Nagorno-Karabagh: Military Balance Between Armenia & Azerbaijan

[Mukuch]

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

burjuin I got a question in the 4th picture why is there a bench there?

If our guys get tired of "observations" they can take a nap
Very thoughtful of commanders, you can see that they very well understand the life of soldier

[Mukuch]

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

Looks like a good spot to drop for a drink.

Yah I think that what OCSE observers use it for

[burjuin]

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

[burjuin]

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

[ZORAVAR]

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

Thank you Burjuin for posting the Zinuzh program every week.

A couple of minor but interesting novelties I noticed in the first video clip:

- at 1:36 we see a couple of UAZ Patriot 4x4 pick-up trucks in camouflage colours. Production of these trucks started only a couple of years ago in Russia. They are for mainly for civilian use. This is the first time I see them in military service anywhere in the world.

- @ 4:44 we see a crossbow (arbalet) in service with our reconaissance (Hedakhouzagan - Razvietky) units. Do not be fooled by the world "reconaissance"; in the Soviet Army doctrine (which our Armed Forces still use mostly), one of the main missions of such units is Sabotage (diversion). Silent weapons (like the crossbow shown in the video clip) are utilized to quietly neutralize sentinels...

[burjuin]

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

http://forum.hyeclub.com/showthread.php/11485-Nagorno-Karabagh-Military-Balance-Between-Armenia-amp-Azerbaijan?p=310802&viewfull=1#post310802

[ZORAVAR]

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

Here is an article written by a certain Masis Ingilizian about the recent warning by Azerbaijan to shoot down any aircraft at the soon to be opened Stepanakert airport.

I don't understand why an Armenian would use the Azeri word Khankendi instead of Stepanakert. Anyways, it gives an insight to our forum readers about the threat itself and what assets the Azeris can use in order to attempt to shoot down an ailiner, as well as what coutermeasures our side can use to protect ourselves.

The article fails to mention the old S-200 anti aircraft missile (250 km range) that the Azeris still can use for this purpose (altough its effectiveness will be very limited due to the mountainous topography).

The article appeared in a self-published paper by Sean O'Connor who is a military analyst rumored/known to do research for the US Military, CIA etc... the link to the paper which also contains various other interesting articles such as the NATO attack on the Lybian obsolete air defense network as well as a full description abbout the S-300 missile system can be found here: https://docs.google.com/viewer?a=v&p...CK-C0-wE&pli=1

ZORAVAR

------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------

Contact Line

Armenian president Serj Sarkisian announced that he plans to be the first passenger on the flight to the newly rebuiltairport in Nagorno Karabakh. Armenia has rebuilt the airport in the town of Khankendi north of the capital Stepanakert.

Azerbaijan maintains that Nagorno-Karabakh remains a part of the nation, and considers Nagorno-Karabakh’s airspace as its own. Azerbaijan's continued rhetoric and its latest announcement that it will shoot down any plane that violates its airspace is of interest to anyone in the field of air defense and anyone who follows the politics of the volatile Caucasus.

These announcements call for a greater analysis of the region as any aggression against a head of state represents an act of war. It is important to know that Armenian
forces control the Nagorno Karabakh airspace, and to understand how Azerbaijan may shoot down the airliner.

Nagorno Karabakh is an area encompassing roughly 10,000 square kilometers. Fierce fighting from 1988 and an all out war from 1991 lead to the capture of Nagorno Karabakh and further territory outside the enclave of the considered Nagorno Karabagh region which is now occupied by Armenian forces. Since the shaky cease-fire in 1994, sporadic firefights and sniper attacks occur on the contact line.

Both sides are heavily armed and guarded with trenches similar to World War I. The Armenian side has feared an all-out attack since the cease-fire, especially with President Aliyev’s large military budget from oil revenue.

Armenia has fully fortified its lowlands with three lines of trenches reaching from the Mrav Mountains to the north to another mountain chain close to Fizuli in the south. No signs of compromise have been initiated from either side at the negotiation table.

The airport of Khankendi falls outside of coverage provided by the 2K11 Krug (SA-4GANEF) battalions stationed in Azerbaijan. The 2K11 is a mobile system that can be relocated closer to the target. Higher echelon 36D6 (TIN SHIELD) radars will ensure notification of the flight path and timing, allowing the 2K11 battery to close to the range needed to launch on a target arriving at Khankendi airport.

A passenger airliner represents a cooperative target for the 2K11, making the 2K11 a likely SAM option for Azerbaijan’s purpose. Two main reasons account for this. First Azerbaijan can account for the disaster as an accident, and second, it reduces its chances of their aircraft being downed from retaliatory fire if a fighter aircraft was scrambled to complete the job.

