Azerbaijani Armed Forces The Azerbaijani Armed Forces ( ) were re - established according to the Law of the Republic of Azerbaijan on the Armed Forces from 9 October 1991 . The Azerbaijan Democratic Republic ( ADR ) had originally formed its own armed forces from 26 June 1918 . However these were dissolved after Azerbaijan was absorbed into the Soviet Union as the Azerbaijan Soviet Socialist Republic from 28 April 1920 . After the Soviet Union dissolved in 1991 - 92 the armed forces were reformed based on Soviet bases and equipment left on Azeri soil . The armed forces have three branches : the Azerbaijani Land Forces , the Azerbaijani Air and Air Defence Force , and the Azerbaijani Navy . Associated forces include the Azerbaijani National Guard , the Internal Troops of Azerbaijan , and the State Border Service , which can be involved in state defense under certain circumstances . According to the Azerbaijani media sources the military expenditures of Azerbaijan for 2009 were set at $ 2 . 46 billion US $ , however according to SIPRI , only $ 1 . 473 billion was spent in that year . IISS also suggests that the defence budget in 2009 was $ 1 . 5 billion . Azerbaijan has its own Defense Industry , which manufactures small arms . In the future , Azerbaijan hopes to start building tanks , armored vehicles , military planes and military helicopters . Overview . Since the fall of the Soviet Union , Azerbaijan has been trying to further develop its armed forces into a professional , well trained , and mobile military . Azerbaijan has been undergoing extensive modernization and capacity expanding programs , with the military budget increasing from around $ 300 million in 2005 to $ 2 . 46 billion in 2009 . The total armed forces number 56 , 840 men in the land forces , 7 , 900 men in the air force and air defence force , and 2 , 200 men in the navy . There are also 19 , 500 personnel in the National Guard , State Border Service , and Internal Troops . In addition , there are 300 , 000 former service personnel who have had military service in the last 15 years . The military hardware of Azerbaijan consists of 220 main battle tanks , an additional 162 T - 80 ' s were acquired between 2005 and 2010 , 595 armored combat vehicles and 270 artillery systems . The air force has about 106 aircraft and 35 helicopters . Azerbaijan has acceded to the Nuclear Non - Proliferation Treaty as a non - nuclear weapons state . Azerbaijan participates in NATO ' s Partnership for Peace . Azerbaijan joined the U . S . - led coalition against Iraq in 2003 . It sent 150 troops to Iraq , and later troops to Kosovo . Azeri troops are still serving in Afghanistan . Despite the rise in Azerbaijan ' s defence budget , which now doubles Armenia ' s entire state budget , the armed forces were assessed in 2008 as not having a high state of battle readiness and being ill - prepared for wide scale combat operations . Today ' National Hero of Azerbaijan ' is the highest national title in the country , awarded for outstanding services of national importance to Azerbaijan in defense , as well as other deeds in other spheres . History of the Azerbaijani military . Azerbaijan Democratic Republic . The history of the modern Azerbaijan army dates back to Azerbaijan Democratic Republic in 1918 , when the Armed Forces of Azerbaijan Republic were created on June 26 , 1918 . First " de facto " Minister of Defense of ADR was Dr . Khosrov bey Sultanov . When the Ministry was formally established Gen . Samedbey Mehmandarov became the minister , and then Lt - Gen . Ali - Agha Shikhlinski his deputy . Chiefs of Staff of ADR Army were Lt - Gen . Mamedbey Sulkevich ( March 1919 - 10 December 1919 ) and Maj - Gen . Abdulhamid bey Gaitabashi ( 10 December 1919 – April 1920 ) . The Red Army invaded Azerbaijan on 28 April 1920 . Although the bulk of the newly formed Azerbaijani army was engaged in putting down an Armenia n revolt that had just broken out in Karabakh , the Azeris did not surrender their brief independence of 1918 - 20 quickly or easily . As many as 20 , 000 of the total 30 , 000 soldiers died resisting what was effectively a Russian reconquest . The national Army of Azerbaijan was abolished by the Bolshevik government , 15 of the 21 army generals were executed by the Bolsheviks . World War II . During World War II , Azerbaijan played a