Seen and Heard at the ADEX 2022 Exhibition

The exhibition of modern weapons and equipment, ADEX, took place after a forced break caused by the Second Karabakh War in 2020 and the pandemic in 2021 (the exhibition was supposed to be held in 2021 but was postponed due to the COVID-19 pandemic). Of special significance this year was the fact that the exhibition was held for the first time after the glorious victory of Azerbaijan in the Second Karabakh War.  Advanced weaponry was displayed showcasing the strength and power of the country's military and industrial complex, which played an exceptional role in the Victory of the Armed Forces of Azerbaijan in the Second Karabakh War.

Products were on display for visitors in the indoor exhibition area which extended throughout three different halls at the Baku Expo Center as well as in the outdoor exhibition space located right in front of the facility. A total of 208 companies from 18 countries attended ADEX 2022.  The exhibition area was expanded by 10% this year compared to ADEX 2018 (which brought together 224 participants from 29 countries), this year’s 4th edition of ADEX was held in an indoor exhibiting area of more than 5,000 square meters (including 3 indoor exhibiting halls; Hall 1, 2 and 3) and the outdoor exhibiting area, which provided exhibitors ample space to showcase the latest technological innovations and network opportunities with top military officials and other key decision makers from Azerbaijan as well as other countries. Participants of the ADEX 2022 defense exhibition included leading defense sector companies from Azerbaijan (19 companies), Belarus (11 companies), Belgium, Bulgaria (6 companies), China (CETC International), Finland/Türkiye (MIILUX OY), France, Iran, Israel (6 companies), Italy (Leonardo), Jordan, Netherlands, Pakistan (4 companies), the Russian Federation (13 companies), Spain (INDRA), Türkiye, Ukraine (Motor-Sich) and Kazakhstan (5 companies). Jadara Equipment & Defense System company from Jordan participated in the exhibition for the first time. 

A total of eight countries, including Türkiye participated ADEX 2022 with their own national stands. Many countries had expanded their national exhibit areas. With 42 companies and a 2,800m2 stand area Türkiye was the biggest foreign participant, similar with ADEX 2018. Some 20 countries around the world sent their delegations to ADEX 2022, led by representatives of the military departments of these countries. The General Sponsor of the Exhibition was “Jadara Equipment & Defense Systems”, the Gold Sponsor was “Turkish Aerospace (TUSAŞ)”, and the Bronze Sponsor was “ASFAT”.

During the three day exhibition, sessions were held on demining the occupied territories of Azerbaijan, development prospects and application areas of unmanned systems, modern weapon systems, ammunitions and their purpose, the role of armored combat vehicles in the modern combat environment, and other topics.

While the Azerbaijan Defense Industry demonstrated its own facilities and ever developing capabilities, the companies representing the Defense Industry of friendly and allied countries introduced their indigenous solutions either under the service of the Armed Forces of Azerbaijan or those going through the tender processes as well as their cutting-edge technology products that were expected to draw the attention of countries in the region.

On September 5, 2022, President of the Republic of Azerbaijan Ilham ALIYEV issued a greeting message to the participants and guests of the ADEX 2022 Exhibition.  In his message President ALIYEV underlined that the now traditional “ADEX” exhibition has become an important platform for the development of military-technical cooperation and for the demonstration of the most advanced weaponry, equipment and technologies. “The exhibition brings together the world's well-known military industrial enterprises, authoritative foreign companies and organizations, official delegations and specialists, thus creating ample opportunities for the establishment of business relations and signing of new contracts,” ALIYEV said. Noting that the ADEX 2022 Exhibition was the first international defense exhibition to be organized by Azerbaijan after the country’s brilliant victory in the Patriotic War (Second Karabakh War), ALIYEV underlined the fact that local military products were successfully tested and demonstrated in real combat operations further enhanced the importance of this year’s ADEX event.

President ALIYEV made the following statements in his greeting message; “The combat experience of the Armed Forces of Azerbaijan, which fought in a 21st century war, is now being carefully studied by military centers of developed countries. By deploying the most modern combat weapons in extremely difficult natural terrain, the Armed Forces of Azerbaijan broke through the enemy’s heavily fortified defense lines and forced it to surrender in a matter of 44 days. The historical victory of Azerbaijan demonstrated that in order to achieve the goals set in the military field, it is extremely important to build a modern army and implement consistent and focused measures to increase the country's military power.

The Republic of Azerbaijan has always attached a special importance on increasing the combat capability of its Armed Forces and strengthening its material and technical infrastructure. In addition to developing cooperation with the world's leading countries in the military-technical field, our country is also expanding its capabilities in the field of the national defense industry. Azerbaijan is currently closely cooperating with leading companies of more than 50 countries in aviation, navigation, device manufacturing and other areas. The volume of products manufactured by the country’s defense industry enterprises is increasing each year.

In the coming period, we will further strengthen the Armed Forces and the defense capability of our country, attaching special importance to the production of modern weapons, military equipment, ammunition, rear service property and other material means.

I am sure that the “ADEX-2022” exhibition will create a favorable opportunity for the exchange of beneficial experience and the establishment of cooperative relations, and it will make a positive contribution to expanding the scientific and technological potential of Azerbaijan's defense industry.”

Chief of the Turkish General Staff (TGS) General Yasar GÜLER, Deputy Minister of Turkish Ministry of National Defense Muhsin DERE, Azerbaijan Minister of Defense General Zakir HASANOV, Azerbaijan Minister of Defense Industry Madat GULIYEV and Chief of the State Border Service & Commander of Border Troops and Coast Guard General Elchin GULIYEV were among the high-level participants of the ADEX 2022 Exhibition official opening ceremony. Attending ADEX 2022 in the morning on the first day of the event, Azerbaijan’s President & Commander-in-Chief of the Armed Forces of Azerbaijan Ilham ALIYEV visited the Turkish Pavilion (the largest one among 8 foreign pavilions) and the other largest stands where he talked with company representatives to get information on the displayed products. Chief of the Turkish General Staff (TGS) General Yasar GÜLER, Deputy Minister of Turkish Ministry of National Defense Muhsin DERE, Azerbaijan Minister of Defense General Zakir HASANOV and Azerbaijan Minister of Defense Industry Madat GULIYEV accompanied President ALIYEV during stand tour session. President ALIYEV also visited the pavilions of Azerbaijan, Bulgaria, China, Kazakhstan, Pakistan, the Russian Federation and Israel at the exhibition.

