Azernews.Az

By Aynur Jafarova

Azerbaijan and Turkey are holding talks on Samur mobile offensive floating bridges produced by Turkish FNSS Company.

Head of the International Cooperation Department of the Under-Secretariat for Turkish Defense Industry, Yakup Tashdelen said; "negotiations are already underway to sell Azerbaijan the mentioned system."

"This bridge system is used today by the Turkish army. Azerbaijan's army has expressed interest in purchasing this system," Tashdelen noted.

He also said Turkey is interested to sell various systems to Azerbaijan in the sphere of defense and other related industries.

"Turkey offered Azerbaijan a number of security systems, armored vehicles from Otokar and missile systems Roketsan," he noted. "Negotiations are being conducted over the issue of Azerbaijan's assignment of Information System of tactical defense Selsan in the future which enables maintaining video connections between different levels. Furthermore, Azerbaijan is interested in national Atak helicopters from the Tai company, testing of which was recently completed."

Tashdelen also noted 20 Turkish companies will put on display their products at the international exhibition of the defense industry ADEX to be held in Baku in September.

Last May, Azerbaijani Defense Industry Minister Yaver Jamalov and Turkish Undersecretary for Defense Industry Murad Bayar signed an agreement on the start of production of missiles with Turkish Roketsan.

A missile production line has been created at one of the Azerbaijani facilities with the participation of Roketsan. Engines are to be produced by Roketsan and the other parts of the missile will be assembled in Azerbaijan.

The range capability of the 122-millimeter caliber missile is double (42 kilometers) that of the 122-millimeter missile which is in the arsenal of the Azerbaijani armed forces and applied in Grad multiple rocket launchers.

The range of the 107-millimeter caliber missile is 11 kilometers, which is four kilometers more than that of the missiles produced in Russia and Ukraine.

Azerbaijan is strengthening its military power and defense capabilities year by year. The establishment of the Ministry of Defense Industry has been instrumental 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 the mass production of a variety of munitions in recent years.

The Defense Ministry has created a new post-patrol Gurza machine, equipped with two 7.62 mm caliber weapons, one 12.7 mm caliber machine gun, a new 7.62 x 51mm caliber sniper rifle that meets NATO standards, and a machine gun designed for use in special military operations.

Furthermore, a new reconnaissance vehicle has been produced. This machine is equipped with a 23 mm caliber canon, a 7.62 mm caliber twin machine gun mount, an AQ-17 grenade launcher, and other military equipment.

Machine guns, mortar launchers, Zafar-K pistols, AK-74M submachine guns, battle and signal bullets, hand grenades, anti-tank and anti-personnel mines, firearms, and spare parts for armored vehicles are among the goods produced and delivered to the customers.

The volume of defense equipment produced in Azerbaijan in 2013 has increased significantly. The number of defense equipment produced last year exceeded 900 units.

Five production sites were put into operation in 2013 as well. Azerbaijan has also prepared a long-term plan for its defense industry in 2014. The country plans to start manufacturing three kinds of optical systems, including thermal sights, in 2014.

In September 2014, Azerbaijan will host the ADEX-2014 International Defense Industry Exhibition which will be the first event of its kind in the region.