Azerbaijan's Military Might: Army Size And Strength

Azerbaijan's military, known as the Azerbaijani Armed Forces, is comprised of three branches: the Azerbaijani Land Forces, the Azerbaijani Air and Air Defence Force, and the Azerbaijani Navy. The total number of personnel across these three branches is 66,940, with 56,840 in the land forces, 7,900 in the air force and 2,200 in the navy. In addition, there are 19,500 personnel in associated forces, including the Azerbaijani National Guard, the Internal Troops of Azerbaijan, and the State Border Service. Azerbaijan has been working to develop its armed forces into a professional, well-trained, and mobile military since the fall of the Soviet Union, and its military budget has increased significantly over the years, from around $300 million in 2005 to $2.46 billion in 2009.

Azerbaijan's military size in 2020 was 82,000

The Azerbaijani Armed Forces were re-established in 1991 following the country's independence from the Soviet Union. Since then, the country has been working to develop a professional, well-trained, and mobile military. The military budget has increased significantly, from around $300 million in 2005 to $2.46 billion in 2009. This has allowed for extensive modernisation and capacity expansion programmes.

In addition to the 82,000 personnel in the Azerbaijani Armed Forces, there are also 300,000 former service members who have served in the last 15 years. The Land Forces make up the majority of the Armed Forces, with 56,840 men, followed by the Air Force and Air Defence Force with 7,900, and the Navy with 2,200. The associated forces comprise 19,500 personnel.

The Azerbaijani military primarily operates Russian and Soviet-era weapons systems, with some equipment from other countries, such as Israel and Turkey. The country has its own defence industry, which manufactures small arms and hopes to begin producing tanks, armoured vehicles, military planes, and military helicopters in the future.

The Azerbaijani Armed Forces have three branches: Land Forces, Air and Air Defence Force, and Navy

The Azerbaijani Armed Forces consist of three branches: the Land Forces, the Air and Air Defence Force, and the Navy.

Land Forces

The Azerbaijani Land Forces are the land force component of the Azerbaijani Armed Forces. The Land Forces consist of five army corps: the 1st Army Corps, also known as the Barda Army Corps; the 2nd Army Corps, or Beylagan Army Corps; the 3rd Army Corps, or Shamkir Army Corps; the 4th Army Corps, or Baku Army Corps; and the Nakhchivan Separate Combined Arms Army. The Land Forces include 23 motor rifle brigades, an artillery brigade, a multiple rocket launcher brigade, and an anti-tank regiment. The UK Advanced Research and Assessment Group estimates that the Land Forces number 85,000 troops, including 2,500 men from the National Guard.

Air and Air Defence Force

The Azerbaijani Air and Air Defence Force is a single unified service branch composed of the Azerbaijani Air Forces and the Azerbaijani Air Defence Troops. The Air and Air Defence Force has around 106 aircraft and 35 helicopters, and the country has four major airbases. Nasosnaya Air Base has fighters, Kyurdamir Air Base has a bomber regiment, Ganja Airport has transport aircraft, and Baku Kala Air Base is home to the helicopter unit. There are also four other airbases: Dollyar Air Base, Nakhchivan Airport, Sanqacal Air Base, and Sitalcay Air Base. The Azerbaijani Air Force uses MiG-21, Su-24, and Su-25 aircraft, as well as the MiG-29, which has been designated the standard aircraft. Azerbaijan is also holding talks with China or Pakistan to purchase JF-17 Thunder aircraft.

Navy

The Azerbaijan Navy has about 2,200 personnel. In 2010, the navy had a Petya-class light frigate and a number of patrol craft, landing craft, and research ships. The U.S. Navy has helped train the Azerbaijani Navy, and there is an agreement for the U.S. to provide support in refurbishing Azerbaijani warships in the Caspian Sea.

The Land Forces include 23 motor rifle brigades, an artillery brigade, and a multiple rocket launcher brigade

The Azerbaijani Land Forces are comprised of 23 motor rifle brigades, an artillery brigade, a multiple rocket launcher brigade, and an anti-tank regiment. The Land Forces are supported by an estimated 40 SA-13 Gopher, SA-4 Ganef, and SA-8 Gecko air defence missile systems.

