Azerbaijani-made armament and equipment enjoy demand on world market, Deputy Minister says
Produced in Azerbaijan modern armaments and equipment have been tested and are well known in the international arena, said on the Deputy Minister of Defense Industry Yahya Musayev on September 22.
The deputy minister said that meeting the modern standards the weapons and equipment of the Azerbaijani production are exported abroad.
“Baku will host the Defense Industry Exhibition ADEX-2016 on September 27-30, which is not the first exhibition to demonstrate our weapons. The products of Azerbaijani defense companies have repeatedly demonstrated in the international specialized exhibitions, they are known enough and get good feedback from foreign experts. This exhibition will last three days”, said Musayev.
Since 2009, the Defense Industry Ministry has demonstrated its products at international exhibitions and now the ministry is preparing for the second Azerbaijan International Defense Exhibition "ADEX-2016" to be held in Baku. More than 100 international companies have passed registration to participate at the exhibition.
The population could not adequately participate in the exhibition last year. This year, there will be held an open doors event and the fourth day of the exhibition and everyone will be able to get acquainted with the exhibited weapons and equipment," added Musayev.
He also stressed that the demand for manufactured weapon in Azerbaijan has increased significantly in recent years.
"Due to the large number of orders, the Ministry of Defense Industry has even been forced to refuse to the orders of some countries, since we are not able to produce this amount of weapons in a short time,” Yahya Musayev said, adding that mostly the arms and ammunition orders come from Europe, Africa and Asia.
Our weapons are qualitative, competitive and sold in accordance with the existing prices on the world market, said Musayev.
Musayev noted that Azerbaijan does not need free arms and ammunition supplies from any country.
“Acquiring the relevant advanced technology Azerbaijan is able to independently produce ammunition and equipment to provide its army," said the deputy minister.
The Azerbaijani Army is one of the strongest, most highly-disciplined armies in the world and the leading in the region. It is equipped with new high-quality weapons made by domestic and foreign military-industrial systems.
Azerbaijan’s expanded military budget has lifted it to the top among its neighbors in the South Caucasus.
The country manufactures the Istiglal sniper rifle, Mubariz rifle, Orbiter-2M unmanned intelligence drones, Gurza armored patrol car, "Matador" and "Marauder" armored vehicles, anti-tank mines, etc.
Last year, the Defense Industry Ministry accomplished work over the creation of night vision devices, prismatic binoculars with a compass, mine fuses of different types and organized their production.
Azerbaijan, which is in war with neighboring Armenia over the latter's territorial claims during more than 20 years, keeps in focus the armament, working closely with leading companies and firms in various fields of military industry.
Azerbaijan’s military budget for 2016 is about $1.466 billion. The country's military budget exceeds the overall state budget of occupant Armenia by more than $1 billion.
Azerbaijan leaves behind many CIS and regional countries to take its place among the first 70 strongest militaries of the world, according to the U.S.-based Global Firepower survey center.