Armenia and Azerbaijan did not actually sign a peace agreement over Nagorno-Karabakh (NKR). Military operations, despite the frozen nature of the conflict, as life shows, can begin at any moment. That is why not too rich Armenia is forced to spend a considerable share of the national income in order to somehow protect its sky.
Armenian Air Force takes off
The Armenian Air Force is an integral part of the Armenian National Army, created on January 28, 1992, in accordance with the decree of the government of independent Armenia. The armament of the 7th Army, stationed on the territory of the former Armenian SSR, became the basis for the army. Aircraft were among these vehicles.
Armenian air force today
The military-political situation in the region does not allow treating the army as something secondary. The long-standing conflict with Azerbaijan does not allow us to consider this neighboring country as a weak adversary. She is a real enemy, as evidenced by the episodes of clashes on the borders of Armenia and Nagorno-Karabakh. Armenian Air Force andThe NCRs are closely connected and coordinate their actions.
The Turkish border is also alarming. As you know, Turkey and Armenia do not have diplomatic relations due to a long-standing historical enmity. In addition, the Turkish border is the de facto border of NATO.
The main problems of the Armenian Air Force, which has two air bases - Erebuni (Yerevan) and Shirak (Gyumri) - an outdated fleet, consisting mainly of old Soviet aircraft, as well as low qualification of pilots.
However, problems are being solved. Within the framework of the CSTO agreement (Armenia within its framework is actually a border country), the armed forces are being modernized, including aviation. Under the agreement, a Russian military base operates on the territory of Armenia, and the Erebuni airbase is jointly used by the Russian and Armenian air forces.
Armenian pilots learn from Russian ones. In addition, the Russian Federation twice provided the Republic of Armenia with a large loan for the purchase of modern weapons. Therefore, the information below on the armament of the Air Force and Air Defense of Armenia is actually not so sad. Already, for example, quite modern Su-30s fly under the tricolor identification mark.
Armenia of the Armenian Air Force (according to open sources)
| Armaments | Manufacturer | Type | Quantity | Based |
| Airplanes | ||||
| Su-25 | USSR | Stormtrooper | ~13 | Erebuni |
| Su-30 | Russia | Multipurpose | ~10 | Erebuni |
| Su-27 | Russia | Multipurpose | ~10 | Erebuni |
| SU-25 UBK | USSR (from Slovakia) | "Tutorial" | ~2 | Erebuni |
| MiG-25 | USSR | Interceptor | ~1 | Erebuni |
| Aero L-39 Albatros | France | "Tutorial" | ~2 | Erebuni |
| Yak-25 | Romania | "Tutorial" | ~2 | Erebuni |
| IL-76 | USSR | Transporter | ~2 | Erebuni |
| Airbus ACJ319 | France | Passenger-team | ~1 | Erebuni |
| Unmanned aerial vehicles | ||||
| Krunk | Armenia | Intelligence | ~15 | ? |
| Base | Armenia | Intelligence | ~15 | ? |
| Helicopters | ||||
| Mi-24 | USSR | Percussion | ~16 | Erebuni (most) |
| Mi-8Mt | USSR | Multipurpose | ~15 | Erebuni (most) |
| Mi-9 | USSR | Command | ~2 | Erebuni |
| Mi-2 | Poland | Multipurpose | ~7 | Erebuni |
Armenia's air defense weapons (according toopen sources)
| Armaments | Manufacturer | Type |
| Surface-to-air missile systems | ||
| S-300 | Russia | Maximum |
| Buk-M2 | Russia | Medium |
