Nagorno-Karabagh: Military Balance Between Armenia & Azerbaijan

[Aralez]

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

everybody spies on everybody. and you can be garenteed they'll share intel with azeris too.
the big news here, USA shares with Turkey imagery long time ago. but it's first time they could use it against israel.
Also, USA has 11 satellites watching all over Russia, while Russia has only 1 satellite over USA. That's a big difference. I wonder if Russia has some anti-satellite missle tech..

I remember reading that the USA believed that the USSR had 50 killer satellites on ICBMs ready to launch in case of war. That is why the USA developed stealth satellites ( http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Misty_(satellite) )

People forget that it is not just the sattelites but the intelligence systems behind them. One thing that the USA did in Iraq was to use the kind of intelligence systems behind the satellites on spy planes, drones, and balloons. The way the systems work is that they can track objects over long periods of time, so it's not just a picture of a truck but knowing every place the truck goes for a month or more. It's called "Tagging, Tracking, and Locating" (TTL) technology. A company that offers it once had a public web page that can still be accessed using google cache:

http://webcache.googleusercontent.com/search?q=cache:interf.com/technology/technology-solutions-products/tagging-tracking-and-locating-ttl/+%E2%80%9CTagging,+Tracking,+and+Locating%22+(TTL)&cd=7&hl=en&ct=clnk&gl=us

What would be bad is the asseries getting satellite information and paying Israel to do TTL processing on the information. I bet Israel would do this just to be able to see how good the satellite pictures are.

Someone should mention to Turkey that they should not give any satellite information to the asseries because they might give it to Israel and Israel will use it to defeat their satellite technology.

[Federate]

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

I apologise if someone posted this here before already. An excellent analysis of Moscow's new moves in the South Caucasus. Must read!
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Moscow optimizes its military grouping in the south

Published: 15 December, 2011, 05:36
December 2011

Sergey Konovalov

Russia prepares for an adequate response to Tel-Aviv and Washington’s possible strikes against Tehran

The geopolitical situation unfolding around Syria and Iran is prompting Russia to make its military structures in the South Caucasus, on the Caspian, Mediterranean and Black Sea regions more efficient. Nezavisimaya Gazeta’s (NG) Defense Ministry sources are saying that the Kremlin has been informed about an upcoming US-supported Israeli strike against Iran’s nuclear facilities. The strike will be sudden and take place on “day X” in the near future. One could assume Iran’s reaction will not be delayed. A full-scale war is possible, and its consequences could be unpredictable.

This problem is currently being addressed as a priority issue at the EU-Russia summit in Brussels with the participation of President Dmitry Medvedev. A day before the event, Russia’s envoy to the EU, Vladimir Chizhov, relayed a message from the Kremlin, saying that an Israeli or US strike on Iran will lead to “a catastrophic development of events.” The diplomat stressed that the negative consequences will not only be felt by the region, “but also in a much broader context.” Russia’s direct diplomatic pressure on Europe and the global community in respect to issues concerning a possible war in Iran began recently after the IAEA’s publication of a report on the Iranian nuclear program in November.

However, in the military sphere, Russia’s preparations for minimization of losses from possible military action against Tehran began more than two years ago. Today, they are nearly complete. According to the Defense Ministry sources, the 102nd military base in Armenia was fully optimized in October-November 2011. Military personnel’s families have been evacuated to Russia, and the Russian garrison deployed near Yerevan reduced. Military sub-units stationed in the area have been transferred to Gyumri district, closer to the Turkish border. Strikes against Iranian facilities by US troops are possible from Turkish territory. So far, it is unclear as to what tasks the 102nd military base will perform in relation to this. But it is known that Russian troops stationed at military bases in South Ossetia and Abkhazia, have been on high alert since December 1 of this year. Meanwhile, ships of the Black Sea Fleet are located not far from the Georgian border which in this conflict could act on the side of the anti-Iranian forces.

In Izberbash, Dagestan, nearly adjacent to the Azerbaijani border, a coastal guided missile battalion equipped with onshore anti-ship Bal-E missile systems with a range of 130 km, have been put on permanent combat readiness status. All guided missile craft of the Caspian Flotilla have been redeployed from Astrakhan to Makhachkala and Kaspiysk districts to form a single group. Meanwhile, the flagship of the Flotilla, the sentry rocket ship “Tatarstan”, will soon be joined by the small gunboat "Volgodonsk” and missile ship “Dagestan”. The flagships of the Flotilla are equipped with missile systems with a range of up to 200 km.

