Azerbaijan and Aselsan sign defence production agreements
Turkish defence firm Aselsan has agreed deals with Azerbaijan covering local manufacturing of guided munitions and air-defence systems, with possible later integration onto Azerbaijani combat and trainer aircraft.
Aselsan has signed agreements with Azerbaijan covering several of its technology areas. The two sides announced the deals at the ADEX exhibition in Baku on 30 September.
The Turkish company said the pacts are meant to grow Azerbaijan's own defence manufacturing base, move technology between the two countries and strengthen the country's defence industrial infrastructure. A new production facility would be set up in Nakhchivan, turning out laser guidance kits, Tolun precision-guided munitions and Korkut air-defence systems.
According to Aselsan, the arrangement could later be widened to help put munitions made inside Azerbaijan onto unmanned combat aerial vehicles, fighter jets and trainer aircraft in the country's inventory.
Chief executive Ahmet Akyol said Aselsan wants to help partners build defence infrastructure in their own countries. He framed the agreements as a statement of intent to broaden its production reach.
Azerbaijan's air force has long flown Russian-built RAC MiG-29 and Sukhoi Su-25 combat aircraft. Earlier this year it took delivery of the first five of 40 Chengdu/Pakistan Aeronautical Complex JF-17 fighters.
Sources
- flightglobal.comAzerbaijan signs weapons production agreements with Aselsan