Azerbaijani Air Force
The Azerbaijani Air and Air Defence Force often called the Azerbaijani Air Force (Azerbaijani: Azərbaycan Hərbi Hava Qüvvələri) is the air force and air defence force of the Azerbaijani Armed Forces.
| Azərbaycan Hərbi Hava Qüvvələri Azerbaijani Air and Air Defence Force | |
|---|---|
 The Flag of the Azerbaijani Air and Air Defence Force | |
| Active | October 9, 1991 - present |
| Country |  Azerbaijan |
| Branch | Air force |
| Type | Military |
| Role | Air warfare and air defence |
| Size | 7,900 military personnel 600 aircraft and 350 helicopters (2011) 4 active air bases |
 | |
| Anniversaries | June 26, 1918 (first founding); October 9, 1991 (second founding) |
| Engagements | Nagorno-Karabakh War |
| Commanders | |
| Current commander | Major General Altay Mehdiyev |
The origin of the current organization goes back to June 26, 1918, when the Azerbaijan Democratic Republic which became independent in 1918, after the collapse of the Russian Empire, bought its first fighter aircraft. After the second independence of Azerbaijan in 1991, after the collapse of the Soviet Union, the presence of former Soviet air bases in Azerbaijan helped the Air and Air Defence Force develop.
Current organization
The Azerbaijani Air and Air Defence Force has about 600 aircraft and 350 helicopters, and 7,900 personnel.[1] There are Soviet-made MiG-21s, MiG-23s, Su-24s and Su-25s, as well as fourth generation MiG-29s bought from Ukraine in 2006 and Soviet-made Il-76s. Azerbaijan is holding talks with either China or Pakistan to buy JF-17 Thunder aircraft.[2] The MiG-29 has been chosen as the standard aircraft for the Azerbaijani Air and Air Defence Force.[3]
Azerbaijani Air Force Media
Emblem of the Azerbaijani Air Forces and Air Defenses
Azerbaijani Air Force Su-25's perform a fly-by on Army Day 2011
Air Force Mil Mi-24's fly over during an army parade
Related pages
Other websites
References
- ↑ IISS (2007). The Military Balance 2007. London: Routledge for the IISS. p. 158. ISBN 978-1-85743-437-8. The IISS list 37 fighter aircraft, 15 fighter-ground attack aircraft, four transport aircraft, 50 training aircraft (including five combat capable trainers), 15 attack helicopters, and 20 transport helicopters
- ↑ "China supplies FC-1 multipurpose fighters to Azerbaijan". Archived from the original on 2009-12-04. Retrieved 2011-11-25.
- ↑ Azerbaijan shows 4th generation MiG-29 multirole fighter jets.