Recently, the Northern Fleet’s aircraft carrier group with the heavy aircraft carrier “Admiral of the Fleet of the Soviet Union Kuznetsov”, headed towards the Mediterranean with plans to ultimately enter the Syrian port of Tartus. NG’s sources from the Defense Ministry did not confirm or deny the fact that the surface warships are being accompanied by the Northern Fleet’s nuclear submarines. The tasks that will be carried out by the army and the navy in the event of a war against Iran are, of course, not being disclosed. But Russia’s Defense Ministry is apparently concerned about the logistical support of troops in Armenia. The 102nd military base is a key point as it is Russia’s outpost in the South Caucasus. It holds a very important geopolitical position. But Kremlin officials are worried that this position will be lost. In the event of a US-Israeli war against Iran, this will indeed be tragic for Russia.

In April of this year, Georgia broke the agreement on the transit of military cargo to Armenia from Russia. Essentially, the Russian-Armenian grouping in the South Caucasus has been isolated. Supplies to the Russian army (POL, food, etc.) are delivered only by air and through direct agreements with Armenia which, in turn, purchases these products (gasoline, diesel fuel, kerosene) from Iran. A war in Iran will close this supply channel.

Lt.-Gen. Yury Netkachev, who for a long time served as the deputy commander of the Group of Russian Forces in the Transcaucasus and was personally engaged in work on the supply of arms and ammunition to combined armed forces and units (including the 102nd military base), believes that, in the event of a full-fledged war against Iran, Russia will be looking to securely supply the military facility through Georgia. “Perhaps, it will be necessary to break the Georgian transport blockade and supply the transport corridors leading to Armenia by military means,” said the expert.

“Apparently, Russia’s Defense Ministry is also quite wary of Azerbaijan, which over the last three years has doubled its military budget and is currently buying Israeli drones and other advanced means of reconnaissance and topographic location, naturally aggravating Tehran and Armenia,” says head of the Center for Military Forecasting, Anatoly Tsyganok. “Baku has stepped up its pressure on Moscow, demanding significantly higher rental fees for the Gabala radar station. But even considering the disputes between Iran and Azerbaijan over oilfields in the south of the Caspian Sea, one could hardly argue that Baku will support an anti-Iranian military campaign. It is also very unlikely that it will unleash hostilities against Armenia.”

Col. Vladimir Popov, who was engaged in the analysis of hostilities between Baku and Yerevan between 1991 and 1993, and is currently following the military reforms conducted by Azerbaijani President Ilham Aliyev, disagrees with the expert. Popov believes that “the negotiation process on the settlement of the Karabakh conflict has been unreasonably delayed.” Baku is making open statements on revenge. “Azerbaijan pre-emptive strikes on Armenia and Nagorno-Karabakh, made in order to finally settle the territorial dispute in its favor, are possible,” says the expert. But, in his opinion, the question of how Russia will behave is important. “If in the midst of a war in Iran, Azerbaijan supported by Turkey, attacks Armenia, then, of course, all of the adversary’s attacks against Armenia will be repelled by Russia in conjunction with Armenian anti-missile defense forces. It’s hard to say whether or not this will be considered as Moscow’s involvement in military action. Russian troops will certainly not be engaged in military action on the territory of Nagorno-Karabakh. But in the event of a military threat to Armenia coming from Turkey or Azerbaijan, for example, Russia will apparently take part in ground operations,” says Popov.

The analyst does not exclude the possibility of Russia’s military involvement in the Iranian conflict. “In the worst-case scenario, if Tehran is facing complete military defeat after a land invasion of the US and NATO troops, Russia will provide its military support – at least on a military-technical level,” predicts Vladimir Popov.

http://rt.com/politics/press/nezavisimaya/military-russia-armenia-iran/en/

[burjuin]

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

Armenian Air Defence:

[Odysseus]

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

When it comes to aircraft camo three things are to be considered.

Night Camo: This is usually dark colors (black, gray, green), or at least painted on the underbelly. A matte (dull) painted surface reflects the least amount of light and would be ideal for an chopper since the added drag will not effect its performance due to low speeds of the Heli. A white color at night will even reflect the smallest amount of light (say moon light) off of its skin very visible.

Ground camo: This for hidding the aircraft from other overflying aircraft against the ground backdrop. A white color would be great if your are parked in snow/white background. However there is always a compromise, a best camo for ground operations could end up being the worst camo at night or in flight.

