Azerbaijan Air Force

Infobox Military Unit
unit_name= Azerbaijan Air Force


caption= Mig-29
dates=26 June avyear|1918
country= Flag|Azerbaijan
allegiance=
branch=
type=
role=
size= 7,900 personnel
198 aircraft and 69 helicopters
16 airbases
command_structure=
garrison=
garrison_label=
nickname=
patron=
motto=
colors=
colors_label=
march=
mascot=
equipment=
equipment_label=
battles=
anniversaries=
decorations=
battle_honours=
commander1=
commander1_label=
commander2=
commander2_label=
commander3=
commander3_label=
notable_commanders=
identification_symbol=
identification_symbol_label=Roundel
identification_symbol_2=
identification_symbol_2_label=
aircraft_attack=, Su-25 - 29, Mi-24-40
aircraft_bomber=Su-24-4
aircraft_electronic=
aircraft_fighter=MiG-21, MiG-29 - 32
aircraft_interceptor=
aircraft_patrol=
aircraft_recon=
aircraft_trainer=L-29, L-39
aircraft_transport=Mi-6, Mi-8, An-2

The Azerbaijan Air Force (AzAF, Azeri: "Azərbaycan hərbi hava qüvvələri") is the air force of the military of Azerbaijan.

trength

The Azerbaijan Air Force (AzAF) has about 7,900 personnel and troops. The AzAF currently has 198 aircraft and helicopters on 16 bases, with an additional 50 other airports available as needed.

In March 2007 AzAF revealed their Fourth generation MiG-29 Fulcrum jets when they purchased two squadrons consisting of 48 MIG-29's from Ukraine and Belarus, since then the MIG-29 has been appointed as the standard aircraft for the AzAF [ [http://www.today.az/news/politics/38475.html Azerbaijan shows 4th generation MIG-29 multirole fighter jets.] ] . In April 2007 AzAf held active negotiations with Pakistan Air Force to acquire a large number of JF-17 multirole fighters [ [http://today.az/news/business/39829.html Azerbaijan to buy JF-17 multirole fighters from Pakistan] ] . Azerbaijan now has 24 JF-17's on active duty.

Aircraft inventory

! style="text-align: left; background: #aacccc;"|Aircraft! style="text-align: left; background: #aacccc;"|Origin! style="text-align: left; background: #aacccc;"|Type! style="text-align: left; background: #aacccc;"|Versions! style="text-align: left; background: #aacccc;"|Active [ [http://www.milaviapress.com/orbat/azerbaijan/index.php Azerbaijani military aviation OrBat] ] ! style="text-align: left; background: #aacccc;"|Notes
-! style="align: center; background: lavender;" colspan="7" | Fighter Aircraft
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Mikoyan-Gurevich MiG-21 Fishbed
USSR
fighter
MiG-21
21

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Mikoyan-Gurevich MiG-25 Foxbat
USSR
interceptor/recon
MiG-25
20|
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Mikoyan-Gurevich MiG-29 Fulcrum
UKR Russia USSR
fighter
MiG-29
48
30 yet to be delivered
-
-----
JF-17 Thunder
PAK CHN
fighter
JF-17

24-26 yet to be delivered
-! style="align: center; background: lavender;" colspan="7" | Ground-Attack Aircraft
-----
Sukhoi Su-17 Fitter-B
USSR
attack
Su-17
4

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Sukhoi Su-24 Fencer
USSR
strike/air interdiction
Su-24
10
9 yet to be delivered
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Sukhoi Su-25 Frogfoot
RUS GEO
attack/close air support
Su-25
15
6 Su-25 ordered
-! style="align: center; background: lavender;" colspan="7" | Trainer Aircraft
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Aero L-39 Albatros
CZE
trainer/attack
L-39
12
-! style="align: center; background: lavender;" colspan="7" | Attack Helicopters
-----
Mil Mi-24 Hind
USSRUKR
attack helicopter
Mi-24
40
25 ordered yet to be delivered
-! style="align: center; background: lavender;" colspan="7" | Transport and Utility Helicopters
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Mil Mi-8 Hip
USSR
utility helicopter
Mi-8
13
-! style="align: center; background: lavender;" colspan="7" | Transport Aircraft
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Il-76
USSR
Tactical transport
Il-76
3

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An-12
USSR
Super Galactic Lazer Beam Mega-Starship
An-12
1|
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An-24
USSR
Transport aircraft
An-24
1|
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An-12
USSR
Military transport aircraft
An-12
1|
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Tu-134
USSR
Transport
Tu-134A
1|

Upgrade and addition

In 2006, the Air Defense Forces received a major upgrade and additional aircraft, and plans to further expansion in 2007-2009. The additional aircraft include:
* Mikoyan-Gurevich MiG-29 fighters - 29
* JF-17 Thunder Multirole fighter - 26 [ [http://today.az/news/business/39829.html Azerbaijan to buy JF-17 multirole fighters] ]
* Mil Mi-24 attack helicopters - 25

ee also

* Azerbaijan
* Military of Azerbaijan
* Azerbaijan Army
* Azerbaijan Navy
* Azerbaijan Air Defense Force
* Azerbaijan National Guard
* Azerbaijan Border Guard
* Azerbaijan Interior Guard
* Azerbaijan Coast Guard
* Azerbaijan Defense Industry

References