By Stijn Mitzer and Joost Oliemans
Despite their decisive role in securing Azerbaijan's victory over Armenia, Israeli arms sales to Azerbaijan have been steadfastly ignored by staunch supporters of Armenia in the U.S. Senate. In stark contrast, these same U.S. Senators (David Cicilline, Gus
Bilirakis and Bob Menendez) have been outspoken critics of Turkish military support to Azerbaijan. Through their combined efforts, Türkiye will be the subject of investigation by the U.S. government to uncover whether the country's export of armed drones are in violation of the U.S. Arms Export
Control Act and to assess if Turkish drone sales are ''dangerous,
destabilizing and a threat to peace and human rights''. [5] [6] [7]
Israeli
arms exports to Azerbaijan have included anything from loitering
munitions to long-range Spike anti-tank guided missiles (ATGMs), missile-toting offshore patrol vessels (OPVs) and even
LORA quasi-ballistic missiles. [8] Israel has also helped Azerbaijan
to circumvent the OSCE arms embargo placed on the country on several
occasions by acting as the consignee of weaponry ordered from EU
countries, which is then flown to Azerbaijan onboard Il-76 and Boeing
747 cargo aircraft flown by Silk Way (West) that operates under diplomatic immunity. [9]
In no area of the Azerbaijani Armed Forces is the presence of
Israeli-made weaponry so evident as in its inventory of unmanned aerial
vehicles (UAV). Out of the 21 UAV types operated by Azerbaijan, no
less than nineteen are Israeli (90%) and only two are Turkish (10%). Six
of the Israeli UAVs are so-called loitering munitions, which engage
ground targets with an explosive warhead. Even when excluding the five
Israeli drone types produced in Azerbaijan (through a joint venture known as Azad), Turkish designs still
make up only 15% of Azerbaijan's drone types.
An Israeli LORA quasi-ballistic missile system in service with the Azerbaijani Land Forces. |
(Click on the equipment to get a picture of them in Azerbaijani service)
Small Arms
IMI Tavor TAR-21 Assault Rifle
IWI Tavor X95 Assault Rifle
IWI Negev Light Machine Gun
POMINS II Mine-Clearing Line Charge
Armoured Fighting Vehicles (AFVs)
AIL Storm Two configurations: (2)
AIL Abir
Plasan SandCat Ten configurations: (2) (3) (4) (5) (6) (7) (8) (9) (10)
(Anti-tank) Guided Missiles
Spike-LR [Range: 4km] Two launch configurations: (2)
Spike-ER [Range: 8km] Three launch configurations: (2) (3) (Also for use by Shaldag Mk V patrol vessels)
LAHAT [Range: 13km] (For use by Mi-17 attack helicopters)
Spike-NLOS [Range: 25km] Two launch configurations: (2) (For use by Mi-17 attack helicopters and Sa'ar 62 patrol vessels)
Surveillance Unmanned Aerial Vehicles
Elbit Skylark
Elbit Hermes 200 (Believed to have been decommissioned)
Elbit Hermes 450
Elbit Hermes 900
IAI Heron TP
BlueBird Aero ThunderB
Aeronautics Aerostar
Aeronautics Orbiter 2
Aeronautics Orbiter 3
Aeronautics Orbiter 4
Shahin (Azerbaijani-manufactured version of the Aerostar)
Garangush (Azerbaijani-manufactured version of the Orbiter 2)
Azerbaijani-manufactured version of the Orbiter 3 (Designation unknown)
Loitering Munitions
Aeronautics Orbiter 1K
Zarba-K (Azerbaijani-manufactured version of the Orbiter-1K)
İti Qovan (Azerbaijani-manufactured version of the Orbiter-1K)
Elbit SkyStriker Early
Elbit SkyStriker Late
IAI Harop
Self-Propelled Artillery
120mm Cardom [Range: 8km]
120mm Spear Mk2 [Range: 10km]
155mm ATMOS 2000 [Range: 24.5km or 41km when using RAPs] (Documented by a few sources. Not yet seen)
(Unguided) Multiple Rocket Launchers
122mm Grad 'Lynx' [Range: 40km]
160mm LAR-160 'Lynx' [Range: 45km]
(Guided) Multiple Rocket Launchers
306mm Extra [Range: 150km] [CEP: 10m]
Ballistic Missiles
LORA [Range: 430km] [CEP: 10m]
Surface-To-Air Missile (SAM) Systems
Barak 8 [Uses 75km-ranged Barak LRAD and and 150km-ranged Barak ER missiles]
Radars
EL/M-2080 'Green Pine' (Not yet seen)
EL/M-2084
Naval Vessels
Sa'ar 62 class offshore patrol vessel (Equipped with Spike-ER ATGMs and Israeli RWS, radar and FLIR systems)
Shaldag Mk V patrol vessel (Equipped with Spike-NLOS ATGMs and Israeli RWS, radar and FLIR systems)
[1] Did Azerbaijan’s use of Israeli weapons make the war worse or better? https://www.jpost.com/international/did-azerbaijans-use-of-israeli-weapons-make-the-war-worse-or-better-662442
[2] Arms transfers to conflict zones: The case of Nagorno-Karabakh https://www.sipri.org/commentary/topical-backgrounder/2021/arms-transfers-conflict-zones-case-nagorno-karabakh
[3] Israel sending weapons to Azerbaijan as fight with Armenia rages on: Sources https://english.alarabiya.net/News/world/2020/10/01/Israel-sending-weapons-to-Azerbaijan-as-fight-with-Armenia-rages-on-Sources
[4] Arms transfers to conflict zones: The case of Nagorno-Karabakh https://www.sipri.org/commentary/topical-backgrounder/2021/arms-transfers-conflict-zones-case-nagorno-karabakh
[5] An Analyst’s Perspective: Cicilline and Bilirakis’ Turkish Drone Letter Rebuked https://www.oryxspioenkop.com/2021/08/an-analysts-perspective-cicilline-and.html
[6] US Senators file amendments to hold Azerbaijan and Turkey accountable https://en.armradio.am/2021/11/04/us-senators-file-amendments-to-hold-azerbaijan-and-turkey-accountable/ [7] Top US senator introduces amendment to track US drone parts to Turkey https://www.middleeasteye.net/news/top-us-senator-introduces-legislation-track-us-drone-parts-turkey
[8] Azerbaijan’s Emerging Arsenal Of Deterrent https://www.oryxspioenkop.com/2021/10/azerbaijans-emerging-arsenal-of.html
[9] Czech Weapons in Azerbaijan: How a Chassis Turned into a Howitzer https://www.investigace.eu/czech-weapons-in-azerbaijan-how-a-chassis-turned-into-a-howitzer/