Baku, Azerbaijan, Sept. 11
By Ilkin Izzet - Trend:
The unmanned aerial vehicles (UAVs) are today being produced in Azerbaijan by a joint venture of Azerbaijan and Israel, the Azerbaijani Defence Industry Minister Yaver Jamalov said Sept. 11.
He made the remarks at the opening of the ADEX 2014 - Azerbaijan International Defence Industry Exhibition in Baku.
Jamalov said that this year Azerbaijan, aside from its own armed forces, will supply NATO with up to 100 UAVs.
He noted that his ministry will commission a number of production sites.
Jamalov said that at present there are 51 production sites at the plants of the Defense Industry Ministry of Azerbaijan.
"It is planned to commission five new plants and seven production sites by late this year. These plants will produce 40-46 mm grenade launchers and ammunitions for them. Plants will also start operating for production of M-6 and M-12 fuses and U-25 ammunition," he said.
"Aside from that, we will start mass production of cartridges for arms with caliber ranging from 5.45 to 30 millimetres. All this is of great importance for our army," Jamalov said.
The minister said that in late first quarter of 2015, Azerbaijan will start production of tank and artillery shells.
"We can say that we will fully meet the needs of our army in artillery shells," he said.
The minister also said negotiations are underway with the companies participating in the ADEX-2014 in Baku.
"I believe that prior to the end of the exhibition we will reach an agreement for supply of these companies' technologies to Azerbaijan, and create sites in the years to come for production of relevant products in the country," he added.
According to him, at present, the ministry participates in tenders in foreign countries.
Jamalov said that currently the ministry is taking part in the tenders held abroad.
He added that his ministry won a tender in Turkey on grenade launchers and cartridges of a number of calibers.
"The ministry also won tenders for the mortars in several countries," the minister said.