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Azerbaijani Air Force facts for kids

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Azərbaycan Hərbi Hava Qüvvələri
Azerbaijani Air and Air Defence Force
AzAF Flag of Azerbaijan.png
The Flag of the Azerbaijani Air and Air Defence Force
Active October 9, 1991 - present
Country  Azerbaijan
Branch Air force
Type Military
Role Air warfare and air defence
Size 7,900 military personnel
600 aircraft and 350 helicopters (2011)
4 active air bases
Colors Roundel of Azerbaijan.svg
Anniversaries June 26, 1918 (first founding); October 9, 1991 (second founding)
Engagements Nagorno-Karabakh War
Commanders
Current
commander
Major General Altay Mehdiyev

The Azerbaijani Air and Air Defence Force often called the Azerbaijani Air Force (Azerbaijani: Azərbaycan Hərbi Hava Qüvvələri) is the air force and air defence force of the Azerbaijani Armed Forces.

The origin of the current organization goes back to June 26, 1918, when the Azerbaijan Democratic Republic which became independent in 1918, after the collapse of the Russian Empire, bought its first fighter aircraft. After the second independence of Azerbaijan in 1991, after the collapse of the Soviet Union, the presence of former Soviet air bases in Azerbaijan helped the Air and Air Defence Force develop.

Current organization

The Azerbaijani Air and Air Defence Force has about 600 aircraft and 350 helicopters, and 7,900 personnel. There are Soviet-made MiG-21s, MiG-23s, Su-24s and Su-25s, as well as fourth generation MiG-29s bought from Ukraine in 2006 and Soviet-made Il-76s. Azerbaijan is holding talks with either China or Pakistan to buy JF-17 Thunder aircraft. The MiG-29 has been chosen as the standard aircraft for the Azerbaijani Air and Air Defence Force.

Related pages

  • U.S. Army War College Center for Strategic Leadership, Transformation of the Azerbaijani Armed Forces, October 2008

Images for kids

See also

Kids robot.svg In Spanish: Fuerza Aérea de Azerbaiyán para niños

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