With 42 Companies and Associations Türkiye was the Largest Participant

Under the auspices of the Turkish Defense Industries Agency (SSB), 42 companies and associations including ALTAY, ARMELSAN, ASELSAN, ASFAT, ASSAV, AYESAŞ, BMC, DEARSAN, Defence Turkey Magazine, HAVELSAN, İŞBİR, LENTATEK, MKE, MİLSOFT, NUROL TEKNOLOJİ, OTOKAR, ROKETSAN, SAHA İstanbul, STM, TAIS, TİTRA and Turkish Aerospace participated in the event together with the Defense and Aerospace Exporters’ Association (SSI). A considerable number of these companies opened their stands in the National Pavilion.

While most of the companies had stands in the National Pavilion in Hall 2, the stands of companies such as ASFAT, HAVELSAN, ROKETSAN and UNIMETAL were located in Hall 1 and stands of ARMELSAN, ASELSAN, ATA SİLAH, OTOKAR, PROFEN and TİTRA participated in the exhibition with quite large stands in Hall 3. 

Occupying 2,800 square meters of exhibition space (including both indoor and outdoor areas and covering more than half of the indoor exhibition area), the Turkish Pavilion was the largest national pavilion in terms of overall booked space among 8 national pavilions in the exhibition. The stand fee was disclosed as $85USD per square meter for Turkish companies. Turkish Defense & Aerospace companies attended ADEX 2018 with a total stand area of 1,659 square meters.

At ADEX 2022 Türkiye was represented by Ambassador of Turkey to Azerbaijan Erkan ÖZORAL, Chief of the Turkish General Staff (TGS) General Yasar GÜLER and Deputy Minister of Turkish Ministry of National Defense Muhsin DERE.

During the fair, the Turkish Official Delegation held talks with host country officials and delegations from other countries that participated in the fair. At the Turkish National Pavilion, information about the Turkish Defense & Aerospace and advanced technological capabilities were presented to exhibitors and visitors, and cooperation opportunities were evaluated.

ALTAY

Among the companies that were happy to participate in the fair, ALTAY Group officials pointed out that there were General-level visits from the Azerbaijan Armed Forces and invited delegations to their booth during the fair, and that they held bilateral meetings with companies from Pakistan, the Russian Federation, Bulgaria, and Serbia. ALTAY officials stated that they had previously won a mine clearance tender in Azerbaijan and had carried out demining activities in the Fuzuli Airport area in Fuzuli province, Karabakh and that they provided a complete package of services, including vehicles, personnel, and dogs for mine-clearance. Stating that there is great interest in Electro-Optic solutions and software systems in Azerbaijan, the company officials said that they see business potential in software development and software training fields. The company opened an office in Azerbaijan at the end of 2021 to better evaluate the business potential in the region, and local consultants started to work in this office. Delivering Logistics Support for F-16 Flight Simulators in the Turkish Air Force inventory in Turkey for the last three years, ALTAY Group provides maintenance and operation services at all air bases where F-16 Simulators are deployed. Furthermore, the Electronic Warfare Operator Training System (EHOPES) Simulator, which was delivered to the Turkish Navy by ALTAY and used in the training of shipboard EW operators, attracted significant attention and was requested by the Navy and Armies of other countries.

ASELSAN

Attending the event with a large booth (covering more than 700 square meters) located at Hall 3, ASELSAN displayed 62 different products including Guidance Kits, Electro-Optic Systems, Drone Countermeasure Systems, Communication Systems and Electronic Warfare products, which are still actively used by the Armed Forces of Azerbaijan. 

ASELSAN President and CEO Prof. Haluk GÖRGÜN informed President Ilham ALIYEV visiting the ASELSAN stand with the accompanying delegation on the displayed products. In addition to President ALIYEV, Azerbaijan Minister of Defense General Zakir HASANOV, Azerbaijan Minister of Defense Industry Colonel-General Madat GULIYEV, Commander of the Azerbaijani Air and Air Defense Forces (AAF) Lieutenant General Ramiz TAHIROV, Deputy Minister of Defense & Commander of the Special Combined-Arms Army (Nakhchivan Garrison) Colonel-General Kerem MUSTAFAYEV, Ministry of Defense Chief of Reservation Mammed EMINOV and Ministry of Defense Chief of Discovery Hilal NECEFOV also visited the ASELSAN booth and obtained first-hand information on the displayed products and ongoing projects in Azerbaijan. During ADEX 2022, ASELSAN senior management also held meetings with host country officials and delegations from other countries participating in the exhibition.

Within the scope of the Azerbaijan Air Force’s Integrated Air Defense Command Control System Project, the contract for the First Phase, covering the radar integration and the creation of an air picture, was signed with ASELSAN during the ADEX 2018 Fair in September 2018. ASELSAN, in cooperation with HAVELSAN, proposed a new generation Integrated Air Defense & Command Control System solution (dubbed HAKİM) to the Azerbaijan Air Force. The Project aims for the command control of Azerbaijan’s air space and the integration of a total of nearly 70 air surveillance/early warning radar systems, 13 types (including an undisclosed number of modernized P-18, P-19R and P-14/5N84 ‘Oborona’ radars, 5 36D6-M Tin Shield mobile Early Warning radars, 2 EL/M-2288 AD-STAR, at least one EL/M-2106NG, at least one EL/M-2080 Green Pine air and missile defense radar, at least one EL/M-2084 radar, at least one LANZA LTR-25 3D radar, 2 96L6E Cheese Board, 2 30N6E2 Tomb Stone and 1 64N6E2 Big Bird-D radars (with S-300 PMU-2) as well as at least one 80K6M radar (for BUK-MB) that was procured from various countries such as Belarus, Ukraine, the Russian Federation, Israel and Spain for all of the air Defense missile systems in different types (i.e. Russian origin [S-300 PMU2] and Israel origin [Barak 8]) across the country. The HAKİM Project Phase 1 contract became effective in February 2021 and as of September 2022 work on radar network integration continues. Phase 1 covers the radar integration and production and dissemination of the recognized air picture and has been requested to be completed in two years following the contract effective date. Phase 2 will cover the air defense missile network integration efforts.

The LGK-82 Laser Guidance Kit (LGK) developed by ASELSAN was integrated to the QFAB-250-LG munition developed by the Research and Development Institute (RDI) of MODIAR. Following a series of firing tests (with the upgraded Su-25 aircraft) the QFAB-250-LG guided munition entered Azerbaijan Air Force service and was deployed during the Second Karabakh War. The activities regarding the LGK-82 integration were launched as part of the MoU signed between the Azerbaijan Ministry of Defense Industry and ASELSAN during IDEF ‘17. The QFAB-250-LG laser guided munition weighs 250kg (its total mass is 270kg including the LGK kit) and it is fitted with a HE-type fragmentation warhead (fragmentation radius is 10m) developed by the RDI. It is 3,300mm long and has a diameter of 24mm and it could reach a range up to 12km depending on the launch altitude. The QFAB-250-LG guided munition was displayed at the MODIAR stand during the Exhibition. Azerbaijan has also claimed to have procured an undisclosed number of KGK wing assisted GPS/INS guidance kits that converts 1,000lb Mk-83 and 500lb Mk-82 general purpose bombs into long-range smart weapons.

