Nagorno-Karabagh: Military Balance Between Armenia & Azerbaijan

[burjuin]

Re: Nagorno-Karabagh: Military Balance Between Armenia & Azerbaijan

Military exercises in Artsakh
At 00:50 SA-13 Gopher 9K35 Strela-10

[burjuin]

Re: Nagorno-Karabagh: Military Balance Between Armenia & Azerbaijan

Military exercises in Artsakh
At 02:50 SA-13 Gopher 9K35 Strela-10

[burjuin]

Re: Nagorno-Karabagh: Military Balance Between Armenia & Azerbaijan

Military exercises in Artsakh
SA-13 Gopher 9K35 Strela-10

[Chubs]

Re: Nagorno-Karabagh: Military Balance Between Armenia & Azerbaijan

After Azerbaijan Shoots Down Helicopter, How Will Armenia Respond?
November 13, 2014 - 3:36pm, by Joshua Kucera The Bug Pit Armenia Azerbaijan Nagorno Karabakh

After Azerbaijan Shoots Down Helicopter, How Will Armenia Respond?


An Armenian Mi-24 helicopter hit by Azerbaijani fire November 12, in a photo released by the Azerbaijan Ministry of Defense.
After Azerbaijani armed forces shot down an Armenian helicopter, probably the most significant military incident between the two sides in two decades, Armenian military and political figures have promised to retaliate.

The helicopter was shot down on November 12, near the line of contact between the two armed forces. Azerbaijan said the Mi-24 helicopter had crossed the line of contact and was planning to attack, Armenia said the aircraft remained on its side and was moreover unarmed. At least two of the helicopter's crew were killed (and some reports said all three crew members died).

The warnings of retaliation came almost immediately. "The consequences of this unprecedented escalation will be very painful for the Azerbaijani side," a spokesman for the Armenian Ministry of Defense said that day.

One small act of retaliation already took place: on November 13, the day after the helicopter was shot down and Azerbaijan declared the airspace over Karabakh "closed," Armenian President Serzh Sargsyan flew there anyway on a helicopter.

Karabakh's airspace "really is closed, but only to the Azerbaijan air forces, and they should have had the courage to finish the sentence," David Babayan, an adviser to the territory's de facto president, told RFE/RL.

A stronger retaliation is surely coming, but what? Emil Sanamyan, the editor of the newspaper Armenian Reporter who closely follows military developments in the region, told The Bug Pit that it would likely be a proportionate response, i.e. shooting down an Azerbaijani helicopter also flying close to the line of contact. Those "show-off" flights have been common occurences over the past few years for both sides, he said.

These sort of tit-for-tat responses have been the norm in other recent escalations, Sanamyan said. "The 'easy' option would be to hit the position from where the missile was launched," he said. "But of course thats not equivalent to losing a helicopter with three trained pilots. So they will bide their time until an Azerbaijan aircraft shows up within range."

Meanwhile, as solid information about the exact circumstances of the shootdown remained scarce, the international reactions tended toward the usual "both sides" formulations. The Minsk Group of the OSCE issued a statement expressing "very serious concern about the downing of a helicopter near the Line of Contact and the recent violence. We regret the loss of life and express our condolences to the families... We strongly appeal to the sides to avoid steps that would escalate tension along the Line of Contact and Armenia-Azerbaijan border."

Similarly, NATO's special representative for the Caucasus and Central Asia, James Appathurai, said: "Whatever the circumstances of the incident, both sides should remain calm and pursue a diplomatic resolution."

