhstan, Kuwait, Kyrgyzstan, Malaysia, Morocco, Pakistan, Russia, Romania, Saudi Arabia, Serbia, Slovakia, Somalia, Turkmenistan, Turkey, Ukraine, Uzbekistan, and Croatia attended the exhibition. 

The ADEX-2024 exhibition also served as a significant showcase for several cutting-edge weapons developed by the Azerbaijani Ministry of Defence Industry. With a continuously increasing production capacity that employs the latest technologies and has established testing and serial production of competitive weaponry, the ministry remains actively engaged in advancing this sector.        

Numerous domestic and international guests had the opportunity to witness significant new developments. One of the standout innovations at ADEX-2024 that generated considerable interest is the KALAN surface drone, produced domestically. With a speed of 30 km/h and a payload capacity of 5 kg of explosives, this kamikaze drone can operate in both manual and automatic control modes, functioning individually or in swarms while navigating to specified coordinates.  

The drones are capable of executing coordinated attacks, targeting multiple objectives simultaneously. Designed for coastal defence and naval operations, this unmanned system serves a crucial role in enhancing maritime security. Its other variant can reach speeds of 50 km/h and carry 15 kilograms of explosives.

Following the completion of testing, serial production is set to begin for the State Border Service.   Also drawing attention is the combat module featuring a 30-mm automatic cannon and machine gun. This weapon system was developed in collaboration with Escribano, a Spanish company, showcasing international cooperation in advancing military technology.

The total weight of the system is 3 tons, and the cannon is capable of effectively engaging targets at distances ranging from 8 to 13 kilometers.

It can be mounted on an armored vehicle, enhancing its tactical flexibility.   Among the new offerings showcased for the first time are domestically produced sniper rifles, the YST-24 and YST-24N. Both rifles weigh 3.8 kg and have an impressive shooting range of 1,100 metres.        

The exhibition also featured machine guns manufactured in Azerbaijan. These included the AZ 14.5, which fires the 14.5x114 mm caliber, as well as the İPP 12.7 and AH 12.7, both chambered for the 12.7x108 mm caliber.

All of these machine guns are designed for mounting on light armored vehicles and are intended for neutralizing enemy personnel and lightly protected targets.

For the first time, the pride of Azerbaijan's defense industry was unveiled to the public: the domestically produced laser weapon, Fireforce. With a laser source power of 30 kW, the system has a total weight of 900 kg.

Developed by Azerbaijani engineers, this innovative weapon is designed to be mounted on a light armored vehicle. The next innovation is the IDM-7.62 remotely operated machine gun module, featuring a magazine capacity of 600 rounds with automatic reloading.

This module stands out due to its impressive range, advanced targeting systems, and an effective muzzle brake that reduces recoil by 60 per cent, significantly enhancing the weapon's accuracy. Given the pressing need to clear Azerbaijani land of Armenian mines left by occupiers during years of territorial occupation, significant interest was generated by the latest robotic demining complex, Revival P. 

This robot is equipped with an explosion-proof PTZ camera featuring an 80x zoom and a 360° field of view. Weighing in at 6.5 tons, it can withstand blasts equivalent to 7 kg of TNT, making it one of the most protected devices in its class. The operator can control the Revival P from a distance of up to 2,000 metres.

The robot successfully underwent testing in real-world conditions in Karabakh, earning high praise from experts regarding its capabilities.   The exhibition showcased the highly anticipated "Turan" automatic rifle, chambered for the 7.62×39 cartridge. Weighing 3.7 kg without ammunition, it features a 30-round magazine.      

The "Turan" rifle is designed for special forces and operations tailored to specific missions. Its construction was entirely developed from the ground up by Azerbaijani engineers, and the rifle is manufactured using solely Azerbaijani materials.  

Another noteworthy innovation is the multifunctional drone "Zangezur," created by a team of students and faculty from Baku Engineering University. Its primary mission is to monitor environmental conditions and detect sources of radioactive contamination.   There are also plans to equip the "Zangezur" drone with a thermal imaging camera and to utilize it for demining operations.

A key feature of the drone is its ability to take off and land vertically, which facilitates its use in mountainous terrains. In the future, this capability could enable it to deliver medical supplies and provisions to troops at the front lines. Moreover, in a bomber configuration, the drone can be outfitted with a payload of up to 5 kilograms.

The imposing armored personnel carriers are domestic developments from 2024. The ITX-6-L armored vehicle is designed to accommodate a variety of equipment and armaments.

The new ITX-20-H assault armored vehicle is equipped with remote weapon systems, navigation capabilities, and night vision technology. The vehicle can be outfitted with a 12.7 mm machine gun and is designed to withstand blasts from explosive devices, with a combat weight of 10 tons.

The ITX-15 armored vehicle is specifically intended to assist in providing emergency medical aid on the battlefield and to save the lives of the injured.            

Another significant breakthrough was Azerbaijan's Ministry of Defence participating in the exhibition for the first time with its own dedicated booth in 2024. 

This underscores the growing importance of the event. Overall, ADEX-2024 showcased not only the expanding technological and manufacturing capabilities of Azerbaijan's defence industry but also the increasing significance of our country in the global arms market.  

There were also noticeable trends observed at the event, particularly a growing interest in small air defense systems designed to combat unmanned aerial vehicles (UAVs).

These systems integrate the capability to physically neutralize drones using small arms fire and unguided missiles, along with electronic warfare (EW) systems for jamming and disrupting UAV signals.   Several intriguing innovations were showcased for the first time specifically in Baku.

For instance, Barzan Industrial Group from Qatar introduced a new and unique drone countermeasure system.

Director of Development at Barzan Holding Sultan Ibrahim Al Kuwari told Caliber.Az that currently, there is no system on the global market that can provide 100 per cent protection against drones. 

"We have managed to come as close as possible to that ideal standard. Our drone countermeasure system offers both the capability for physical neutralization of drones using small arms and electronic warfare features for jamming and disrupting drone operations," he said.  

“To determine the trajectory of drone movement, assess potential threats, classify drones, and identify targets, our system employs both active and passive radars, electro-optical sensors, and artificial intelligence. The system we have developed meets NATO standards and can be integrated into any air defense system,” stated Al Kuwari.

Overall, foreign companies showcased a range of new military technologies at the exhibition, including armored vehicles, artillery shells, missiles, drones, air defense systems, electronic warfare equipment, small arms, and much more.

At ADEX-2024, we witnessed a showcase of drones and counter-drone systems, rockets, artillery, armored vehicles, and much more. Most importantly, ADEX-2024 served as a grand exhibition of modern weaponry and technology, demonstrating the strength and capabilities of Azerbaijan's defense industry.

It attracted significant interest from government entities, business circles, and industrial organizations both from Azerbaijan and abroad.   The steady progress in defence production during these turbulent times enables Azerbaijan to confidently look to the future, relying on its growing strengths and capabilities. With each passing day, these resources continue expanding.

By Naila Huseynova