Flight camo: The purpose would be to try to hide the aircraft in flight and even if spoted by naked eyes a good camo can disguise the aircrafts attitude and speed/range. For example you can paint the underbelly sky blue, and the top ground camo.



You can hear the chopper but you may not know its altitude, direction of flight, speed, and distance from you. Also rotor noise reflects off or canyons and hills giving a false impression of where the chopper is without being seen yet.

The Apaches in Afghanistan/Iraq are/were used against insurgents on foot, no tanks. They operate mostly at night with night vision and use their guns to target the enemy cutting them to peaces. The insurgent hear the chopper but don't know where its at.

At day or night a white camo is a give away from above and from below against the Karabakh natural terrain, I know because I have done air searches for downed aircraft in California which has a wide variety of terrain (from desert to tropical green).....also you don't see too many white attack aircraft in any service.

For todays highly advanced sthealth aircraft camo is no longer an issue rather than radar reflectivity off of its skin, but for a slow flying combat chopper a good camo is an asset.

Ill take your word for it. I must have been wrong.

[Vardan]

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

very good start.

Baku. Hafiz Heydarov – APA. Servicemen of Azerbaijani Interior Troops met with a road accident, Main State Traffic Police Office told APA.

The incident was recorded from night on January 1 to January 2 in Oguz region. VAZ-2106 driven by Gabala region resident, Maarif Sefter Ahmadaliyev, born in 1972, collided with tree. As a result, a driver and passenger – Ganja city resident, born in 1973, Alim Isa Khalilov died at the site.

Both persons were servicemen of military unit of the Interior Troops, located in Shaky region. They both were warrant officers.

http://en.apa.az/news.php?id=162895

[burjuin]

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

Armenian Air Defence:

[burjuin]

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

Armenian Air Force:

[arakeretzig]

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

Military personnel’s families have been evacuated to Russia, and the Russian garrison deployed near Yerevan reduced.

Unfortunately, you only do this if you expect that xxxx is going to hit the fan, and it probably will. Let's hope Iran wins.

[burjuin]

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

Նախագահ Սերժ Սարգսյանի աշխատանքային այցը Լեռնային Ղարաբաղի Հանրապետություն
03.01.2012
Աշխատանքային այցով Լեռնային Ղարաբաղի Հանրապետությունում գտնվող Նախագահ Սերժ Սարգսյանը ԼՂՀ նախագահ Բակո Սահակյանի հետ այցելել է ԼՂՀ Մարտունու շրջանի զորամասեր, ծանոթացել զինվորների առօրյային:

Սերժ Սարգսյանը և Բակո Սահակյանը մասնակցել են նաև Մարտունի շրջկենտրոնում «Սայաթ-Նովա» մարզահամալիրի բացման հանդիսավոր արարողությանը:

Ասկերանի շրջանի Ավետարանոց գյուղում Հայաստանի և Արցախի նախագահներն այցելել են փայտավերամշակման գործարան, որտեղ բրիկետների արտադրամասում ծանոթացել են բիովառելիքի արտադրության կազմակերպման գործընթացին:

Նախագահներն այցելել են նաև Շուշի-Կարմիր Շուկա բնակավայրերի խաչմերուկում գտնվող` կարծր վառելիքով գործող ջեռուցման կաթսաների պատրաստման արտադրամաս, ծանոթացել արտադրական գործընթացին:

http://www.president.am/events/news/arm/?id=1983

[burjuin]

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

Presidents of Armenia and Artsakh open military hospital in Karabakh

January 04, 2012 | 22:06

STEPANAKERT. - On 4 December President of the Artsakh Republic Bako Sahakyan together with Armenian President Serzh Sargsyan partook at a solemn ceremony of reopening military hospital after Valery Maroutyan in the village of Ivanyan, Karabakh President's press-service informed Armenian News-NEWS.am.

President Sahakyan stressed the importance of this institution for the defense army noting that health care of the servicemen is among the pivotal components of the fighting efficiency of the armed forces and the state will continue to keep in the spotlight the solution of such issues.

On the same day the Presidents were present at the demonstration classes organized in one of the training centers of the Defense Army. Afterwards in the Nagorno-Karabakh ministry of defense they met with senior staff of the republic’s armed forces.

Armenian and Karabakh defense ministers and other officials partook at the events.

http://news.am/eng/news/88166.html