crucial role in the strategic energy policy of Soviet Union . Much of the Soviet Union ' s oil on the Eastern Front was supplied by Baku . By a decree of the Supreme Soviet of the USSR in February 1942 , the commitment of more than 500 workers and employees of the oil industry of Azerbaijan was recognised with orders and medals . Operation Edelweiss carried out by the German Wehrmacht targeted Baku because of the importance of its oil fields to the USSR . Some 800 , 000 Azerbaijanis fought within the ranks of the Soviet Army of which 400 , 000 died . Azeri national formations of the Red Army included the 223rd , 227th , 396th , 402nd , and 416th Rifle Divisions . Azeri Major - General Hazi Aslanov was awarded twice Hero of the Soviet Union . Dissolution of the Soviet armed forces . During the Cold War , Azerbaijan had been the deployment area of units of the Soviet 4th Army whose principle formations included three motor rifle divisions ( 23rd , 60th , and 296th ) . The 4th Army also included missile and air defense brigades and artillery and rocket regiments . The 75th Motor Rifle Division , part of the 7th Guards Army , was isolated in Nakhichevan . The 75th Division ' s stores and equipment were apparently transferred to the Nakhichevan authorities . Azerbaijan also hosted the 49th Arsenal of the Soviet Main Agency of Missiles and Artillery , which contained over 7 , 000 train - car loads of ammunition to the excess of one billion units . The first president of Azerbaijan , Ayaz Mutallibov , did not wish to build an independent army , wanting to rely instead largely on Soviet troops . Even when the Parliament decided that an army should be formed in September 1991 , disagreements between the government and the opposition Azerbaijani Popular Front Party impeded creation of a unified force . Around this time , the first unit of the new army was formed on the basis of the 18 - 110 military unit of mechanized infantry of the Soviet Ground Forces ( probably part of the 4th Army ) located in Shikhov , south of Baku . At the time of the parliamentary decision , Lieutenant - General Valeh Barshadli became the first Minister of Defense of Azerbaijan , from September 5 to December 11 , 1991 . Later from May to September 4 , 1992 he served as Chief of General Staff of Azerbaijani Armed Forces . In summer 1992 , the nascent Defense Ministry received a resolution by the Azerbaijani president on the takeover of units and formations in Azerbaijani territory . It then forwarded an ultimatum to Moscow demanding control over vehicles and armaments of the 135th and 139th Motor Rifle Regiments of the 295th Motor Rifle Division . In July 1992 , Azerbaijan ratified the Treaty on Conventional Armed Forces in Europe ( CFE ) , which establishes comprehensive limits on key categories of conventional military equipment . Azerbaijan approved the CFE flank agreement in May 1997 . The transfer of the property of the 4th Army ( except for part of the property of the 366th Motor Rifle Regiment of the 23rd Motor Rifle Division captured by Armenian armed formations in 1992 during the regiment ' s withdrawal from Stepanakert ) and the 49th arsenal was completed in 1992 . Thus , by the end of 1992 , Azerbaijan received arms and military hardware sufficient for approximately four motor rifle divisions with prescribed army units . It also inherited naval ships . There are also reports that 50 combat aircraft from the disbanded 19th Army of the Soviet Air Defence Forces came under Azeri control . After Lt Gen Barshadli became Chief of General Staff , subsequent defense ministers from 1992 have included : The Azeri armed forces took a series of devastating defeats by Armenian forces during the 1992 – 1994 Nagorno - Karabakh War , which resulted in the loss of control of Nagorno - Karabakh proper and seven surrounding rayon s , comprising roughly 16 % of the territory of Azerbaijan . Azerbaijani sources insist that Armenian victory was largely due to military help from Russia and the wealthy Armenian diaspora . Armenians partially deny the allegation , claiming that Russian side was equally supplying Armenian and Azerbaijani sides with weapons and mercenaries . During the war , the Azeri armed forces were also aided by Turkish military advisers , and Russian , Ukrainian , Chechen and Afghan mercenaries . Non - combat deaths . A