During ADEX 2022, in the outdoor exhibition area, ASELSAN also displayed the Mobile Air Traffic Control Tower based on the Kamaz 43118 Tactical Wheeled Vehicle (TWV) chassis, deliveries of which to the Azerbaijan Air Force was launched at the beginning of September 2018, and the System Access Point (SEN) Vehicle, 20 of which entered service with the AZRA-II Project. Within the scope of the Azerbaijan Radiolink Communications System (AZRA) Project contract ASELSAN initially carried out Mobile Radio link Communications Systems deliveries to the Armed Forces of Azerbaijan in 2016 and 2017. Following to these deliveries, the contract was amended to continue with the Azerbaijan TASMUS-II System and Satellite Communications Systems as the second phase of the Project. Subsequently both the TASMUS-II Communications System and Satellite Communications Systems joined the inventory of the Armed Forces of Azerbaijan in 2018. In this context a Satellite Substation was established in the Armed Forces of Azerbaijan Communications, Electronics and Information Systems Command. According to the ASELSAN 2020 Activity Report, the company completed the delivery, installation test and acceptance activities of AZRA-2 Tactical Field Communication Systems to the Armed Forces of Azerbaijan in 2020. Within the scope of the AZRA-2 Project, commissioning activities for 20 satellite SEN Terminals/Vehicles, the TASMER Operation Center (TASMUS Management Center) and the Satellite Ground Station were completed. It was stated that the integration processes of 40 systems in the AZRA-1 project, which were previously included in the inventory, with the AZRA-2 systems have been completed. The communications capabilities that gained both AZRA-I/II Projects and TASMUS-II System have played a critical role in the Second Karabakh War. 

ARMELSAN

Participating in the ADEX 2022 Fair with a large booth, ARMELSAN exhibited the one-to-one scale model of the new ORKUN-2053 Dipping Sonar, which was revealed for the first time at the DIMDEX 2022 Fair, and the scale model of the NUSRAT-1915 Mine Hunting Sonar was offered to the Turkish Naval Forces. The company also introduced the KAŞIF Work Class Remotely Operated Underwater Vehicle (ROV), which has been in the service of Turkish Petroleum for about two years.

The Wet-End of the ORKUN-2053 Dipping Sonar, on which the transmitter and receiver are located, can operate at a depth of 400m, it weighs approximately 100kg, and is 1.7m - 1.8m long (but the weight increases when submerged). The ORKUN-2053 has a 1.8-meter wide pneumatically controlled 24-arm receive array, and the data collected by the array is processed in the electronic units (in the midsection), then sent up (to the helicopter) via a fiber optic cable and displayed on the Operator Console. The ORKUN-2053 Dipping Sonar will be integrated onto the MİR Unmanned Surface Vehicle (Harbor Defense configuration) developed in cooperation with ASELSAN-SEFINE Shipyard and will undergo testing in the last quarter of 2022. The MİR USV will also be fitted with the ARMELSAN ARAS-2023 Diver Detection Sonar. ARMELSAN aims to complete the sea trials with the ORKUN-2053 in the second quarter of 2023.

The NUSRAT-1915 Mine Hunting Sonar Project was started in 2018 under the Turkish Defense Industry Agency (SSB). The NUSRAT-1915 Mine Hunting Sonar is expected to be tested first on an ENGIN Class Mine Hunter. Subsequently, NUSRAT-1915 is aimed to be used in A-Class (AYDIN Class) Mine Hunters and the New Mine Hunting Vessels, the tender process of which is currently ongoing. It is stated that NUSRAT-1915 has both detection and classification modes can detect and classify both moored and bottom mines.

It is stated that KAŞİF-1, one of the KAŞİF Work Class Remotely Operated Underwater Vehicles (ROV), operating in the underwater drilling activities of Turkish Petroleum, has performed over 13,000 hours of operation and KAŞIF-2 has approximately 7,000 hours of operation. KAŞİF-3 ROV, the production of which was completed and ready for delivery in early September, will serve on the 4th drilling/research ship named Abdülhamid Han. According to the information from ARMELSAN officials, negotiations are being held with Azerbaijan to sell a Work Class ROV. In the first phase, only 1 ROV is expected to be delivered. It is also possible for the number to increase in the future, and in parallel, the final assembly of the ROVs can be performed in Azerbaijan. Since the Caspian Sea is relatively shallow, the ROV to be delivered to Azerbaijan will have lower operating capability than the KAŞİF ROV series, which can work at a depth of 3,000m.  ARMELSAN officially opened its new R&D Center on September 24, 2022, at Teknopark Istanbul.  The center spans 4,000 square meters with a closed area of 3,000 square meters.  The Speaker of the Grand National Assembly Mustafa ŞENTOP, President of Defense Industry Agency İsmail DEMİR and Chairman of the Board of Armelsan Defense Yetkin KARAKAŞ participated in the ceremony. The KAŞİF-3 ROV was also on exhibit for visitors at the ceremony. The KAŞİF-3 ROV was announced to be produced with 80% local content, measures 3.2m x 1.9m x 1.7m and weighs 3,500kg. The KAŞİF-3 ROV can operate at a depth of 4,000m with the capacity to carry a payload of 350kg. 

ASSAV Defense Industry

ASSAV defense Industry, an ASSAN Group company, participated in ADEX for the first time this year. This exhibition was also the first international defense exhibition that company participated in. ASSAN Group, which started its manufacturing life in 1985 as a family company with the manufacture of construction machinery and spare parts, established ASSAV Defense Industry company in 2010 with the ambition to support the Turkish economy and defense industry. Transferring the metalworking skills and high technology that ASSAN Group has specialized into the production of the defense industry has provided important advantages in ASSAV’s quick development. ASSAV continuously improves it capabilities in the defense industry with its strategic and innovative products which are manufactured at its modern facilities featuring a 178,000 square meter indoor manufacturing area, spreading over a total area of 1.1 million square meters.

Thanks to its robust manufacturing infrastructure that consist of more than 300 CNC machines at the Ankara Sincan facilities, the R&D studies which have accelerated during recent years, and its innovative and experienced engineering staff, ASSAV has been carrying out the manufacture of high-tech, high quality and reliable products/solutions in the fields of weapons, ammunition and spare parts for both tactical wheeled vehicles and main battle tanks. ASSAN Group exports its products more than 200 customers on 6 continents in 60 countries. 

