On 08 April, the Azeri Defence Ministry shared information on military exercises involving Mi-35 and Mi-24 gunships, and apparently Mi-8 transport helicopters. The exercises were conducted with live-fire munitions being fired at targets, aimed at strengthening air support tactics. Military authorities have expressed their satisfaction with the result of theContinue Reading
On 01 April, Azerbaijan’s Air Defence Forces conducted live-fire exercises with anti-air missiles. The training involved what appear to be S-125 Pechora missiles with an approximate range of 15 km. The event simulated a complete cycle of deployment from the main base of operations and manning the air defence unitsContinue Reading
Troops from the 5th Military Formation have conducted field exercises with special forces troops at an undisclosed, but commonly used training ground in Armenia. Official reports mention that the exercises are aimed at further developing the efficient and effective use of equipment in difficult terrain and weather conditions. The 5thContinue Reading
Armenian officials have expressed their negative thoughts regarding the upcoming military exercises in Azerbaijan, which will include around 10.000 participants, 500 armoured vehicles, 300 artillery and 20 aviation units. The spokesperson for Armenia’s Defence Ministry, Artsrun Hovhannisyan, stated that “Azerbaijan organised the 11-15 March military exercises in the context ofContinue Reading
Azerbaijan’s highest authority, president Ilham Aliyev, announced the starting of large-scale military exercises between 11-15 March. The announcement can be found on the Defence Ministry’s official webpage, made on 08 March. The events involve 10.000 military personnel, 500 armoured vehicles (tanks, personnel carriers, etc. ), 300 artillery pieces (cannon-launched artillery,Continue Reading
The first command-post exercises of this year are underway in Nakhichevan. Troop formations carried out a joint effort to counter any incursions into state territory according to official publications from the military authorities. The events were supervised by the head of Nakhichevan’s military garrison, Lt Gen Kerem Mustafayev, and involvedContinue Reading
Special air defence units form the Azeri Armed Forces conducted live fire drills using the S-125 anti-air missile system. The drills were based on a scenario, in which an alarm was sounded and a command given to the corresponding personnel to carry out their assignments. Official news from the DefenceContinue Reading
At an undisclosed military unit in southern Nagorno Karabakh, Defence Minister and Chief Commander of the Armed Forces Maj Gen Karen Abrahamyan along with the Vice Chief of Staff of Armenia’s Armed Forces, Maj Gen Onik Gasparyan oversaw a series of military preparation drills stemming from a bilateral agreement betweenContinue Reading
An undisclosed military unit within the 5th Army Corps carried out mortar training drills including practical hands-on and theoretical training aimed at further developing their skills. The events were overseen by the high-ranking officers within the military unit. Mortars have been an important part of the arsenals of both sidesContinue Reading
Azeri military units departed from the Nakhicehvan Autonomous Republic on 30 January towards Kars, Turkey for a military training session expected on 23 February. The 300 km journey will take around 6 hours, where they will be stationed at a local Turkish military base in preparation for multilateral training sessions.Continue Reading
On 30 January combat-readiness snap drills were performed at an undisclosed military installation located in southeastern Nagorno Karabakh. The event was seen off by Defence Army Commander Karen Abrahamyan (the equivalent to a minister of defence), who visited the area reportedly unannounced to check the preparedness of the troops. ParticularContinue Reading
Special sniper units from the Armed Forces of Turkey and Azerbaijan concluded training drills near the city of Julfa in southern Nakhichevan. The closing ceremony saw the playing of both countries’ national anthems and an oath to mutual friendship. This is the first military exercise of its kind this yearContinue Reading
Azerbaijan’s defence minister receives large Turkish delegation headed by the country’s deputy defence minister and the heads of numerous Turkish defence firms. The two sides discussed further military coop. including joint weapons production. Interestingly, Turkish general Bahtiyar Ersay appears in a complete Azeri military uniform on Azerbaijan’s side of the
In January 2024, footage emerged of what appear to be Azeri military personnel in the ethnic-Armenian village of Hakaku, Nagorno Karabakh (NK). The village, along with the entire territory of NK were overran by Azerbaijan’s military during it’s offensive in September 2023. One of the first sources of the footage
Mystery flights from Azerbaijan’s Dallar airbase most likely military helicopter training flights, possibly Mi-8 gunships/transport or even Turkish T-129 gunships (recently seen in Azerbaijan during the “Mustafa Kemal Ataturk 2023” military drills. Neither aircraft had registration numbers according to @flightradar24, but did have call signs (SMK701 and SMK702) and ICAO 24-bit
An updated map of Tagavard village, Nagorno Karabakh, with its western half under Azeri military control and eastern under Karabakhi since the 2020 ceasefire, shows around 38 homes demolished. According to Sentinel Hub maps, the Azeri side demolished the homes between 2 and 12 July 2021. Military positions dividing the
At around 16:00 hours on 24 March 2022, reports emerged of Azeri troops overrunning Farukh village in Nagorno Karabakh. This village of 100 inhabitants lies around 2 km from the new 2020 ceasefire line-of-contact that separates Azeri and Karabakhi Armenian forces; it sits just below a major ridgeline considered a
On 12 March 2022, Nagorno Karabakh authorites reported 60mm mortar shells fired at Farukh village by Azeri troops. While no injuries were reported, a house was damaged. Karabakhi authorites provided photos of the damage, as well as that of an exploded mortar shell. Judging by the photos, NK Observer experts