number of Azerbaijani human rights groups have been tracking non - combat deaths and have noted an upward trend . Based on Defense Ministry statistics that had not been released to the public , the Group of Monitoring Compliance with Human Rights in the Army ( GMCHRA ) has recorded the deaths of 76 soldiers to date in non - combat incidents for 2011 , and the injury of 91 others . In comparison , there were 62 non - combat deaths and 71 cases of injury in 2010 . The string of non - combat deaths raises questions about the reform progress of the military . Factors behind the deaths include bullying , hazing , and the systemic corruption within the Azeri military . Land forces . The Azerbaijani Land Forces number 85 , 000 strong , according to UK Advanced Research and Assessment Group estimates . The 2 , 500 men of the National Guard are also part of the ground forces . In addition , there are 300 , 000 former service personnel who have had military service in the last 15 years . Other paramilitary agencies consist of Interior Ministry Internal Troops of Azerbaijan , 12 , 000 strong , and the land component of the State Border Service , 5 , 000 strong . Azerbaijan has signed numerous contracts to strengthen its armed forces and to train its military with Turkey ' s assistance . Over the last 15 years , Azerbaijan has been preparing its military for possible action against Armenian forces in Nagorno - Karabakh . Organization . The Land Forces consist of five army corps : The Land Forces include 23 motor rifle brigades , an artillery brigade , a multiple rocket launcher brigade , and an anti - tank regiment . The IISS Military Balance reported in 2007 that the Land Forces had an estimated 40 SA - 13 Gopher , SA - 4 Ganef , and SA - 8 Gecko air defence missile systems , with ' 80 - 240 eff . ' to support the army in the battlefield . ( IISS 2007 , p . 157 ) The Peacekeeping forces of Azerbaijan are mostly supplied from the Land Forces , though the Internal Troops of Azerbaijan do also supply some . As of March 2011 , 94 peacekeepers were deployed with the International Security Assistance Force ( ISAF ) in Afghanistan . In the past , it also actively supported the peacekeeping operation in Kosovo and Iraq . The Azeri peacekeeping unit deployed in Iraq consisted of 14 officers , 16 sergeants and 120 privates , a total of 150 troops . The unit secured the hydroelectric power station and reservoir in Al Haditha from August 2003 . In December 2008 , Azerbaijan withdrew the unit from Iraq . Air forces . The Azerbaijani Air and Air Defence Force is a single unified service branch . Some 8 , 000 men serve in the air force and air defence force . The Azerbaijani Air and Air Defence Force has around 106 aircraft and 35 helicopters . The country has four major airbases . Nasosnaya Air Base has fighters , Kyurdamir Air Base a bomber regiment , Ganja Air Base transports , and Baku Kala Air Base the helicopter unit . There are also four other airbases which do not appear to have aircraft based there . These are Dollyar Air Base , Nakhichevan Airport , Sanqacal Air Base , and Sitalcay Air Base . The Azeri Air Force uses MiG - 21 , MiG - 23 , Su - 24 and Su - 25 aircraft , as well as the MiG - 29 purchased from Ukraine in 2006 and Il - 76 transport aircraft . The MiG - 29 have been designated as the standard aircraft for the AzAF . Azerbaijan is holding talks with either the People ' s Republic of China or Pakistan to purchase JF - 17 Thunder aircraft . MiG - 25 s previously in service have been retired seemingly in the 2007 - 09 period . Azerbaijan ' s helicopter force is concentrated at Baku Kala Air Base and according to the IISS consists of a single regiment with around 14 - 15 Mi - 24 , 12 - 13 Mi - 8 and 7 Mi - 2 . Jane ' s Information Group and the IISS give figures which agree with only a single aircraft ' s difference . Recently , end of 2010 Russian Rosvertol announced that Azerbaijan armed forces signed a deal for 24 pieces of Mi - 35M ( Hind - E ) gunships what would further enhance the Azeri ground attack formations . The Air Force has L - 29 and L - 39 advanced training aircraft in store . The Azerbaijan Border Guard and Voluntary Society of Defense , Patriotism and Sport have Yakovlev light training aircraft . Air defense . Azerbaijan has missile and radar systems intended to defend Azeri airspace . There are at least 2 divisions of S - 300 PMU2 . Thereby the country has one of the most capable SAM [ surface - to - air missile ] system in the region . Azerbaijan also operates two S - 200 ( SA - 5 GAMMON ) batteries near Baku and Mingachevir ; the S - 300PMU - 2 represents a logical replacement for these systems offering coverage of the majority of the nation . The country also has about 100 NATO designated SA - 2 Guideline ( original name S - 75 ) , SA - 3 Goa ( S - 125 Pechora - 2M ) , and the SA - 5 Gammon ( S - 200 ) are in static installations . These may be around Baku and the central part to cover the whole Azeri aerospace . However , August 2011 investigations shows that after purchase of S - 300 surface to air missile s , the largest apparent gap in Azerbaijan ' s air defense system may have been filled . Also in Azerbaijan there is a former Soviet early warning radar . The Qabala Radar is a bistatic phased - array installation , currently operated by the Russian Space Forces under a contract until 2012 . The contract was signed in 2002 and will expire in 2012 where it would be given back to the Azerbaijani government . The contract costs Russia $ 7 million per year . The radar station has a range of up to 6 , 000 kilometres ( 3 , 728 mi ) , and was designed to detect intercontinental ballistic missile launches as far as from the Indian Ocean . Whether the Russian Government shares any of the station ' s radar data with Azerbaijan is unknown . Training and education . Azerbaijani pilots are trained in the Azerbaijan Air Force School and then developing their skills in operational units . Azerbaijan has an experience exchange with Turkey , Ukraine , the United States and a number of NATO countries . The Turkish Air Force School has a great role in the training of Azeri military pilots . Azerbaijani pilots are also trained in Ukraine ’ s Pilot Training School . Navy . The main naval base of the Soviet Union in the Caspian Sea was based in Baku . When the Soviet Union collapsed , Azerbaijan inherited the naval base and parts of the Caspian Fleet . The Azerbaijan Navy has about 2 , 200 personnel . The navy has a Petya class light frigate , " Qusar " ( G 121 ) , and a number of patrol craft , including one Turk class , " Araz , " P 223 , one Brya ( Project 722 ) class , P 218 , one Shelon ( Project 1388M ) class , P 212 , one Poluchat class ( Project 368 ) , P 219 , one Luga class ( Project 888 ) , T 710 , and four Petrushka ( Polish UK - 3 class ) , P 213 , P 214 , P 215 , and P 216 . There are four minesweeper s consisting of 2 Sonya class minesweeper and 2 Yevgenya class minesweeper s . ( Jane ' s Fighting Ships 2010 ) The Navy is also attributed with 5 landing craft , 3 Polnochny and 2 Vydra , ( IISS 2007 ) plus three research ships , 1 Project 10470 , A 671 , ex Svyaga , 1 Balerian Uryvayev class survey vessel ( AG ) and one Vadim Popov class survey vessel ( AG ) . The U . S . Navy has helped train the Azeri Navy . There is also an agreement to provide US support to refurbish Azeri warships in the Caspian Sea . In 2006 , the US Government donated 3 motorboats to the Azerbaijani navy . In 2007 an agreement between Azeri Navy and a US military company was concluded , which stated that a part of the Azeri Navy would be equipped with advanced laser marksmanship systems . The US company specialists were also to give training on the use of the new equipment . A number of separate U . S . programmes are underway under the Caspian Guard Initiative , focused mostly on enhancing Azerbaijani and Kazakh maritime border security . In May 2011 , President of the State Oil Company of Azerbaijan Republic Rovnag Abdullayev stated that Azerbaijan to start production of national warships after 2013 . Special forces . The Naval Intelligence of Azerbaijan maintains the 641st Special Warfare Naval Unit . The special forces were trained by the Navy Seals of the U . S . and both special forces have participated in joint naval exercises , headquartered at the Azerbaijani Naval Station on the island of Wolf in the Bay of Baku . Unit 641 has several midget submarine s such as Triton - 1M and Triton 2 at their disposal as well as underwater tool motion for individual divers . The special unit is composed of 3 reconnaissance groups , 2 groups for mountainous warfare and one diving group . Obligatory