ASSAV has successfully conducted the manufacture of Mk-80 Series General Purpose Aircraft Bombs (including Mk-81, Mk-82, Mk-83 and Mk-84), Conical Tail Units, BDU-33 Practice Bombs, Inert Bombs, 57mm and 84mm Recoilless Rifles and their ammunitions, Mortar Family (60mm Commando Mortar, 81mm Mortar and 120mm Mortar) and their ammunitions (including HE, Smoke, Illuminating and Target Practice), various tank and artillery ammunitions and spare parts production for both tactical wheeled vehicles and main battle tanks.

ASSAV’s first activity in the field of the defense industry was the production of the bodies for the Mk-80 Series General Purpose Bombs. The company currently has the capacity to produce 150,000 bomb bodies per year. ASSAV can produce steel bodies, composite bodies and ball fragmented bodies (Mk-81 with 24,000 to 26,000 steel balls, Mk-82 with 37,000 to 40,000 steel balls, Mk-83 with 64,000 to 70,000 steel balls and Mk-84 with 85,000 to 90,000 steel balls) for the Mk-80 Series depending on the customer requirements. ASSAV aims to start production of guidance kits for Mk-80 Series aircraft bombs in the medium term. In addition to meeting Turkish Air Force (TurAF) requirements ASSAV has also been exporting Mk-80 Series aircraft bomb bodies to an undisclosed gulf country (deliveries will continue also in 2023) as well as to two European countries. ASSAV delivers aircraft bomb bodies and multi-barrel artillery launch rocket bodies to MKE. ASSAN Group has taken an important step to take ASSAV to the next level with the investment in its Warhead & Rocket Engine Production and Filling Facility (GEPAT) at the Bolu, Gerede Complex. The GEPAT facility has the capability of filling energetic materials for warheads (including Thermobaric Warheads) and rocket propellants in a 30,000 square meter indoor area, as well as the ability to develop fuel and explosives at R&D laboratories. Established on an area of around 1,000,000 square meters the GEPT facility is also going to have the capabilities of seamless steel drawn pipe production, body forging, machining, coating, painting and priming as well as insensitive explosive production and filling, ammunition production and storage, rocket propellant production and filling in a total indoor production space of 82,000 square meters

LENTATEK

The most significant product at ADEX 2022 was KARGI's new configuration with an Electro-Optical/Infrared (EO/IR) payload; it was exhibited at the LENTATEK booth. LENTATEK installed a foreign-origin EO/IR gimbal to the KARGI prototype developed for the Turkish Air Force using its own resources under a project within the company. KARGI's new configuration with the EO/IR gimbal also attracted the attention of President ALIYEV during his visit, and he was briefed about the product by company officials. 

Although there is a slot for the laser designator on the gimbal, the LD device was not installed. According to the information I received, LENTATEK has also initiated a study with its local partners to develop a domestic EO/IR gimbal. The addition of the EO/IR gimbal significantly expanded KARGI's target range. While the standard configuration (anti-radiation) KARGI with the Passive RF Receiver can only be used against RF-emitting threats, the EO/IR gimbal allows it to be used against 18 additional target/threat types in the new configuration.

Although it has a slightly larger body compared to the veteran HARPY loitering munitions that are in service of the TurAF, it can be said that the total weight of the KARGI System is around 160kg, thanks to its carbon body design. Similar to HARPY, the KARGI is refueled before launch. However, unlike HARPY, it can fly to the area defined by the operator without turning on its Passive RF Receiver, thanks to its data link and algorithms. Thanks to this capability, friendly elements on the flight path do not need to silence their radars or other RF-emitting systems to prevent accidental engagement risks. With the EO/IR gimbal, KARGI has also gained a similar capability to the HAROP loitering munition in the inventory of the Azerbaijan State Border Service (it was successfully used in the 2nd Karabakh War). After the targets detected by the EO/IR payload are identified as threats by the operator, they can be destroyed with the KARGI EO/IR configuration. It is claimed that KARGI has similar or even better performance values than HAROP in terms of range, mission altitude, flight and dive speed, fuel capacity, and warhead weight and effectiveness, as well as being more cost-effective in terms of procurement costs. While SatCom capability is optionally available in HAROP, it is standard equipment in the KARGI System. The KARGI Project, which is carried out by the Aircraft, Ground Systems, Navigation, and Automatic Flight Control System designer and producer and System Software Project Manager LENTATEK, has reached the Acceptance Phase. KARGI Systems will replace HARPY loitering drones, which were ordered in 1998, and entered service in 2002 (2 batteries 108 aircraft). Most of the HARPY systems are already used, and the remaining ones are now at the end of their service life. The TEI-PG50 piston engine in pusher configuration and driving a two-bladed propeller is seated at the extreme rear-center of KARGI. The fuselage is blended into the wing structure (in delta wing configuration), and wing extensions are fitted outboard of the twin vertical tail fins (control rudders). There are fuel tanks on the wings and at the center of the fuselage, Side Force Panels at the joints of the wings and the fuselage, a SATCOM antenna is embedded in the nacelle of the fuselage, and a GPS antenna (white color) is located on the right wing, a Convergent Sensor on the right-wing folding point, a speed measurement sensor (gray color pitot tube) on the left-wing folding point and anti-radiation seeker (RF Seeker) on the nose. The nose section houses both the warhead and RF Seeker. 

DEARSAN Shipyard

DEARSAN submitted a comprehensive proposal for the domestic construction of 16 ships of different classes as part of the Azerbaijan Navy modernization program to the Ministry of Defense of Azerbaijan in 2018, and the proposal was submitted to the Council of Ministers after the approval of the Ministry. The package of 16 ships offered by DEARSAN consisted of 4 x 16/20-meter Fast Intervention Boats, 4 x 33-meter Fast Attack Craft, 4 x 57-meter New Type Patrol Boats, and 4 x 65-meter anti-ship capable corvettes. The Ministry of Defense of Azerbaijan, which has re-evaluated the requirements in the meantime, decided to procure a 65-meter anti-ship capable corvette/FAC (Fast Attack Craft) as an urgent need and started the tender process. In this context, while DEARSAN proposes its FAC-65 solution, STM offers its Multi-Purpose Attack Craft (STM-MPAC) solution, and DAMEN Shipyard-ELBIT Systems Partnership proposes its own solutions.

With a length of 65 meters and a displacement of 600 tons, the FAC-65 will be able to reach 45 knots and above thanks to its Main Propulsion System in CODAG configuration, consisting of 2 diesel engines, 2 gas turbines, and 4 water jets. The hull of the FAC-65 is made of steel, and its superstructure is made of aluminum. It will be equipped with the ASELSAN 25mm STOP Remote Controlled Stabilized Naval Gun System (at the stern), KIRLANGIÇ Electro-Optical Director, 8-cell Vertical Launching System (VLS) for HİSAR Missiles, Radar Electronic Attack system, 8 x ATMACA Anti-Ship Cruise Missiles, Chaff/Flare Launchers, MAR-D or CENK-S 3-D AESA Search Radars, X-Band SATCOM Antennas, 2 x Navigation Radars, TDS (Target Designation Sight, for manual control of 76mm main gun in an emergency), ASELSAN AKR-D Illumination Radar, searchlights, 2 x 12.7mm STAMP RCWS, and 76mm Super Rapid Naval Gun. The FAC-65 will have a 1,000nm cruise range with the accompaniment of 42 personnel.

