Azerbaijan’s Emerging Arsenal Of Deterrent

 

Tensions have increased between Iran and Azerbaijan over road tax imposed on Iranian truck drivers that want to enter Armenia through Azerbaijan, over Azerbaijani ties to Israel and plans for a corridor linking Azerbaijan's Nakhchivan exclave with mainland Azerbaijan. The latter's occurence could see Tehran lose its connection to Armenia altogether, hindering its access to the regional market. While current tensions between Tehran and Baku have so far been confined to diplomatic tensions and military exercises along their respective borders, some fear that mounting tensions between the two countries could one day escalate into an all-out regional conflict.

 

In early October, Tehran launched a number of exercise along its northern border with Azerbaijan. Although presumably aimed at sending a strong message to Baku, the 1960s-era Chieftain MBTs, BMP-1 IFVs, M577 APCs and M109 SPGs covered by ZSU-23 SPAAGs did little to impress international spectators. However, later footage also revealed the deployment of short-range ballistic missiles, and the unimpressive equipment does not accurately represent the scores of newly-developed loitering munitions and ballistic missiles that have entered service with Iran's armed forces in recent years.

While Iran's extensive arsenal of missiles and drones has received plenty of attention, Azerbaijan also maintains an emerging arsenal of deterrent. In addition to being one of the most modern and capable in the region - combining modern equipment from sources like Israel, Turkey and Belarus - it is also one of the fastest-growing. In recent years, Azerbaijan has also initiated the development of several guided armament types, so far including the design and production of a number of guided missiles and bombs. This list aims to catalogue these armament types currently in Azerbaijani service.

(Click on the equipment to get a picture of them in Azerbaijani service)

(Anti-tank) guided missiles

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  Clik here to view.9K111 Fagot [Range: 2.5km]
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  Clik here to view.9M113 Konkurs [Range: 4km]
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  Clik here to view.9K114 Shturm [Range: 5km] (For use by Mi-24V/P attack helicopters)
  
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  Clik here to view.Spike-LR [Range: 4km] Two launch configurations: (2)
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  Clik here to view.Skif [Range: 5km]
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  Clik here to view.R-2 Baryer ''Barrier'' [Range: 5km] (For use by Mi-24G attack helicopters)
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  Clik here to view.9M133 Kornet [Range: 5.5km]
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  Clik here to view.9P157-2 "Khrizantema-S" [Range: 6km]
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  Clik here to view.9M120 Ataka [Range: 6km] (For use by Mi-35M attack helicopters)
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  Clik here to view.Spike-ER [Range: 8km] Three launch configurations: (2)(3) (Also for use by Shaldag Mk V patrol vessels)
  
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  Clik here to view.Spike-NLOS [Range: 25km] Two launch configurations: (2) (For use by Mi-17 attack helicopters and Sa'ar 62 patrol vessels)
  
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  Clik here to view. Experimental Tactical Missile (ETR-M) [Range: 60+km]

Towed artillery

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  Clik here to view.85mm divisional gun D-44 [Range: 15.6km]
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  Clik here to view.122mm (D-30) howitzer 2A18[Range: 15.4 km or 21.9 km when using RAPs]
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  Clik here to view.130mm (M-46) field gun M-1954[Range: 27.5 km or 38 km when using RAPs]
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  Clik here to view.152mm 2A36 Giatsint-B field-gun[Range: 15.2km or 21.9km when using RAPs]

Self-propelled artillery

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  Clik here to view.100mm T-55 (Used as an indirect-fire platform)
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  Clik here to view.120mm Cardom [Range: 8km]
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  Clik here to view.120mm Spear Mk2 [Range: 10km]
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  Clik here to view.120mm 2S31 Vena [Range: 18km]
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  Clik here to view.122mm 2S1 Gvozdika [Range: 15.2km or 21.9km when using RAPs]
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  Clik here to view.152mm 2S3 Akatsiya [Range: 18.5km or 24km when using RAPs]
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  Clik here to view.152mm SpGH DANA [Range: 20km]
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  Clik here to view.152mm 2S19 Msta [Range: 25km or 28.9km when using RAPs]
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  Clik here to view.203mm 2S7 Pion [Range: 37.5km or 55.5km when using RAPs]
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  Clik here to view. 155mm ATMOS 2000 [Range: 24.5km or 41km when using RAPs] (Documented by a few sources. Not yet seen)
  

(Unguided) multiple rocket launchers

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  Clik here to view.220mm TOS-1A [Range: 6km]
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  Clik here to view.107mm T-107 'Boran' [Range: 11km]
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  Clik here to view.107mm MRLS-107 [Range: 11km]
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  Clik here to view.128mm RAK-12 [Range: 13km]
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  Clik here to view.122mm BM-21 'Grad' [Range: 40km]
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  Clik here to view.122mm RM-70 [Range: 40km]
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  Clik here to view.122mm KRL 122 [Range: 40km]
  
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  Clik here to view.122mm T-122 'Sakarya' [Range: 40km]
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  Clik here to view.122mm Grad 'Lynx' [Range: 40km]
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  Clik here to view.160mm LAR-160 'Lynx' [Range: 45km]
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  Clik here to view.300mm BM-30 'Smerch' [Range: 90km]

(Guided) multiple rocket launchers

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  Clik here to view.230mm TRLG-230 [Range: 70km] [CEP: 2m] (Used in conjuction with Bayraktar TB2 UCAVs)
  
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  Clik here to view.300mm TRG-300 Kasirga [Range: 120km] [CEP: 10m]
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  Clik here to view.306mm Extra [Range: 150km] [CEP: 10m]
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  Clik here to view.300mm Polonez [Range: 200km] [CEP: 30m]
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  Clik here to view.300mm Polonez-M [Range: 290km] [CEP: 45m]

Ballistic Missiles

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  Clik here to view.OTR-21 Tochka-U [Range: 120km] [CEP: 95m]
  
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  Clik here to view.LORA [Range: 430km] [CEP: 10m]
  

Cruise Missiles

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  Clik here to view.SOM-B1 [2021] [Range: 250+km] (For use by Su-25 attack aircraft)

Guided air-to-ground weaponry

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  Clik here to view.QFAB-50-ISAB [Range: Up to 65km] (For use by Su-25 attack aircraft)
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  Clik here to view.QFAB-100-SAB [Range: Up to 65km] (For use by Su-25 attack aircraft)
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  Clik here to view.QFAB-250-LG [Range: 12+km] (Aselsan LGK laser guidance kit integrated on an Azerbaijani-produced QFAB-250 bomb. For use by Su-25 attack aircraft)
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  Clik here to view.QFAB-250-KAB [Range: ?] (For use by Su-25 attack aircraft)
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  Clik here to view.FAB-50-KAB [Range: 25km or 50km with a rocket booster] (For use by Su-25 attack aircraft)
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  Clik here to view.FAB-75-KAB [Range: 30+km or 60+km with a rocket booster] (For use by Su-25 attack aircraft)
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  Clik here to view.Konteyner-250/10 gliding cluster bomb (For use by Su-25 attack aircraft)
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  Clik here to view.Unknown Guided Bomb (1) [Range: ?] (For use by Su-25 attack aircraft)
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  Clik here to view.Unknown Guided Bomb (2) [Range: ?] (For use by Su-25 attack aircraft)
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  Clik here to view.MAM-L [Range: ~15km] (For use by Bayraktar TB2 UCAVs)

Recommended Articles:

The Oryx Handbook of Iranian Ballistic Missiles and Artillery Rockets

The Oryx Handbook of Iranian Fighting Vehicles