training includes parachute jumping day and night , on land and on water . There is also unconfirmed reports of a ' Tigers ' special warfare unit . It is said that the ' Tigers ' unit was established in cooperation with the Turkish Navy in 2001 . The training and structure of the Tigers are similar to Turkish special forces , Su Altı Taarruz and United States Special Forces who have close training relationships with them . The first Tiger units were established at Ganja following a joint training program with Turkey . The Special Forces are equipped with the Israeli IMI Tavor TAR - 21 . Defense industry . The Ministry of Defence Industry of Azerbaijan directs domestic military supplies for Azerbaijan . It was established in 2005 . The Defence Industries Ministry subsumed the State Department for Military Industry and for Armaments and the Military Science Center , each of which was formerly a separate agency within the Azerbaijani Defense Ministry . The defense industry has emerged as an autonomous entity with a growing defense production capability . The ministry is cooperating with the defense sectors of Ukraine , Belarus and Pakistan . Along with other contracts , Azerbaijani defence industries and Turkish companies , Azerbaijan will produce 40mm revolver grenade launchers , 107mm and 122mm MLRS systems , Cobra 4×4 vehicles and joint modernization of BTR vehicles in Baku . The major military companies of Azerbaijan are : In early 2008 , reports indicated that an agreement with Turkey had been signed which would lead to Azerbaijan producing armoured personnel carriers , infantry fighting vehicles , and small calibre artillery pieces . Another 2008 report mentioned Azerbaijan ' s desire to produce its own military aircraft and helicopters , but quoted a military expert as saying that it would be impossible to do so for the next five years . International cooperation . Azerbaijan cooperates with about 60 countries in the military - technical sphere and has an agreement on military - technical cooperation with more than 30 countries . Turkey . In December 2009 an agreement on military assistance was signed by Turkey and Azerbaijan . The agreement envisions Ankara ’ s supplying Azerbaijan with weapons , military equipment and , if necessary , soldiers in case war with Armenia over Karabakh resumes . Turkey has provided Azerbaijan with infantry weapons , tactical vehicles ( jeeps , trucks , etc . ) professional training , military organization , technology transfer , licenced military hardware production and other services . Due to help from Turkish specialists and instructors , thousands of Azerbaijani officers have been trained to western standards . The military position as international importance of Azerbaijan increased with agreement between Azerbaijan and Turkey on the participation an Azerbaijani peacekeeping platoon in the staff of Turkish battalion in Kosovo . Since 1992 Azerbaijan and Turkey have signed more than 100 military protocols , some of the major protocols include : In May 2011 , Azerbaijan had discussed the purchase of long - range rockets from two Chinese companies , the minister of the defence industry has said . Other arms deals were signed with Turkey . Turkish Defence Minister Vecdi Gonul and Yaver Jamalov signed a protocol of intent on future joint production of two types of output - 107 - mm rockets and the national rifle , possibly the Mehmetçik - 1 . A protocol of intent was signed the same day with the Mechanical and Chemical Industry Corporation [ MKEK ] on the joint production of 120 - mm mortar launchers . This project will come into force in a few months time . Agreement has also been reached with Turkish company Aselsan on the production of some types of defence output in Azerbaijan , specifically the latest types of weapons ' sights . These projects will probably happen in the near future too . Recently , Turkish defense industries secretariat told that an export version of the T - 155 Firtina self - propelled howitser is almost done and could start production . T - 155 has been powered by a German MTU power pack , which restricts the sale to some countries like Azerbaijan . The Turkish manufacturer MKEK , has announced that they have found an alternate supplier for the power pack where Azerbaijan showed interest to buy the high tech , more capable 155mm 52 