The Land Forces are organised into five army corps: the 1st Army Corps, also known as the Barda Army Corps, is concentrated near Ganja; the 2nd Army Corps, or Beylagan Army Corps, is concentrated against Armenian-occupied territories, with some deployment on the Azerbaijan-Iranian border; the 3rd Army Corps, or Shamkir Army Corps, is also concentrated against Armenian-occupied territories; the 4th Army Corps, or Baku Army Corps, covers the Absheron Peninsula and the coast; and the Nakhchivan Separate Combined Arms Army is deployed in Nakhchivan.

The Land Forces are the primary source of peacekeeping forces, though the Internal Troops of Azerbaijan also supply some. In March 2011, 94 peacekeepers were deployed with the International Security Assistance Force (ISAF) in Afghanistan. Azerbaijani troops have also been deployed in Iraq, Kosovo, and Afghanistan.

The Air and Air Defence Force has around 106 aircraft and 35 helicopters

The Azerbaijani Air and Air Defence Force is a unified service branch with around 7,900 to 8,000 personnel. The force has approximately 106 aircraft and 35 helicopters, with four major airbases: Nasosnaya, Kyurdamir, Ganja, and Baku Kala. Nasosnaya Air Base is equipped with fighter aircraft, Kyurdamir Air Base has a bomber regiment, Ganja Air Base has transport aircraft, and Baku Kala Air Base is home to the helicopter unit. Additionally, there are four other airbases without aircraft: Dollyar, Nakhchivan, Sanqacal, and Sitalcay.

The Azerbaijani Air Force utilises a range of aircraft, including MiG-21, MiG-23, Su-24, and Su-25 planes, as well as MiG-29 fighters purchased from Ukraine in 2006 and Il-76 transport aircraft. The MiG-29 has been designated as the standard aircraft for the Azerbaijani Air Force. The force is also in talks with China or Pakistan to purchase JF-17 Thunder aircraft. MiG-25s, previously in service, have been retired.

Azerbaijan's helicopter force is concentrated at Baku Kala Air Base and consists of around 14-15 Mi-24, 12-13 Mi-8, and 7 Mi-2 helicopters. In late 2010, Azerbaijan signed a deal with Russian Rosvertol for 24 Mi-35M (Hind-E) gunships, further enhancing their ground attack capabilities. The Air Force also has L-39 advanced training aircraft in storage.

The Navy has a light frigate, patrol craft, and minesweepers

The Azerbaijani Navy is the naval component of the Azerbaijani Armed Forces and operates in the Caspian Sea. It is the second-largest navy in the Caspian Sea, after Russia's. The Navy has about 2,200 personnel and is equipped with a light frigate, patrol craft, and minesweepers.

The Azerbaijani Navy was established on 5 August 1919 when the government of the Azerbaijan Democratic Republic created a naval force based on the Russian Imperial fleet in the Azerbaijani sector of the Caspian Sea. In 1920, the Azerbaijan Democratic Republic was invaded by the Red Army and its independence was lost. The national army was abolished, and the newly formed Azerbaijani Red Army became part of the Soviet forces.

Following the collapse of the Soviet Union in 1991, the Azerbaijani fleet, now part of the Soviet Navy, was divided between Azerbaijan and the Russian Federation. In July 1992, the Azerbaijani ships began operating under the Azerbaijani flag once more. The modern Azerbaijani Navy was formed in mid-1992 and is comprised of approximately 20 ships and 1,750 personnel.

The Navy has one frigate, with the remaining surface combatants being smaller patrol boats that are effective in coastal waters and are used for anti-smuggling, anti-poaching, and oil field security operations. In addition to the patrol boats, the Navy also has patrol craft, with some donated by Turkey and the US.

The Navy also has a minesweeping division. In 1994, the Navy had five minesweepers, and in 2010, it had four minesweepers, consisting of two Sonya-class minesweepers and two Yevgenya-class minesweepers.

The Azerbaijani Navy plays a strategic role due to Azerbaijan's maritime border with Iran in the Caspian Sea. The US Navy has provided support in the form of training and the refurbishment of warships. The Caspian Guard Initiative was launched in 2003 to enhance Caspian Sea security and prevent narcotics trafficking and terrorism in the region.

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