Azerbaijani troops stage drills
By Sara Rajabova
Azerbaijan’s rocket and artillery troops have conducted military exercises with practical battle shooting drills, the Azerbaijani defense ministry reported on August 28.
The military units and formations of rocket and artillery forces conducted live fire exercises in accordance with a plan approved by Azerbaijan’s Defense Minister, Colonel-General Zakir Hasanov.
Divisional tactical exercises were held using "Pion" 203-mm self-propelled guns and performed tasks on controlled firing and missile strikes of the artillery units directed from a training center, according to the report.
In addition, unmanned aerial vehicles of the Azerbaijan Air Force were used during the exercises.
The use of drones to accurately detect and destroythe artillery systems of the targets outside the field of view was demonstrated during the exercise.
The defense ministry’s management praised the level of cooperation and the combat capability of military units, according to the report.
In the meantime, joint tactical exercises entitled "TurAz Qartali -2015" of the Azerbaijani and Turkish armies are underway in Azerbaijan.
The exercises, which are held as part of a joint annual military plan will last until September 18.
Azerbaijan became second after the United Kingdom in Europe in terms of arms spending after it increased its arms imports by 249 percent over the past ten years, the Stockholm International Peace Research Institute reported.
Standing strong against Armenia's unceasing operations along the line of contact, the Azerbaijani leadership has moved to formulate the necessary armament policy by adhering to international requirements.
Azerbaijan's military build-up goes in line with the country's legal right to liberate its occupied lands by means of war, should it be necessary.
Azerbaijan's internationally recognized Nagorno-Karabakh territory has become a conflict zone following Armenia's aggression in the early 1990s. As a result of Armenia's armed invasion, 20 percent of Azerbaijan's territory fell under Armenian occupation. Nonetheless, the OSCE has attempted to foster a peaceful resolution to this conflict amid Armenia's persistent derailment.
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Sara Rajabova is AzerNews’ staff journalist, follow her on
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