caliber from Turkish authorities . United States . Section 907 of the United States Freedom Support Act bans any kind of direct United States aid to the Azerbaijani government . Despite this law there is extensive U . S . military cooperation with Azerbaijan . This has included Special Forces and naval aid , consultations with United States European Command , and linkages through the U . S . National Guard State Partnership Program . On 19 May 2006 , Azerbaijani Defense Minister Safar Abiyev and the then commander of United States Air Forces in Europe General Tom Hobbins met in Baku to discuss military cooperation . He said the objective of his visit was to become familiar with the state of Azerbaijani armed forces . Hobbins pointed to the progress made in the NATO - Azerbaijan relations , saying that the successful implementation of the NATO Partnership for Peace program in Azerbaijan has brought the country even closer to the alliance . He said that the two countries ' air forces will expand cooperation . The U . S . state of Oklahoma is linked with Azerbaijan through the U . S . National Guard State Partnership Program ( SPP ) . Oklahoma National Guard troops have been sent on training and humanitarian missions to Baku . Israel . Azerbaijan and Israel cooperate on numerous areas of the defense industry . Azerbaijan has shown great interest in Israeli technology over the years . In particular , an agreement was reached over the construction of the factory of intelligence and combat drones in Azerbaijan . The Israeli defense company Elta Systems Ltd has had cooperation from Azerbaijan in building the TecSAR reconnaissance satellite system , which can take high - definition photos of ground surfaces in all weather conditions . According to Azerbaijani military experts , the TecSAR system will be indispensable for military operations in the mountainous terrains of Azerbaijan . As of June 2009 , Israel and Azerbaijan had been negotiating on the production of Namer armoured infantry fighting vehicle s in Azerbaijan . There is no further information as to whether any agreement has been made . NATO . The North Atlantic Treaty Organization ( NATO ) and Azerbaijan actively cooperate on defence institutional reforms and have developed practical cooperation in many other areas . Azerbaijan ’ s Individual Partnership Action Plan ( IPAP ) and its Partnership for Peace ( PfP ) linkages lay out the programme of cooperation between Azerbaijan and NATO . The Azerbaijani government has however delayed implementing IPAP - recommended reforms , however , in part at least because no decision had been taken to seek NATO membership . This is because Azerbaijan ' s foreign policy ' seeks to balance interests with the U . S . , EU , Russia and Iran . ' According to a NATO diplomatic source some key officials at NATO headquarters in Brussel s were pushing hard for engaging Azerbaijan on the membership question . " Turkey , Romania , Italy , Poland , the United Kingdom and the Baltic states , " are among the member - states also backing a fast track for Azerbaijan ’ s NATO membership . However , Azerbaijan made its policy of not being aligned with a geopolitical / military structure official when it became a full member of the Non - Aligned Movement in 2011 . In 5 June 2006 the U . S . Departments of Defense and Homeland Security and the Federal Bureau of Investigation held a training program for about 100 representatives of the Ministry of Emergency Situations of Azerbaijan Republic , Republican Prosecutor ' s Office , Defense Ministry and other law - enforcement bodies . The objective of the training was to enhance Azerbaijan ' s ability to prevent the spread of weapon of mass destruction and related materials . According to a U . S . Embassy official , the program was organized as part of U . S . efforts to help Azerbaijan implement its NATO IPAP , specifically to strengthen Azerbaijan ' s ability to control its land and sea borders : " This training is being implemented within the frame of International struggle against spread of weapons of mass destruction . It is a good case that Azerbaijan is our active partner in struggle against spread of weapons of mass destruction " . There is also a limited amount of military cooperation with the other countries of GUAM : Georgia , Ukraine , Azerbaijan , and Moldova .