One could detect only a hint of blame directed at Azerbaijan from the Collective Security Treaty Organization, of which Armenia is a member. "On November 12 in Karabakh a helicopter carrying out a training flight was destroyed by the Azerbaijani side.... The destruction of the helicopter is a dangerous manifestation of violence. The threat of a new round of escalation of the conflict has arisen."

http://www.eurasianet.org/node/70916

The Strela 10s combat record, looking good actually:

Iraq had several operational Strela-10 systems in the beginning of the 1991 operation to liberate Kuwait from Iraqi occupation, most if not all of which were organized as part of the battlefield air defence systems of the Republican Guard divisions.
During the operation, a total of 27 coalition aircraft are believed to have been hit by Iraqi IR-homing SAMs, resulting in a total of 14 aircraft losses.[10] Some of the aircraft losses were shot down on the spot, while others, such as the OA-10A 77-0197, managed to return to base only to be lost on a crashed landing.[11] Others still landed safely but were since written off as total losses.
At least two of the losses are believed to have been due to Strela-10 hits: on Feb 15th an A-10A Warthog 78-0722 of 353rd TFS/354th TFW was hit by a SAM believed to be Strela-10 some 60 miles north west of Kuwait city while attacking Republican Guard targets. Pilot Lt James Sweet ejected and was made a Prisoner of War. While attempting to protect Sweet on the ground, his wingman Steven Phyllis flying A-10A 79-0130 was also hit by what is believed to have been a missile from a Strela-10. Phyllis was killed in the incident.[11]

Military exercises in Artsakh
At 02:50 SA-13 Gopher 9K35 Strela-10

I wish some of those guys were equipped with helmet cams so we could see how they operate from a much better perspective.



Hey, next thing ya know, they will have probes in Serzh's anus and will be reading our minds. Get the tinfoil: http://armenpress.am/eng/news/783969...n-exposes.html

[armnuke]

Re: Nagorno-Karabagh: Military Balance Between Armenia & Azerbaijan

Military exercises in Artsakh
SA-13 Gopher 9K35 Strela-10

when did we get those and how many? the wiki says nothing about these.

[Chubs]

Re: Nagorno-Karabagh: Military Balance Between Armenia & Azerbaijan

when did we get those and how many? the wiki says nothing about these.

We have had them for a while, nothing new. Its just Strela/Igla mounted on an MT-LB with targeting system

Id like to see more T72B3/Us in the war games.

Anyone notice that our combat exercises are actually similar to Polands? Perhaps its because both countries share a defensive role...

Armenia is down to 20 attack helicopters, Azerbaijan has 51

Armenia has 23 transport-armed helicopters, Azerbaijan has 50-100

Armenia has 17 SU-25s, Azerbaijan has 18

Azerbaijan has 16 MiG-29s.

Azerbaijan and Armenia has anywhere between 316-500 tanks (T90/T80/T72B/T55)

Armenia alone has 204 IFVs, Azerbaijan has 189. Armenia with NKR have 300-400 IFVs.

Azerbaijan has 680 armored cars. (African Union MRAPs, Otokar junk)

Armenia has 71 APC/BTRs Azerbaijan has 165

Just to remind everyone, what should be on the wishlist we are sending to Putin.

[argin]

Re: Nagorno-Karabagh: Military Balance Between Armenia & Azerbaijan

I believe the presidents landing in that airport was a direct response to their no fly zone


Karabakh's airspace "really is closed, but only to the Azerbaijan air forces, and they should have had the courage to finish the sentence," David Babayan, an adviser to the territory's de facto president, told RFE/RL.

ya u right,we responded back nicely,im sure theres more to come

[argin]

Re: Nagorno-Karabagh: Military Balance Between Armenia & Azerbaijan

This article gives us a clear number of our weapons used in the recent exercise,so we can be sure we have more than that in reserve.



Downed Armenian helicopter consequence of Yerevan’s military-political provocation - ANALYSIS - PHOTOSESSION

PHOTOSESSION
[ 14 November 2014 12:03 ]
Baku. Rashad Suleymanov – APA. The Mi-24 strike helicopter (NATO-Codename Hind) of the Armenian Armed Forces was shot down on November 12 by Azerbaijani soldiers while attacking the positions of the Azerbaijani Army located in Aghdam region.

