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WHAT ISRAEL SENT TO AZERBAIJAN
http://www.strategypage.com/htmw/htproc/articles/20120404.aspx
April 4, 2012: Azerbaijan angered its neighbor, Iran, when it recently
purchased $1.6 billion in military equipment from Israel.
Details of this purchase were never mentioned, but now the veil
of secrecy is being lifted. Among the items ordered were Gabriel
anti-ship missiles. These are 522 kg (1,150 pound) weapons with a
range of 36 kilometers. Azerbaijan will use these to protect its
Caspian Sea coast from the growing number of Iranian warships being
introduced in the area.
Also obtained were five Heron and five Searcher UAVs. The Israeli
Heron TP is a 4.6 ton aircraft can operate at 14.g kilometers
(45,000 feet). The Heron TP has a one ton payload, enabling it to
carry sensors that can give a detailed view of what's on the ground,
even from that high up. The endurance of 36 hours makes the Heron TP
a competitor for the U.S. MQ-9 Reaper. The Searcher 2 is a half-ton
aircraft with an endurance of 20 hours, max altitude of 7,500 meters
(23,000 feet) and can operate up to 300 kilometers from the operator.
It can carry a 120 kg (264 pound) payload.
For air defense, there are Barak-8 systems, including 75 missiles.
The Barak missiles cost about $1.6 million each, weigh 98 kg (216
pounds) with 21.8 kg (48 pound) warhead and have a range of ten
kilometers. The missiles are mounted in an eight cell container (which
requires little maintenance) and are launched straight up. The radar
system provides 360 degree coverage and the missiles can take down an
incoming anti-ship or cruise missile as close as 500 meters away. Each
Barak system (missile container, radar, computers and installation)
costs about $24 million. The missile has a range of ten kilometers,
and is also effective against aircraft. Barak can be mounted on ships
or trucks.
Also part of the deal is a Green Pine radar system, which Israel
uses for its missile defense system. Green Pine can detect incoming
ballistic missiles up to 500 kilometers away, but can also spot
approaching warplanes.
Azerbaijan has told Iran that all these weapons were not intended
for making war on Iran, but for settling a territorial dispute
with neighboring Armenia. Two years ago all this Iranian hostility,
and disputes with neighboring Armenia, led oil rich Azerbaijan to
increase its defense budget 87 percent to $3.1 billion. Nearly half
the budget was spent to modernize the armed forces. A lot of the cash
was quietly spent on improved counter-terrorism capabilities. Israel
was providing advisors and special equipment to detect and deal
with growing Iranian sponsored Islamic terrorism in Azerbaijan. This
Israeli connection and especially the growing success of the Azeris
in countering Iranian terror efforts, has infuriated the Iranians.
Located on the Caspian Sea, in the Caucasus, Azerbaijan was part of
the Soviet Union until 1991, and much of its military equipment is of
Cold War vintage. Azerbaijan is 95 percent Moslem (85 percent Shia)
and has some serious territorial disputes with its Christian neighbor,
Armenia. The two countries have been at each other's throats for nearly
two decades because of a land dispute. Although Azerbaijan has three
times more people and much more money (because of oil), the Armenians
are better soldiers and the dispute has been stalemated. Azerbaijan
has a population of nine million and a GDP of $72 billion, compared
to 3.2 million Armenians who have a GDP of $10 billion. Azerbaijan
is determined to reverse this string of defeats, no matter the cost.
http://www.strategypage.com/htmw/htproc/articles/20120404.aspx
April 4, 2012: Azerbaijan angered its neighbor, Iran, when it recently
purchased $1.6 billion in military equipment from Israel.
Details of this purchase were never mentioned, but now the veil
of secrecy is being lifted. Among the items ordered were Gabriel
anti-ship missiles. These are 522 kg (1,150 pound) weapons with a
range of 36 kilometers. Azerbaijan will use these to protect its
Caspian Sea coast from the growing number of Iranian warships being
introduced in the area.
Also obtained were five Heron and five Searcher UAVs. The Israeli
Heron TP is a 4.6 ton aircraft can operate at 14.g kilometers
(45,000 feet). The Heron TP has a one ton payload, enabling it to
carry sensors that can give a detailed view of what's on the ground,
even from that high up. The endurance of 36 hours makes the Heron TP
a competitor for the U.S. MQ-9 Reaper. The Searcher 2 is a half-ton
aircraft with an endurance of 20 hours, max altitude of 7,500 meters
(23,000 feet) and can operate up to 300 kilometers from the operator.
It can carry a 120 kg (264 pound) payload.
For air defense, there are Barak-8 systems, including 75 missiles.
The Barak missiles cost about $1.6 million each, weigh 98 kg (216
pounds) with 21.8 kg (48 pound) warhead and have a range of ten
kilometers. The missiles are mounted in an eight cell container (which
requires little maintenance) and are launched straight up. The radar
system provides 360 degree coverage and the missiles can take down an
incoming anti-ship or cruise missile as close as 500 meters away. Each
Barak system (missile container, radar, computers and installation)
costs about $24 million. The missile has a range of ten kilometers,
and is also effective against aircraft. Barak can be mounted on ships
or trucks.
Also part of the deal is a Green Pine radar system, which Israel
uses for its missile defense system. Green Pine can detect incoming
ballistic missiles up to 500 kilometers away, but can also spot
approaching warplanes.
Azerbaijan has told Iran that all these weapons were not intended
for making war on Iran, but for settling a territorial dispute
with neighboring Armenia. Two years ago all this Iranian hostility,
and disputes with neighboring Armenia, led oil rich Azerbaijan to
increase its defense budget 87 percent to $3.1 billion. Nearly half
the budget was spent to modernize the armed forces. A lot of the cash
was quietly spent on improved counter-terrorism capabilities. Israel
was providing advisors and special equipment to detect and deal
with growing Iranian sponsored Islamic terrorism in Azerbaijan. This
Israeli connection and especially the growing success of the Azeris
in countering Iranian terror efforts, has infuriated the Iranians.
Located on the Caspian Sea, in the Caucasus, Azerbaijan was part of
the Soviet Union until 1991, and much of its military equipment is of
Cold War vintage. Azerbaijan is 95 percent Moslem (85 percent Shia)
and has some serious territorial disputes with its Christian neighbor,
Armenia. The two countries have been at each other's throats for nearly
two decades because of a land dispute. Although Azerbaijan has three
times more people and much more money (because of oil), the Armenians
are better soldiers and the dispute has been stalemated. Azerbaijan
has a population of nine million and a GDP of $72 billion, compared
to 3.2 million Armenians who have a GDP of $10 billion. Azerbaijan
is determined to reverse this string of defeats, no matter the cost.