Israel, Azerbaijan Cement Defence Ties

Our Bureau - : Sep 26, 2024 - : 2:36 pm

By ARIE EGOZI Israeli defence officials that arrived to attend the 5th Anniversary Azerbaijan International Defence Exhibition (ADEX) received questions about additional Israeli made systems that the Azeris want. Israel and Azerbaijan have close defence relations.Since Iran shares a lengthy...

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By ARIE EGOZI

Israeli defence officials that arrived to attend the 5th Anniversary Azerbaijan International Defence Exhibition (ADEX) received questions about additional Israeli made systems that the Azeris want.

Israel and Azerbaijan have close defence relations.
Since Iran shares a lengthy border with Azerbaijan, in response to certain operational needs, Azerbaijan has purchased some military systems designed in Israel, notably loitering weapon systems.

These systems saw heavy use in the 2020 Nagorno-Karabakh conflict between Armenia and Azerbaijan.
The Azeris were seen heavily utilizing Israeli loitering weapon systems in the combat zone, according to video footage.
The Elbit Systems SkyStriker loitering weapon system was purchased by the Azeris in 2018.

Although videos of the Israeli company testing these equipment in Azerbaijan appeared online, the company declined to comment on the deal.
The SkyStriker is the first such system developed by Elbit Systems.
The SkyStriker - is designed to seek, locate and engage various targets for the tactical level military force.

According to Elbit , the SkyStriker is capable to locate, acquire and strike operator-marked targets enabling high-precision performance. The system’s electric propulsion provides a low acoustic signature and enables covert low altitude operations.
According to the Israeli company due to its flight speed capability, it can reach a distance of tens of miles within minutes. Upon reaching the target area, it can loiter and pursue the target for up to two hours.

One of the biggest markets for Israeli military hardware is Azerbaijan.This according to the Stockholm International Peace Research Institute.
In the past the Azeris have purchased another loitering weapon system, the Harop made by Israel aerospace industries (IAI) . It also purchased the Lora , long range surface – surface precise rocket.

The Harop has been developed to destroy high quality targets.
It consists of the munitions unit, transportable launcher and a mission control shelter, which provides real-time access to control the Harop by a man-in-the-loop.
The Harop can be launched from various transportable platforms including sea and ground based canisters or air launched to navigate towards the potential target area. It can be launched at any angle, horizontal or at a vertical trajectory. The sealed container ensures
protection from harsh battlefield conditions.

The Harop is armed with a 35 pounds warhead and is equipped with a very advanced day/night payload (POP-250) made by the Tamam division of IAI.
Harop has an operational range of 620 miles and an endurance of six hours.
In recent months there were reports about some new Israeli developed weapon systems that Azerbaijan wants to acquire.

Sources said that Israeli officials that arrived at Baku were asked about some very advanced Israeli systems that have not been exported to Azerbaijan in the past.