| С-125 Neva | USSR | Small |
| Pechora-2M2 | Russia | Small |
| Circle | USSR | Medium |
| Cube | USSR | Small |
| S-75 | USSR | Small |
| Osa | USSR | Small |
| Arrow-10 | USSR | Small |
| ZSU-23-4 Shilka | USSR | Self-propelled gun |
| ZU-23-2 | USSR | Portable |
| Needle | USSR | Portable |
| Arrow-2 | USSR | Portable |
Armament of the Azerbaijani Air Force for comparison with the Armenian Air Force (according to open sources)
| Armaments | Manufacturer | Type | Quantity | Based |
| Airplanes | ||||
| MiG-29 | USSR (modernization - Ukraine) | Multirole Fighter | ~16 | Pump room |
| MiG-29 UBK | USSR (modernization - Ukraine) | "Tutorial" | ~2 | Pump room |
| MiG-25P | USSR (part from Kazakhstan) | Interceptor | ~10 | Pump room |
| MiG-25PD | USSR | Tactical interceptor | ~6 | Pump room |
| MiG-25RD | USSR | Scout Bomber | ~4 | Pump room |
| Su-24 | USSR | Bomber | ~2 | Pump room |
| Su-25 | USSR (from Georgia and Belarus) | Stormtrooper | ~16 | Kourdamur |
| Su-25UB | USSR | "Tutorial" | ~2 | Kourdamur |
| Aermacci M-346 | Italy | "Tutorial" | ~10 | Pump room |
| Aero L-29 Dolphin | Czechoslovakia | "Tutorial" | ~28 | Kourdamur |
| Aero L-39 Albatros | Czechoslovakia | "Tutorial" | ~12 | Kourdamur |
| An-12 | USSR | Transporter | ~1 | Pump room |
| Yak-40 | USSR | Passenger | ~3 | Pump room |
| Helicopters | ||||
| Mi-24 | USSR | Percussion | ~26 | Pump room |
| Mu-24 Super Hind 4 Mk | Ukraine/South Africa | Percussion | ~16 | Pump room |
| Mi-2 | Poland | Transporter | ~7 | Pump room |
| Mi-8 | USSR and Russia | Combat Transporter | ~13 | Pump room |
| Mi-17-1B | Russia | Combat Transporter | ~25 | Pump room |
| Ka-32 | USSR | Combat Transporter | ~3 | Pump room |
| Unmanned aerial vehicles | ||||
| Orbiter 2M | Israel/Azerbaijan | Intelligence | ~45 | ? |
| Heron TP | Israel | Recon/Attack | ~1 | ? |
| Searscher 2 | Israel | Intelligence | ~10 | ? |
| Aerostar | Israel/Azerbaijan | Intelligence | ~4 | ? |
| Elbit Hermes 450 | Israel | Recon/Attack | ~15 | ? |
| Elbit Hermes 900 | Israel | Intelligence | ~15 | ? |
Azerbaijan air defense weapons (open sources)
| Armaments | Manufacturer | Type | Quantity |
| Surface-to-air missile systems | |||
| Iron Dome | Israel | Small | ~4 |
| Barak-8 | Israel | Small | ~9 |
| C-300PMU2 Favorite | Russia | Medium | ~32 |
| C-200 | USSR | Maximum | ~4 |
| S-125-2TM Pechora-TM | USSR (modernization - Belarus) | Medium | ~54 |
| Buk-M1-2 | USSR | Medium | ~18 |
| Tor-M2E | Russia | Medium | ~8 |
| T38 Stiletto | Belarus | Medium | ~two batteries |
| Spider SR | Israel | Medium | ~20 |
So that there is no war
According to military experts, the air forces of Armenia and Azerbaijan are not equal forces. A much richer Azerbaijan with oil money is able to maintain a much larger and better armed army. Although the Azerbaijani Air Force has the same problems as its neighbors, they are not as acute. Therefore, if we compare both sides purely statistically, victory in the air should be awarded to Azerbaijan, which has the most powerful network of radar stations inherited from the USSR.
However, military assistance and the presence of Russia in Armenia clearly stop Azerbaijan from openly hostilities. The modernization of the Armenian Air Force should lead to the fact that both sides have such a parity of forces that will not allow both states to unleash a war, fearing mutual heavy losses. The main thing is that there should be no war.