Under a comprehensive project that includes training and logistics support, DEARSAN Shipyard previously built and delivered a total of 28 military ships, including 10 x 57-meter New Type Patrol Boats (in different configurations equipped with Otomat and Marte anti-ship missiles), 6 x 33-meter Fast Intervention Boats, 10 x 15-meter Fast Intervention Boats, 1 x Oceanographic Research Vessel, and 1 x Landing Craft (LCT, previously proposed LCT solution for the Turkish Navy) for Turkmenistan. DEARSAN also delivered the Turkmen Class (C-92) Deniz Han Corvette, which was constructed in 2019 according to the Türk Loydu Ship Classification rules, to the Turkmenistan Naval Forces at the Turkmenbashi Naval Base with a ceremony held on August 11, 2021. According to the information I received at the ADEX 2022 Exhibition, negotiations are continuing on whether the second ship (which was included in the contract as an option) will be built in the C92 configuration or another version.

The Light Submarine (L SUB 33) was among the scale models exhibited at the DEARSAN booth. We have learned that DEARSAN is at the final stage in the design studies of the Light Submarine and has also started working on the Autonomous Underwater Vehicle. The unmanned model of the Light Submarine is also on the company's agenda. The Light Submarine, which will be 33.6m in length, will be able to reach 6+ knots while submerged and 10+ knots surfaced and can operate at a depth of 150m. The submarine will be able to carry 8 Navy Commandos in addition to a crew of 6-8 personnel, and its maximum range is 1,600nm. The Multi-Purpose SEAL Submarine will be 19.2m long and have a displacement of 65 tons. It will be able to carry 8 Navy Commandos (SEALs) in addition to 2 crewmembers and perform missions up to 75m. The maximum range of the Multi-Purpose SEAL Submarine, which is expected to reach 8+ knots while submerged, is planned as 100nm. Another new product of DEARSAN is the Autonomous Underwater Vehicle (AUV). The 6.5-meter AUV will have a speed of 6+ knots and a range of 50nm. The AUV, which can operate at a depth of 75m, will have a 600kg payload capacity.

NUROL TEKNOLOJİ

NUROL TEKNOLOJİ, a Nurol Holding company, was established in 2008 to produce advanced ballistic ceramics with 100% domestic capital. NUROL TEKNOLOJİ designs and delivers personal and structural ballistic protection solutions with "National" and "Domestic" facilities. The company manufactures advanced ballistic ceramics and hybrid ballistic protective armor solutions such as Alumina, Silicon Carbide, and Boron Carbide for all friendly and allied countries, especially the Turkish Security Forces, under one roof in three production facilities located in Ankara. As the only advanced ceramics manufacturer in Turkey, the company has invested more than $130million USD in the past 14 years to reach this level and continues to invest in this field. NUROL TEKNOLOJİ, which can produce hybrid ballistic solutions for its domestic and foreign customers, can manufacture and test all types of personal, vehicle, and structural ballistic protection products according to all international requirements and standards, with its special recipes and capabilities. In this context, it can successfully perform the relevant tests at the internationally accepted ballistic protection levels NIJ 0101.04, NIJ 0101.06, NIJ 0115.00, NIJ 0108.01, TS EN 1063, TS EN 1522, STANAG 2920, STANAG 4569 and MIL PRF46103.

NUROL TEKNOLOJİ exhibited its personal and vehicle ballistic protection solutions with different protection levels and weights, manufactured from advanced ballistic ceramics such as Alumina (Aluminum Carbide), Silicon Carbide, and Boron Carbide (all provide the same protection level but have varying costs) at its booth at the ADEX 2022 Fair. The combat-proven personal ballistic protection solutions of NUROL TEKNOLOJİ were successfully used by a great numbers of countries security forces and are still being used successfully in Ukraine and are saving lives. 

The most expensive and lightest ceramic armor plates produced by NUROL TEKNOLOJİ are made of Boron Carbide material, while the cheapest and heaviest are made of Alumina. For example, even though they all provide the same protection level, a bulletproof NIJ Level 4 vest plate made of Boron Carbide weighs 2.5kg, Silicon Carbide weighs 3kg, and Alumina weighs 3.5kg. Therefore, while Boron Carbide armor plate is preferred in personal protection and air vehicle platforms, Silicon Carbide or Alumina plates are used in vehicle armoring depending on end-user requirements. 

At ADEX 2022, NUROL TEKNOLOJİ also exhibited its white bulletproof vest developed for the police forces made of Aramid (Kevlar) material, which protects against different calibers and knife attacks and a ballistic armor plate that can be installed into the assault vest developed for the Gendarmerie. The company also exhibited its NIJ-IV ballistic armor plate that can withstand 3 shots with a 7.62x63 M2AP round. Drawing attention to the necessity of using ceramic armor against armor-piercing bullets, NUROL TEKNOLOJİ official noted that there is a ceramic armor plate on the front and an additional soft insert made of white Polyethylene material behind it, which holds the fragmented pieces of the ceramic plate. The bullet that hits the ceramic armor plate, which does not have ballistic protection on its own, breaks and causes shrapnel that can harm the person wearing the vest. The Polyethylene lining holds the shrapnel and prevents damage to the human body. This way, the NIJ-IV standard ballistic armor plate can stop a .30 caliber M2AP round at 880m/s (thanks to its velocity, this bullet can be penetrated through several people lined up in a row).  NUROL TEKNOLOJİ can manufacture advanced ballistic ceramic armor plates such as Alumina, Silicon Carbide, and Boron Carbide.

While the NIJ-IV standard bulletproof armor plate, which can withstand a single 7.62x63 M2AP bullet, is 2.300gr, the armor plate designed to withstand 3 shots is 2.500gr. Each vest has one armor plate at the front and back and one side armor plate on each side for the liver. Therefore, the NIJ-IV standard for a bulletproof vest has a total weight of 7 kg, 2x2.5kg + 1kg + 1kg and it ensures full ballistic protection. NUROL TEKNOLOJİ has continues its R&D studies to reduce the weight of the ceramic armor plate even more in the R&D Center accredited by the Turkish Industry & Technology Ministry.

The ballistic vests delivered to the Turkish Special Forces have side armor plates. Using ceramic armor weighing 2.350gr-2.500gr, the NIJ-IV standard bulletproof (30 caliber M2 Rifle) vest can provide ballistic protection equivalent to a 7.5kg steel plate.