The engagement envelope of the 2K11, a medium to high altitude SAM system, must be considered. The 1S32 (PAT HAND) engagement radar will have difficulty illuminating the target in the mountainous terrain and at the maximum range of its engagement envelope. The airliner will be descending to land reaching the airport, further complicating the 1S32’s illumination. This option will prove difficult for President Aliyev and therefore represents a possible but not probable scenario.

Azerbaijan's other option will be to scramble fighter aircraft such as the MiG-29S (FULCRUM-C) to fire air-to-air missiles. This will be the most effective way to bring down the airliner. This will only be possible if Azerbaijan possesses the required air-to-air missiles. According to some sources, Azerbaijan possesses R-27R (AA-10 ALAMO A) missiles in its inventory to arm the MiG-29S. These weapons have a range of approximately 80 kilometers. R-27R's are capable air-to-air missiles sufficient for downing a cooperative target such as a passenger plane. Armenia’s only option of resistance in this department to scramble Armenian Su-25 (FROGFOOT) strike aircraft which will offer limited defence if the aim was to shoot down the MiG-29S before it launched its R-27R missile. Armenia does have the option to shoot down the MiG after the missile is launched as it will send the semi-active R- 27R missile wild, causing it miss its target. The Armenian Su-25 is a close air support aircraft not optimized for air-to-air dogfighting and could quite easily leave itself open to be shot down by an Azeri MiG before it can engage.

Armenia will need upgraded fighters in its inventory to scramble and take out a hostile MiG in order to make sure any R-27R launched will miss its target. Jamming the seeker heads of incoming R-27R missiles is also possible if Armenia had aircraft to scramble fitted with the proper equipment. Such equipment is not the most difficult technology to acquire but more than anything is costly for Armenia. Armenia's options to defend an airliner with its President on board are to counter the Azeri offensive and take out the MiGs with a SAM such as the 2K11 before any such air-toair missile can be launched, or to take out the MiG after the missile launch. Accurate track data can be acquired from 36D6 radar systems to track the flight path of Azeri MiGs in order to shoot them down before any missile is fired at the airliner. This can also prove difficult for Armenia, as the Azeri MiG can launch at a range of up to 80 kilometers while Armenia's 2K11 will have a range of 50 kilometers.

Armenia is lacking its fighter aircraft to complete the job, being forced to rely on SAM systems by default. The 36D6 will provide quality coverage of the airspace to track the incoming MiG, the issue being whether it fall within the range of the Armenian 2K11 batteries. Will Armenia navigate the 2K11 close enough to counter the offensive in time?

Armenia’s other SAM option is to site an S-300PS (SA-10B GRUMBLE) at the airport. The S-300PS features an engagement range of 90 kilometers. This will allow the downing of an Azeri MiG at extreme range, potentially before it can fire. Not much is known regarding the S-300PS in Armenia, though components have been spotted on national television. The S-300PS is a very capable system with a very high hit - probability. No issues will arise in terms of range and reaction time, the S-300PS can do its job and do it sufficiently.

Armenia has options to defend its passenger aircraft from any such threat in the possible future. Firstly a disciplined air defense network in order to relay correct information regarding flying MiGs in the vicinity from Azeri military airfields will ensure that the passenger aircraft has sufficient time to start an early descent. It seems that this is Armenia’s only effective and affordable option using currently available systems. Traffic control will need to warn the passenger airliner of an incoming threat and provide the plane with enough time to make crucial decision of changing its flight path and descending early to land. This is still a gamble if the MiG-29 has fired its R-27R early on. Should Armenia desire to make a more active response, the S- 300PS system can be effective by ensuring an Azeri MiG is shot down once a missile has been launched.

Armenia’s last option is be to purchase jamming equipment. The jamming option is plausible, as acquiring fighter type aircraft should be in Armenia’s military acquisitions if it wants to provide a robust defense for its nation. Using the fighter type aircraft to down an Azeri MiG after any missile launch is another option for Armenia though the S- 300PS can fulfill this requirement using current systems. Furthermore, jamming systems can be placed on passenger airliners themselves. Armenia’s money will best be spent in jamming technology if its goal is to prevent a disaster and forestall an all-out war in the region.

Masis Ingilizian

[Vahramig]

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

Back in the day we did not have S-300 or SU-25. We did what we did with what we had video says it all.

http://www.youtube.com/user/johnkkkj?feature=mhum#p/f/94/uZAlEQCWRB4

My fav part is when you hear " Ta Ta Ta Ta Ta...Burrrrttttttt " that part starts at 1:13 :-)

[Vahramig]

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

I found this and I am touched!

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=XkivPOi0Wn8

What has happened to them is sad. So Long Live The Republic Of Japan. I hope they cap the damn reactors and get on with it ...

[Vardan]

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

The Republic Of Japan.

Japan is not a republic. It is a constitutional monarchy