An analytical article prepared by APA-Analytics envisages the essence, chronicle of the incident, as well as its compliance with Azerbaijan legislation and international legal norms.

Firs of all, it is noted that after a few hours, the OSCE, NATO, European Union and U.S. Department of State that have for days, even for years no reacted to Armenian provocations on the frontline expressed their “concerns” over the incident and made various statements such as this step will “escalate tension on the front line” and “undermine the negotiation process”.

In fact, the statements of concern were supposed to be made earlier – last week when Armenian armed forces started military exercises in Azerbaijan’s territories.

It would be better for the international organizations, which are urging the sides “to show restraint” and Azerbaijan to turn a blind eye to what is happening in its lands, to probe the factors that caused the incident a few days ago.

Last week the Armenian Army and the separatist regime established in occupied Nagorno-Karabakh region of Azerbaijan started “Unity-2014” military exercises.

According to the official information released by Armenia, 47,000 personnel, 2100 artillery systems, 850 armored vehicles, 450 units of various air defense systems, 1600 anti-tank weapons, 260 special equipment and 4200 vehicles were involved in the exercises.

6 Armenian helicopters (2 Mi-8 and 4 Mi-24) were reportedly involved in the exercises.[/SIZE]

In response to the exercises, Azerbaijan’s Defense Ministry announced on November 6 that the conduct of military exercises in the occupied territories of Azerbaijan by the Armenian Armed Forces is the next stage of aggressive policy of Yerevan against our country. The Republic of Armenia is directly responsible for the occupation of our lands and responsibility for possible future events in the region unconditionally lays on Yerevan’s leadership.

The exercises are being held in the training ground established in the Azerbaijani settlement abandoned during the war in Uzundere village of Aghdam region. The air distance between this area and the frontline is 3000 meters. According to the residents of frontline villages of Aghdam region, fires opened by the Armenians during the exercises are heard clearly.

The statement, issued by the Azerbaijani Defense Ministry immediately after the incident, says that during the recent exercises conducted by the Armenian Armed Forces, Armenia's military aircraft have been implementing provocative flights over the frontal area for three days: “The enemy military aircraft, performing combat maneuvers over the Azerbaijani positions, today attempted to open fire at our positions. On November 12 at about 1:45 pm, the Mi-24 helicopter of the Armenian Armed Forces flying 1700 meters north-east of Kangarli village of Aghdam region attacked the Azerbaijani positions. The enemy helicopter was shot down by the Azerbaijani Armed Forces.”

The military helicopter, downed in the occupied territories while performing combat maneuvers, belongs to the 15th air base, stationed at military airfield Erebuni in Yerevan. All three crew members of the downed helicopter were the officers of the Armenian Air Forces.

As a continuation of Yerevan’s provocations, on November 13, Armenian President Serzh Sargsyan visited the occupied territories of Azerbaijan, Khankendi city by helicopter flagrantly violating the airspace of Azerbaijan for the next time. Armenian President’s website’s spreading Serzh Sargsyan’s photos in military uniform who visited the occupied territories of Azerbaijan by helicopter can be regarded as a sign to continue the provocative steps.

In 2010, the Azerbaijani government stated that the flights in the airspace over the territories occupied by Armenia. Flights over these territories are the violation of Azerbaijan’s internationally recognized air borders and measures will be taken against such actions perpetrated by all air tools, regardless of their destination. Even their physical destruction is not excluded. In its appeal to ICAO, IATA, ECAC and other international organizations, Baku officially stated that it doesn’t guarantee the security of the flights over the occupied territories.

In January 2013, the Cabinet of Ministers passed a decision to allow shooting down the airplanes which violate the airspace of Azerbaijan. The document determines 13.5/25km-wide borderline strip used in the special regime along the state border.
According to the document, banned zones and limited zones can be determined in the airspace of Azerbaijan. When necessary, taking into account the state interests the State Civil Aviation Administration can determine certain parts of the airspace as banned or limited zones basing on the proposals of the relevant executive authorities. Use of airspace in the banned and limited zones is prohibited.