NUROL TEKNOLOJİ has also developed the NIJ-VI standard ballistic shield that can withstand 7.62x63 M2AP bullets. The company also offers ceramic-composite ballistic armored shield models that can withstand soft-point and 7.62x51mm armor-piercing (AP) rounds. Developed by NUROL TEKNOLOJİ for bases, checkpoints, and security missions, the portable Modular Bunker (MODKOR) was delivered to the General Directorate of Security (Turkish Police) in the past months, and its tests are continuing. It will also be delivered to the Gendarmerie General Command for testing purposes.

NUROL TEKNOLOJİ provides STANAG 4569 Level 2 (7.62x39mm API), 3 (7.62x51mm AP), 4 (14.5x114mm AP), and 5 (25mm APDS-T) ceramic armor solutions for land vehicles. NUROL TEKNOLOJİ is making deliveries for the FNSS Marine Assault Vehicle (ZAHA) and PARS III 6x6 APC and YÖRÜK 4x4 Armored Vehicles. The company is also increasing the protection levels of tactical armored vehicles from B6 to B7 and B7+ levels as part of a project they have been carrying out with the H.I.T. company in Pakistan for a while. The project also covers training services for local personnel; thus, composite/ceramic armor panels manufactured in NUROL TEKNOLOJİ facilities are mounted on vehicles in Pakistan. As part of the armoring project, vehicle suspensions are also being changed.

OTOKAR

At its stand OTOKAR exhibited the world-renowned COBRA II Tactical Wheeled Armored Vehicle during ADEX 2022. The exhibited COBRA II was one of the vehicles that entered the Special Forces units of Internal Troops (Daxili Qosunlar/DİN, the uniformed gendarmerie-like force in Azerbaijan) service in 2021. Internal Troops are expected to place an order for a second batch of COBRA II vehicles in the coming months.

During recent years, OTOKAR has delivered an undisclosed number of COBRA I, APV 4x4 Wheeled Armored Vehicles (WAVs) and Engerek 4x4 special operations vehicles to the Azerbaijan State Border Service, Ministry of State of Emergency and the Internal Troops. Some of the COBRA-I WAVs have been equipped with a single SKIFF ATGM launcher, while some of the COBRA Is in the inventory of the State Border Service are equipped with Skystriker (QUZGUN) Loitering Munitions and some others are equipped with a RCWS armed with a pair of LAHAT ATGM launchers, an AGS-17 grenade launcher, 7.62mm NSV machine gun and with EO/IR vision systems. 

COBRA-II Tactical Wheeled Armored Vehicles, which started to be delivered to Azerbaijan in 2021, were photographed for the first time during the official opening ceremony of the newly built military base in the Aghjabadi district for Internal Troops (part of the Ministry of Internal Affairs) in February 2022, together with the President of Azerbaijan and the Commander-in-Chief of the Armed Forces, Ilham ALIYEV, and his wife, First Lady Mehriban ALIYEVA. During the visit of VIP guests to the Defense Industry Exhibition, which was established during the EFES 2022 Exercise, Chief of State Border Service of Azerbaijan Republic Colonel-General Elçin GULIYEV visited the Otokar booth together with the Chief of General Staff General Yaşar GÜLER and received information from Otokar officials. COBRA Armored Vehicles have been in service of the Azerbaijan Border Guards for many years. During his visit to the Otokar booth, Colonel-General GULIYEV said, "We are very pleased with COBRA."

Stressing that OTOKAR has a long-standing cooperation with Azerbaijan, OTOKAR General Manager Serdar GÖRGÜÇ said, “One of the most important reflections of the friendship and cooperation relations between brother country Azerbaijan and Türkiye is undoubtedly the cooperation projects realized in the field of the defense industry. With the effect of the ongoing strong bond between the two countries, cooperation is increasing day by day. Since the 1990s, military vehicles produced by Otokar have been successfully serving in Azerbaijan. We have been working for the defense needs of Azerbaijan since 2010, when we exported our first armored vehicles; Today, our vehicles of different types and configurations are included in the inventory of different users.” GÖRGÜÇ also noted that the COBRA II vehicles already have been exported to Azerbaijan and said: “It is a great source of pride for us that the successful performance of OTOKAR armored vehicles in the Armed Forces inventory is also appreciated by users in Azerbaijan. Last year, Azerbaijan included COBRA ll vehicles into its inventory for the first time. We continue to meet the developing and changing needs of Azerbaijan with our new generation armored vehicle COBRA ll, which is accepted as the best in its class in the world and responds to the different needs of users with its modular structure. I believe that the friendship and ongoing cooperation between Türkiye and Azerbaijan will continue for many years, and I am happy to state once again that we, as OTOKAR, are ready for any task.”

ROKETSAN

ROKETSAN completed the delivery of an undisclosed number of unguided TR-107 and TRB-107 107mm artillery rockets, TR-122 122mm artillery rockets, TR-300 and guided TRG-300 artillery rockets along with T-107 and T-122/300 Multi Caliber and Multi Barrel Rocket Launching (MBRL) System (based on both Kamaz 63502 8x8 tactical wheeled vehicle) to Azerbaijan in the recent period. ROKETSAN was one of the companies at ADEX that hosted the highest number of guests. A wide variety of products composed of surface to surface, air to surface, anti-ship guided missiles were showcased at ROKETSAN’s stand.

Mock-ups of the MAM Smart Micro Munitions Family (MAM-T, MAM-L and MAM-C), SOM-B1 Next Generation Air Launched Cruise Missile Family, ÇAKIR Cruise Missile, ATMACA Anti-Ship Cruise Missile, Anti-Tank Guided Missile Family comprising Laser-UMTAS and UMTAS-IIR long range as well as OMTAS medium range anti-tank guided missile, TRG-122 and TRG-230 guided Artillery Rockets, TRG-300 TIGER guided Artillery Rocket, TEBER-82 Laser Guidance Kit and SUNGUR MANPADS were among the products showcased at ROKETSAN stand.

Azerbaijan’s President & Commander-in-Chief of the Armed Forces of Azerbaijan Ilham ALIYEV, Chief of the Turkish General Staff (TGS) General Yasar GÜLER, Deputy Minister of Turkish Ministry of National Defense Muhsin DERE, Azerbaijan Minister of Defense General Zakir HASANOV and Azerbaijan Minister of Defense Industry Madat GULIYEV visited the ROKETSAN stand and received information on the showcased products and systems. Moreover, ROKETSAN also hosted various country delegations from invited countries throughout the event.

