IRIA News

The Azerbaijani Armed Forces have received their first C-27J Spartan military transport aircraft from Italian aerospace company Leonardo. The new addition was unveiled at Heydar Aliyev International Airport during a ceremony attended by President Ilham Aliyev and several defense officials.

During the event, President Aliyev toured the interior of the tactical airlift, examining its cockpit and controls. The defense ministry shared photos of the inspection and provided detailed information about the aircraft’s capabilities.

Azerbaijan Minister of Defense Colonel-General Zakir Hasanov, and other defense officials as well as Italian Defense Minister Guido Crosetto, Deputy Minister of Foreign Affairs and International Cooperation of Italy Edmondo Cirielli, and Chairman of Leonardo Stefano Pontecorvo attended the handover ceremony in Baku.

“The aircraft is capable of performing both defense and civil defense missions in complex geographical terrain and operational conditions,” the ministry stated.

Azerbaijan Air Force received its first C-27J Spartan military transport aircraft from Italian aerospace firm @Leonardo_live. 🇦🇿 President Ilham Aliyev @presidentaz and defense officials attended the handover ceremony at Heydar Aliyev International Airport in Baku. pic.twitter.com/HqQNtPGOpA

— IRIA (@IRIA_Research) June 29, 2024

Features and specification

The C-27J Spartan is a versatile, multi-role aircraft that supports various missions, including maritime patrol, anti-submarine warfare, command and control, intelligence, surveillance, and reconnaissance (ISR). In Azerbaijan, the Spartan will transport cargo and military personnel, perform airdrops, and conduct medical missions.

• Payload capacity: 11,300 kilograms (up to 60 troops or 46 casualty stretchers)
• Engines: Two Rolls-Royce turboprop engines.
• Takeoff and landing: Can operate on short and unprepared runways.
• Range: 1,700 kilometers (1,056 miles).
• Speed: Up to 670 kilometers per hour.
• Armament: Equipped with an electronic self-protection suite for instantaneous threat response.

The acquisition of the C-27J Spartan is part of a 2023 contract with Leonardo for an undisclosed number of these transport aircraft. Speculation suggests that another Spartan will soon join the Azerbaijan Air Force fleet.

Baku’s military modernization

The arrival of this advanced tactical airlifter marks a significant enhancement to Azerbaijan’s military transport capabilities, demonstrating the country’s ongoing commitment to modernizing its armed forces. The vision for the country’s military modernization has been highlighted by the President on several occasions in the recent few months.

In Azerbaijan, power is predominantly centralized in the presidency, leaving the parliament with limited influence over national affairs. While some opposition members in the parliament remain loyal to Aliyev, critics claim they have faced persecution. Independent journalists and political activists have reported arrests leading up to the presidential election, where Aliyev secured over 92 percent of the vote.

Snap elections

Separately, Azerbaijan’s President Ilham Aliyev has called for snap parliamentary elections on September 1, a move that is unlikely to significantly alter the current makeup of the legislature. On Friday, President Aliyev issued a decree dissolving the parliament, which is predominantly controlled by his New Azerbaijan Party.

President Aliyev, 62, has been in power since 2003 and recently secured a fifth presidential term in February, despite the presidential election originally being scheduled for 2025. His party, holding 69 out of 125 seats in the outgoing parliament, is anticipated to maintain its majority in the upcoming elections in the oil-rich nation. Azerbaijan continues to attract interest from the West, Russia, and Turkey due to its strategic energy resources.

Western energy giants like BP operate in Azerbaijan, which is a member of the OPEC+ agreement, an alliance between OPEC and other major oil exporters, including Russia, to manage oil output and stabilize global prices. Azerbaijan’s economy heavily relies on revenues from its fossil fuel sector. The country will also host the United Nations climate change summit, COP29, from November 11-22.

Last week, Azerbaijani lawmakers requested that President Aliyev dissolve the parliament and call for elections ahead of schedule to avoid a clash with the COP29 summit. The Constitutional Court approved this adjustment on Thursday, despite criticism from opposition parties. International observers have previously questioned the integrity of Azerbaijan’s elections, particularly the recent presidential vote and ballot counting procedures.

Aliyev has highlighted the success of Azerbaijan’s military operations in September, during which the country regained control over the former breakaway region of Nagorno-Karabakh from ethnic Armenian forces. The conflict resulted in the displacement of nearly all the region’s 100,000 ethnic Armenians. The Azerbaijani government is now focused on rebuilding Nagorno-Karabakh and resettling it with Azerbaijani citizens.