The violations of the rules of use of Azerbaijan’s airspace were found. The use of air space without sending poll (table, graphic), warning military air forces’ bodies, the poll before coming into force and after ending of period of poll’s validity and without the permission of relevant operative body, non-fulfillment of teams of flights governing bodies and fighter-interceptor aircraft, implementation of the flights for monitoring, use of airspace of banned and limited zones without special permission etc are considered the violation of airspace’s rules.

It’s not the first time Armenia has attempted to violate Azerbaijan’s borders and escalate the situation. The plans of flight to the Khojaly airport under occupation and an Armenian helicopter with Armenia’s defense minister on board attempting to violate Azerbaijan’s state border in the direction of Gazakh District in May 2013 can be the examples. During the last inciden, the helicopter carrying the Armenian defense minister tried to violate the air border but was forced to fly back with warning fire.

We have enough facts.


When international law and the national legislation are taken into account, the following questions emerge and these questions can be answered with simple logic:

- In which country’s territory was the helicopter of the Armed Forces of the Armenian Republic downed?

- What was the purpose of the helicopter of the Armed Forces of the Armenian Republic flying over the territory of the Republic of Azerbaijan?

- Under what circumstances was the helicopter shot down?

That’s the reality; the downed is a Mi-24 (NATO codename: Hind) strike helicopter of the Armenian Air Forces. This helicopter is designed to provide fire support to infantry units, destroy the enemy’s manpower, positions, armed and unarmed vehicles. It’s armed with a 12.7 mm-caliber machine gun, anti-tank guided missiles, and unguided 57 or 81 mm-caliber missiles. And the whereabouts of the shooting of the helicopter are Aghdam District, the Republic of Azerbaijan.

The helicopter was involved in the military exercises conducted by the Armenian army in the occupied Azerbaijani district of Aghdam

The helicopter was downed while attacking the Azerbaijani army’s positions and not involved in any humanitarian or civil operation.

Those who accuse Azerbaijan of “taking a wrong step” by shooting down the Armenian helicopter should be reminded of a few facts.

We have facts regarding the shooting of Azerbaijan’s civil helicopters by the Armenians back in 1992-1994.

On 28 January 1992, the downing of a Mi-8 civil helicopter of Azal by the Igla man-portable missile system while landing in the city of Shusha resulted in the death of 30 persons, including the crew. On 3 March 1992, a Mi-26 helicopter of Russia, presumed to be of Azerbaijan, was shot down by the Armenians while flying over the Gulustan village. As a result, 12 persons delivering aid to the Armenians were killed in the incident. On 12 May 1992, a Mi-26 helicopter flying from Nakhchivan to Vaziani with the families of some Russian officers leaving Azerbaijan on board was downed over Armenia. 3 crew members and 6 passengers were killed in the accident.

These are history and facts. This is the truth!

[Artashes]

Re: Nagorno-Karabagh: Military Balance Between Armenia & Azerbaijan

Except for the highlighted # of Armenian equipment in the above post, the rest of the article was pure crap.
Wish you hadn't printed the crap part.


------ To ALL of our fallen ---
May the road rise up to meet you.
May the wind be always at your back.
May the sun shine warm upon your face,
And the rains fall soft upon your fields.
And until we meet again,
May God hold you in the palm of His hand.

An old Irish blessing.

[argin]

Re: Nagorno-Karabagh: Military Balance Between Armenia & Azerbaijan

Except for the highlighted # of Armenian equipment in the above post, the rest of the article was pure crap.
Wish you hadn't printed the crap part.


------ To ALL of our fallen ---
May the road rise up to meet you.
May the wind be always at your back.
May the sun shine warm upon your face,
And the rains fall soft upon your fields.
And until we meet again,
May God hold you in the palm of His hand.

An old Irish blessing.

100% agreed, unfortunately was supposed to post so we know the source,nice prayer by the way