Azerbaijan, Turkey to team up for military drills
By Mushvig Mehdiyev
Azerbaijani and Turkish Air Forces plan to hold the next joint exercises in Turkey in March, 2015, Azerbaijan's Defense Ministry reported.
Deputy Defense Minister, Commander of the Air Forces, colonel-general Ramiz Tahirov met with brigade general Emin Ayik, head of the Department for Work with Air Forces Personnel of Turkey, who is currently on a visit to Azerbaijan. The two top military servicemen visited the N military unit, which took part in the joint military drills of the Azerbaijani and Turkish air forces.
The delegation headed by the brigade general Ayik viewed the simulators used for the training of the pilots in the military unit and mulled with the Azerbaijani officers the tasks to be carried out in the future.
Azerbaijan held large-scale military drills from September 13 to 20, which involved a large number of military equipment and soldiers. The universal military exercises covered multi-task operations for the land and air forces. The drills were remarkable with the participation of Turkish Air Forces for joint exercises with Azerbaijani counterparts. More than 30 jets of Azerbaijani and Turkish Air Forces conducted special missions as part of the large-scale training.
The top military servicemen of Azerbaijan and Turkey discussed the plans on the implementation of the next air forces exercises. The final decision was adopted to carry out the training in March, 2015, in Turkey -- the main neighbor and ally of Azerbaijan.
Turkey was the first country to recognize Azerbaijan's independence after the collapse of the Soviet Union in 1991. The two countries have very good relations almost in every field, including political, economical, military and defense, touristic, cultural and more.
Military cooperation between Azerbaijan and Turkey started in 1992 with an agreement signed on military education. The agreement established the close and sustainable cooperation of the Azerbaijani and Turkish governments on defense and security fields.
Turkey's continuous military assistance to Azerbaijan surpassed $200 million in 2010. Azerbaijani army possesses various Turkish-made military equipment, as Turkey is among the main arms suppliers to Azerbaijan. Over 20 Turkish defense industry companies hold cooperation and commercial relations with the South Caucasus country.
The latest joint exercise of the Azerbaijani and Turkish Air Forces was realized on September 29 as part of the next military drills.
Military helicopters conducted combat flights, while making various maneuvers during common battles. Ground troops were supported by firings from helicopters on ground targets.
More than 30 airplanes, in particular MIG-24, F-16 fighter jets, C-130 Hercules military transport aircraft, Su-25 stormtroopers, Mi-24, AH-1W Super Cobra attack helicopters and Mi-17 and Sikorski UH-60 military transport helicopters were involved in the exercises, which is to end on October 3.