Azerbaijan manufactures the TR-107 and TRB-107 107mm artillery rockets locally at RPE IGLIM enterprise of the Ministry of Defense Industry of Azerbaijan (MODIAR). For this purpose, in 2009, ROKETSAN and signed a deal for the joint production of 107mm and 122mm rocket launcher systems with RPE IGLIM. In January 2013, ROKETSAN started delivery of TR-300 KASIRGA long-range unguided artillery rockets to Azerbaijan which were ordered in 2010 under a $244 USD million contract. According to open sources Azerbaijan currently has at least 72 T-122/T-300 Multi Caliber and Multi Barrel Rocket Launching (MBRL) Systems. The Artillery Brigade of the 5th military corps of Nakhijevan (Nakhchivan Special Combined-Arms Army) is equipped with ROKETSAN’s TR-300 KASIRGA (300mm, 100km range), TRG-300 KAPLAN (300mm, 120km range, INS/GPS guided version, 36+ delivered) and TR-122 SAKARYA (122mm, 40km range) missiles with T-122/300 Multi Caliber and Multi Barrel Rocket Launching (MBRL) Systems. Azerbaijan also procured an undisclosed number of TRLG-230 Laser Guided Artillery Rockets from ROKETSAN and deployed them successfully against Armenian Army targets during the Second Karabakh War in 2020. The BAYRAKTAR TB2 UCAVs (procured during the first half of 2020) and TRLG-230 Laser Guided Artillery Rockets (with INS+Laser Seeker) have proved to be a very successful and deadly combination against Armenian Army targets during the Second Karabakh War. According to open sources Azerbaijan procured at least 36 BAYRAKTAR TB2 Unmanned Combat Aerial Vehicles (UCAV) along with more than 100 ROKETSAN’s MAM-L and MAM-C Smart Munitions.

The SOM-B1 was intended to be exported to Azerbaijan before, but this sale did not occur then, as there was a problem with the French Government due to the export license of SAFRAN Power Units’ TR-40 Turbojet Engine. With the introduction of the Kale Arge KTJ-3200 Turbojet Engine the sale of the SOM-B1 ALCM to Azerbaijan is expected to become relevant again soon. For this currently ongoing efforts related to integrating national components into SOM missiles to replace outsourced subsystems/parts should be completed. The national turbojet engine KTJ-3200 was the most important item among these activities. It is believed that the completion of these efforts (replacing outsourced subsystems with indigenous ones) will further pave the way for SOM-B1 ALCM’s export to Azerbaijan and other potential customers.

The design, development, prototype production, testing and platform integration activities of the SOM ALCMs are carried out by TÜBİTAK SAGE, while the promotion/marketing and mass production activities are under the responsibility of ROKETSAN. The SOM-B1 is designed for use against high-value, heavily defended ground and sea targets with a range of up to 280km and would allow fighter jets of the Azerbaijan Air Force to destroy targets that are located behind the frontline with high precision without being caught by anti-aircraft warfare. The launch platforms for Azerbaijan’s SOM-B1 ALCMs would be the modernized Su-25M Frogfoot Close Air Support/Ground Attack aircraft to be inducted into Azerbaijan’s Air Force inventory in the coming years. 

STM

Participating in the fair with a large booth, STM exhibited ALPAGU, KARGU, and TOGAN Kamikaze Drone Systems, the scale model of the Multi-Purpose Attack Craft (STM-MPAC) offered to the Azerbaijan Navy for the 65m long corvette requirement, the scale model of the F-515 TCG Istanbul Frigate, which is under construction at the Istanbul Naval Shipyard, and the scaled cross section model of the STM500 Mini Submarine.

During the first half of 2020 the Armed Forces of Azerbaijan received an undisclosed number of STM’s KARGU-II rotary wing kamikaze drones. They were inducted into Azerbaijan Special Forces (SOF) service, and these KARGU-II rotary wing kamikaze drones were successfully employed to hunt down Armenian forces during the Second Karabakh War in 2020.

It was noteworthy that the STM500 Mini Submarine scale model featured a SEAL Delivery Vehicle (SDV, located behind the sail), which can carry 6 SAT commandos. In an emergency, a Submarine Rescue Vehicle (SRV) can be attached to the same hatch. We learned that an Underwater Optical Communication System developed by STM, and Bahçeşehir University (BAU) will be installed on both the sail section of the STM500 and the SDV hull, allowing the SDV and STM500 to communicate with each other up to 75m underwater. STM designed the diesel-electric attack submarine STM500 for shallow waters. It will be able to conduct missions at depths of 250m and more for 30 days with a 6-man Special Forces team in addition to its 18 crewmembers. The STM500, which has 4 x 533mm (21 inch) torpedo tubes at the bow, will be able to carry 8 heavy torpedoes (4 of which are ready to fire) and guided missiles. Two of the torpedo tubes are of the swim-out type (the torpedo floats out of the tube at low speed with its own electric motor/propeller), and two of them are equipped with a Weapon Expulsion System (WES), allowing missiles/anti-ship cruise missiles to be launched underwater. The STM500 will also have the mine-laying capability. In this way, torpedo mines such as MAYTOR can be fired from torpedo tubes. A Pressure Chamber is located just behind the torpedo tubes, the evacuation hatch is located in the sail section, and the swimmer hatch is located in the middle of the bow planes. The STM500 Submarine, which will be powered by Lithium-Ion Batteries and a diesel engine, will reach a maximum speed of 18 knots+ and a cruise speed of 5 knots. The STM500, which will weigh 485 tons surfaced and 540 tons when submerged, will have a maximum range of 3.500nm with the diesel engine, 75nm with the battery, and 4.000nm with the optional diesel+AIP system (Air Independent Propulsion). The 42m long and 8.5m wide STM500 Submarine is referred to as the Shallow Water Attack Submarine (SWATS) by the Pakistan Navy. Besides the Pakistan Navy, the Azerbaijan Navy, which operates Triton-1M and Triton-2M SDVs (according to open sources, they serve in the 641st Naval Special Operations Brigade, their number is unknown), is also mentioned among the potential export customers of the STM500. As of the beginning of September 2022, studies were continuing to determine the type of steel to be used in the construction of the STM500. It is expected to be constructed from HY80, HY100, or HY130 steel. Miilux OY previously announced that it started test production for HY100 and HY130 steel sheets.

