Official: Azerbaijan reduces Russian arms industry dependence

Azerbaijan has reduced its dependence on the Russian arms industry, which has become traditional for many former Soviet republics, including by purchasing and using hitherto unconventional means of warfare.

Azerbaijani National Defence University Rector Lieutenant General Heydar Piriyev, Report informs.

These means were drones used to detect and destroy short and medium-range air defence systems, for reconnaissance, and to attack and destroy enemy military equipment and manpower.

"For the destruction of enemy-owned weapons depots and missile systems, Israeli-made Harop kamikaze drones are among the most modern UAVs of this category. In particular, these drones have been successfully used in the disabling of S-300 missile systems. The role of Bayraktar TB-2 produced by the Turkish defence industry is undeniable. In the first two weeks of the war alone, the Azerbaijani Armed Forces destroyed 60 air defense systems (mainly 9K33 Osa and 9K35 Strela) belonging to the Armenian army. Thus, Azerbaijan, having managed to diversify arms purchases, was able to reduce its dependence on the Russian arms industry, which has become traditional in many countries of the former Soviet Union," Piriyev said.