Azernews.Az

By Amina Nazarli

The total output of defense goods in 2015 made up 274.5 million manats (about $168 million), increasing by 6.7 times compared to 2007, and 3.1 to 2010, according to the Defense Industry Ministry of Azerbaijan.

Some 37.9 percent or 104 million manats ($63 million) from a total production made up defense products, 47.7 percent or 131 million manats ($80 million) -- products of special purpose, development work and etc. and 14.4 percent or 39.5 million manats( $23 million) was products of civil purpose.

Azerbaijan’s expanding military budget has lifted it to the top among its neighbors in the South Caucasus. The country's military budget for 2015 was $5 billion, which is considerably more than $3.8 billion military expenditures in 2014.

The country manufactures the Istiglal sniper rifle, Mubariz rifle, Orbiter-2M unmanned intelligence drones, Gurza armored patrol car, "Matador" and "Marauder" armored vehicles, anti-tank mines, etc.

Last year, the Defense Industry Ministry accomplished work over the creation of night vision devices, prismatic binoculars with a compass, mine fuses of different types and organized their production.

Since 2009, the Defense Industry Ministry has demonstrated its products at international exhibitions and now the ministry is preparing for the second Azerbaijan International Defense Exhibition "ADEX-2016" to be held in Baku this year. More than 100 international companies have passed registration to participate at the exhibition.

Azerbaijan, which is in war with neighboring Armenia over the latter's territorial claims during more than 20 years, keeps in focus the armament, working closely with leading companies and firms in various fields of military industry.

The country purchased numerous weapons from foreign countries including Turkey, Russia and Israel, to modernize and upgrade its armed forces, and signed military contracts with over 20 countries which envisage a large-scale weapons supply.

Azerbaijan, leaves behind the CIS and regional countries to take its place among the first 70 strongest militaries of the world, according to the US-based Global Firepower survey center.

The survey center has ranked the Azerbaijani army as 64 of 126 in the list of world's strongest armies with a GFP Power Index rating of 1.5221.

It reports that as of January 2016, Azerbaijan's weapon arsenal possesses 314 tanks, 121 aircrafts, 79 helicopters, 47 naval vehicles to enter the list of countries with well-equipped military forces in the world.

--

Amina Nazarli is AzerNews’ staff journalist, follow her on Twitter: @amina_nazarli

Follow us on Twitter @AzerNewsAz