Specifically designed to meet the needs of the Azerbaijan Navy, the 65m long STM-MPAC (Multi-Purpose Attack Craft) is a single hull platform intended to perform surface and air defense warfare and reconnaissance/patrol missions in open seas and near-shore areas. It was stated that the design and test studies of STM-MPAC had been prepared in great detail so that the first steel of the vessel can be cut within 3-4 months following the signing of the contract. The STM-MPAC will be powered by a CODAG type main propulsion system consisting of 3 water jets to be controlled by 2 diesel engines and 2 gas turbines or 2 diesel engines and 3 gas turbines. The STM-MPAC can reach a maximum speed of 40+ knots, a cruise speed of 20 knots, and its operational range will be 1,100 nm at this speed. The STM-MPAC is 66.2m long, 9.7m wide, and weighs 620t, with a draft of 2.4m. The STM-MPAC will be armed with a 76mm Leonardo Super Rapid Naval Gun (at the bow), 2 x 12.7mm STAMP RCWS, 8 x ATMACA Anti-Ship Cruise Missiles, and a Close-In Weapon System (at the stern) with a capacity of 11 Enhanced SUNGUR Missiles. The STM-MPAC will be equipped with an LPI Radar and 2 x ARPA (Automatic Radar Plotting Aid) Navigation Radars, RF/IR Decoy Launchers, Laser Warning Receivers (LWR), INMARSAT, and Satellite TV Antennas, Searchlight, and TDS, as well as various ASELSAN product systems, including MAR-D or CENK-S 3-D AESA Search Radar, AKR-D Block 2 (120km range, dual-band), and AKR-D Block A1 (Ku-Band, 30km, to support LEVENT CIWS) Illumination Radars, KIRLANGIÇ Electro-Optical Director, Radar Electronic Support and Radar Electronic Attack Systems. The STM-MPAC will also carry a Remotely Operated Underwater Vehicle (ROV), Diver Detection Sonar, and RHIB Bot.

The F-515 TCG Istanbul Frigate, which is under construction, is planned to be delivered to the Turkish Naval Forces on September 6, 2023, and the Sea Acceptance Tests (SAT) will begin in March 2023. The forward 76mm Leonardo Super Rapid Naval Gun was delivered and stored before integration. According to the information I have received, as of September 2022, the Harbor Acceptance Tests (HAT) have started for the engines in the main propulsion system. The development and testing process of the National Vertical Launching System (MiDLAS) being developed by ROKETSAN continues in line with the delivery schedule of the TCG Istanbul. The 16-cell MiDLAS, which is stated to have a similar structure to the Mk-41 VLS on the BARBAROS and GABYA Class Frigates currently in service with the Turkish Navy, will be armed with 16 HİSAR Series Short and Medium Range IIR/RF guided air defense missiles or up to 64 ESSM B1 Missiles thanks to its Quad-Pack feature. According to the information I obtained, the SIPER Naval Missile, which will be based on SIPER's Block 2 Missile currently developed by TÜBİTAK SAGE, can also be launched from MiDLAS in Quad-Pack configuration. Unlike the Block 0 (HİSAR-O+ & ATMACA Booster) and Block 1 (HİSAR-RF & ATMACA Booster) versions, the SIPER Block 2 Missile does not feature a booster. The Turkish Defense Industry Agency (SSB) previously issued a Request for Proposal (RFP) as part of the MİLGEM 6th, 7th, and 8th Ships Procurement Project in December 2021, and the companies submitted their bids to the SSB on April 8, 2022. These companies are STM, TAİS, DESAN, DEARSAN, and ISTANBUL SHIPYARD. The Main Contractor company is expected to be selected at the Defense Industry Executive Committee (SSİK) meeting, which will be held in the coming days. On the other hand, an insider source from the shipbuilding industry claimed that, like the 5th ship, MİLGEM 6-7-8 are planned to be built at the Istanbul Naval Shipyard under the Main Contractor STM.

Turkish Aerospace (TUSAŞ)

Turkish Aerospace (TUSAŞ) participated in ADEX for the fourth time this year with the aim to enhance bilateral relations with sister nation Azerbaijan. Offering unique solutions for Azerbaijan defense and aviation requirements TUSAŞ looks forward to establishing long-term cooperation in Azerbaijan. During ADEX 2022, TUSAŞ exhibited scale models of its domestic products, with a special emphasis on the HÜRKUŞ-B New Generation Basic Trainer Aircraft, MALE Class ANKA Multirole UAV System, AKSUNGUR HALE Class UAV, T129 ATAK Multirole Combat Helicopter, T625 Multirole Helicopter, T925 ATAK II Combat Helicopter and HÜRJET Advanced Trainer/Light Combat Aircraft, National Combat Aircraft (TF-X) and Communication Satellite, to the Armed Forces of Azerbaijan. 

Azerbaijan’s President & Commander-in-Chief of the Armed Forces of Azerbaijan ALIYEV, Chief of the TGS General GÜLER, Deputy Minister of Turkish Ministry of National Defense DERE, Azerbaijan Minister of Defense General HASANOV and Azerbaijan Minister of Defense Industry GULIYEV visited the TUSAŞ stand and received information on the exhibited products.

Baku has previously expressed its interest in purchasing T129B ATAK Multirole Combat Helicopters from Türkiye and media reports in February 2013 indicated that Azerbaijan would procure up to 60 T129s, to be customized/specially manufactured for Azerbaijan, under a $3 billion deal. Offering cooperation to Azerbaijan on UAV systems, TUSAŞ keeps the doors open for cooperation with Azerbaijan in all areas from final assembly line to system integration. The ANKA Blok-B UCAV with tail number 16-013, carrying two ŞİMŞEK High Speed Target Aircraft under its wings, previously performed 6 separate demonstration flights for the Azerbaijan Air Force in 2020 in Azerbaijan. Turkish Aerospace has also conducted various negotiations on fulfilling Azerbaijan Air Force’s basic trainer requirement through the HÜRKUŞ-B. HÜRKUŞ-B performed a demonstration flight in Baku, Azerbaijan on December 3, 2021, and the flight was observed by Azerbaijan Air Force Commander Lieutenant General Ramiz TAHIROV. Azerbaijan is procuring 10 MFI-17 395 Super Mushshak Primary Trainer Aircraft from Pakistan for the Azerbaijan Air Force. As may be recalled, within the scope of the Basic Trainer Aircraft Project, in line with the contracts signed on 23 November 2016 at Karachi - Pakistan and 10 May 2017 in Istanbul - Türkiye, 52 Super Mushshak Aircraft will be procured for the Turkish Air Force (TurAF) from the Pakistan Aeronautical Complex (PAC) Company. The first batch of 3 Super Mushshak Primary Trainer Aircraft are expected to be inducted into TurAF inventory in October 2022. Pilot candidates of the TurAF will receive their Primary Flight Training in the Super Mushshak and then will get their Basic Flight Training in the HÜRKUŞ-B (HÜRKUŞ-II) aircraft at the 2nd Main Jet Base in Izmir. Within the scope of the target of establishing standardization in the pilot training processes for the Air Forces of both countries, it is considered that the utilization of HÜRKUŞ-B for the Basic Flight Training in Azerbaijan Air Forces and utilization of HÜRJET for the Advanced Jet and Combat Readiness Training would be convenient