IRIA News

Azerbaijan’s first Su-25 modernized jet took to the skies on July 29, 2023, for a successful test flight. The development came after Azerbaijan signed a contract with the Turkish Aerospace Industries (TAI) to upgrade its Sukhoi Su-25 ground attack aircraft.

Under the contract signed at the International Defence Industry Fair (IDEF) 2023 held in Istanbul, TAI would assist in modernizing Azerbaijan’s fleet of Su-25 jets and equip the jets with Turkish-made bombs, missiles, and avionics modernization.

The Azerbaijani Ministry of Defence said in its statement that “The main purpose of signing the contract is the integration of Turkish-made smart bombs and missiles into the aircraft used by the Azerbaijan Air Force and the implementation of modernization activities for their avionics”.

The contract was signed on July 26, 2023, in a ceremony attended by Azerbaijani Deputy Minister of Defense Agil Gurbanov, the head of Turkey’s Defence Industry Presidency (SSB), Haluk Görgun, and other officials.

First successful test flight

The Azerbaijan Air Force Su-25 successfully passed the tests this week. “The Su-25 attack aircraft sent to Türkiye was brought back to Azerbaijan after modernization work by Turkish Aerospace Industries,” the Azeri Ministry of Defense said in a statement.

The statement further added that “the process of modernization of the Azerbaijan Army’s weapons and equipment is being carried out by the application of the latest technologies.”

Azerbaijan’s first Su-25 modernized jet took to the skies for a successful test flight this week. Azerbaijan Air Force has partnered with Turkish Aerospace Industries @TUSAS_TR to upgrade its Su-25 jets and equip aircraft with Turkish-made smart bombs, missiles.
📹: @wwwmodgovaz pic.twitter.com/PRGM3bieZM

— IRIA (@IRIA_Research) July 30, 2023

The Su-25 modernization program has been named Lachin Project, named after the mountain corridor that connects Azerbaijan’s mainland to its contested and recently acquired regions of Nagorno and Karabakh. The ministry announced that the vehicle successfully conducted its test flights adding that “It was modernized under the Lachin project and added to the inventory of the Azerbaijani military pilots.”

“Tests of the newly installed Turkish-made smart bombs and missiles on the aircraft have been completed, and the work done in general has been positively evaluated by military experts,” the statement underlines.

The deal was signed between the representatives of Azerbaijan’s Defense Ministry and the Turkish Aerospace Industries (TAI) during the International Defense Industry Fair (IDEF) in Istanbul last week. During the same event, Azerbaijan’s Ministry of Defense also signed a goodwill protocol with Turkey’s leading drone manufacturer company, Byakar Technologies. The two sides signed a deal for joint manufacturing of unmanned aerial vehicles (UAVs) starting this year.

Azerbaijan’s Su-25 jets

Baku has shifted its focus on military modernization amid the ongoing security situation. Due to its frequent territorial conflicts with neighboring Armenia, Azerbaijan aims to maintain a strong and modernized air force. Azerbaijan operates a fleet of 11 Soviet-made Su-25 fighter jets.

Originally introduces in the 1980s, the Sukhoi Su-24 jet is subsonic, single-seat, twin-engine jet aircraft designed to provide close air support and carry out multi-role operations. With a maximum speed of 975 kilometers per hour and a range of 100 kilometers, Su-25 jets are highly suitable to counter incoming attacks and short-range aerial encounters. However, these jets are now becoming outdated due to the lack of modernization attempts.

Upgrading the jets with the latest avionic technologies and modern weaponry would allow the Azerbaijan air force to integrate the jets into its fleet which consists of MiG-29 and MiG-21 fighter jets.

Azerbaijan participates in IDEF with 131 defense products

The Ministry of Defence Industry of Azerbaijan exhibited almost 131 Azerbaijan-manufactured defense products. These included various types of small arms, close combat weapons, mortars, ammunition of various calibers, and UAVs. 

Azerbaijan’s Defense Minister Colonel General Zakir Hasanov, the Chief of State Security Service of the Republic of Azerbaijan Colonel General Ali Naghiyev, and other officials attended the exhibition where they were given a briefing on the latest weapons, vehicles, and military equipment by Roketsan, Aselsan, and other defense companies.

Azerbaijan defense officials also held a meeting with the Turkish Minister of National Defense Yashar Guler. The two sides discussed cooperation in military, military-technical, military-educational, military-medical, and other spheres, as well as further development of the work done in this area.

Müdafiə Sənayesi Nazirliyinin nümayəndə heyəti “İDEF-2023” Beynəlxalq Müdafiə Sənayesi Sərgisində iştirak edir

Ətraflı: https://t.co/AaQy2vdc5p pic.twitter.com/4D5yxySHFD

— Azərbaycan Respublikası Müdafiə Sənayesi Nazirliyi (@mdigovaz) July 25, 2023

IDEF is ranked as the fourth-largest defense industry exhibition in the world. More than 1,461 companies from 55 countries participated in this year’s IDEF which took place July 25-28 at the Istanbul Tüyap Fair Center.