Azerbaijan expresses interest in military-technical co-op with Russia
By Aynur Jafarova
Azerbaijan is interested in the development of military-technical cooperation with Russia.
The country is also expecting that Rosoboronexport to take part in the ADEX-2014 International Defense Industry Exhibition slated for September 11-13 in Baku. Rosoboronexport is Russia's sole state intermediary agency responsible for import/export of the full range of defense and dual-use end products, technologies and services.
This was announced by Azad Mammadov, the advisor of Azerbaijani Defense Industry Minister during the 14th Defense Services Asia Exhibition and Conference (DSA-2014), which was held in Malaysian capital Kuala Lumpur on April 14-17, Trend agency reported with reference to ITAR-TASS.
Mammadov noted currently Russia ranks first for total volume of military-technical cooperation with Azerbaijan, and is followed by Turkey and the South African Republic.
He also said recently Azerbaijan has received T-90 tanks, heavy flamethrower systems, Msta self-propelled artilleries, Mi-35M attack helicopters, BMP-3 infantry fighting vehicles, BTR-82 armored personnel carriers from Russia.
The implementation of the agreement on organizing licensed production of AK-74M machine gun is in full swing in Azerbaijan as well.
"Currently, we have started the implementation of the second stage of this agreement. The creation of the assembly line for production of these machine guns was carried out in the first stage. Now the development of production of a number of units of AK-74M by the national industry is underway," he stressed.
Mammadov expressed confidence that the cooperation between Azerbaijan and Rosoboronexport will enter a new stage during the ADEX-2014 exhibition.
Rosoboronexport is among the major operators in the world market for arms and military equipment. It cooperates with more than 70 countries. Only Rosoboronexport has the right to supply the world market with a full range of arms and military equipment manufactured by Russia's defense industrial complex and approved to be exported. Rosoboronexport accounts for more than 80 percent of Russia's arms exports.
Azerbaijan is strengthening its military power and defense capabilities on a yearly basis. The establishment of the Ministry of Defense Industry has been very effective in strengthening the defense capabilities of the country.
The defense products output in Azerbaijan surged by more than eight-fold during 2005-2013. The country's defense industry ministry has started mass production of a variety of munitions in recent years.
The ministry produced some 121.2 million manats worth of defense-purpose products and delivered them to customers in 2013. It exported some 96 million manats worth of products in the mentioned period. In 2013, Azerbaijan increased its defense production by 3.7 percent compared to 2012.
As of today, the number of reclaimed defense products exceeds 900 units. Also, Azerbaijan has prepared a long-term plan for its defense industry in 2014. The ministry plans to produce mortar guns of various calibers, tracks for armored vehicles, prismatic binoculars, minesweepers, patrol vehicles and other goods this year.
The Defense Industry Ministry closely cooperates with more than 60 companies from various countries. Also, the country's defense industry products were put on display at various exhibitions and attracted significant attention.