Azerbaijan will modernize its air force in order not to lag behind Armenia

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Azerbaijan will modernize its air force in order not to lag behind Armenia | 42.TUT.BY: 

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After Armenia ordered the Su-30SM heavy fighters (the same as Belarus received last year), Azerbaijan began to show interest in replacing its fighter fleet - its aircraft cannot compete with the “thirties”. Moreover, like the Armenians, Azerbaijanis will most likely turn to Moscow for fighters, Military Watch writes .

The vulnerability of Azerbaijan with its rather old fourth-generation MiG-29A aircraft is increasing, as the arms embargo on Iran soon expires. Tehran is already considering options for the purchase of modern aircraft - and, in order not to be the weakest player in the region, Baku, apparently, will have to give an answer.

Today, Russia can offer for sale several aircraft, from the cheapest and simplest combat training Yak-130s to, possibly, export variants of the fifth generation Su-57E. The first ones are unlikely to interest Azerbaijan - they cannot achieve qualitative superiority or even parity with their neighbors. Baku does not have enough money for the second - despite the oil trade, the country's defense budget is limited. The small size of the state means that it is unlikely that the Azerbaijani Air Force will need specialized aircraft such as Su-34 attack.

But an attractive option is the Su-35. This aircraft is the most advanced exported fighter in the world to date. At the same time, as a member of the CIS, Azerbaijan has some reasons to buy these aircraft at a discount - in this scenario, the country is able to buy 6-12 Su-35s and make up a squadron of them. In this case, Azerbaijani aviation will gain an advantage over the Armenian and Iranian (if Tehran, of course, does not buy the Su-57).

Other procurement options may be the same Su-30SM, as received by Armenia, or MiG-35. At the same time, being richer than its neighbor, Azerbaijan can set up more Su-30SM fighters than the enemy. However, the purchase of lighter MiG-35s is more likely - this aircraft has its own advantages, such as a radar with AFAR. Low operating costs for these aircraft can also contribute to their choice. Another MiG maintenance infrastructure is very similar to the one already in the country (using the MiG-29A).

Pilots of Azerbaijan have already tested the MiG-35 and noted their high maneuverability (although the flight range and armament level are lower than that of the Su-35 or Su-30SM) and good avionics. True, the final choice has not yet been made - it is also not clear what Baku will do with the MiG-29A already in service.

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