Azernews.Az

BAKU – Azerbaijan’s armed forces on Monday morning practised the giant military parade that will be held in the capital Baku on Sunday, June 26.

All types of armed forces were involved in the practice, which started with sounding the Azerbaijani anthem and proceeded with servicemen’s marching through the central Azadlig (Liberty) Square, local media reported.

Besides journalists, preparations for the parade were closely watched by Baku residents.

The parade, devoted to Armed Forces Day, will display the latest models of weapons and military machinery possessed by Azerbaijan’s armed forces.

For the first time, S-300 missile launchers purchased from Russia will be put on display, military sources said.

Military sources earlier said domestically made combat vehicles will be displayed at a military parade for the first time. The parade will show Matador and Marauder combat vehicles supplied with domestically made weapons, which were manufactured by Azerbaijan’s ministry of defense industry jointly with South Africa’s Paramount Group. Unmanned aerial vehicles (UAVs) produced jointly with an Israeli company, 107 mm drum-fire systems and other weaponry will be displayed as well. Also, Cobra armored vehicles, purchased by the Azerbaijani defense ministry from Turkey, will be shown at the parade for the first time.

Fighter jets and helicopters of Azerbaijan’s air force have carried out several test flights as part of preparations for the country’s biggest military parade.

Azerbaijan has held two military parades since independence – in October 1992 and in June 2008. During the last one, Israel-made Lar drum-fire systems, Ukraine-made Smerch long-range missiles, as well as Russian Tochka-U missiles were shown to the public.