Azerbaijan-Pakistan: new horizons of military cooperation
(Google Translated)
Throughout the history of independent Azerbaijan, Pakistan has been one of the most sincere, close and reliable friends of our country. Not the richest country in the world with a hostile and aggressive neighbor, Pakistan, like no other, understands the troubles and problems of Azerbaijan, especially given the unresolved and constantly seething issue of Kashmir. Moreover, almost a year ago between India and Pakistan there was a short-lived combat clash, during which the Pakistani JF-17 destroyed one Indian MiG-21 and, according to some reports, shot down the Su-30, which accidentally landed on Indian territory.
Politically, our countries are experiencing an era of rising levels of bilateral relations, mutual respect and support. Over the nearly 30-year history of cooperation, both Azerbaijan and Pakistan have become stronger, and it pleases. Our friendship has also become stronger - Islamabad, as before, does not recognize Armenia as a state, but we, in turn, strongly support the Pakistani position on the Kashmir problem. President Ilham Aliyev visited Pakistan, in turn, and the leadership of this country came to Azerbaijan. Repeatedly, the Heydar Aliyev Foundation, led by First Vice President Mehriban Aliyeva, helped the Pakistani people with various humanitarian projects, this help from the bottom of the heart has always been given to Pakistan in difficult times - during floods, earthquakes, etc.
But military ties occupy a special place in the issues of bilateral cooperation, being a logical continuation of the political relations of the two countries. The other day it received another impetus - in Rawalpindi, at the level of the Azerbaijani-Pakistani working group, the 9th meeting was held between the Ministry of Defense of the Republic of Azerbaijan and the Joint Headquarters of the Islamic Republic of Pakistan. The Azerbaijani delegation was led by the head of the Department of International Military Cooperation, Major General Huseyn Makhmudov. During the meeting, the current state and prospects for the development of military cooperation, regional security issues, the strengthening of friendly relations between the armies of the two countries, including the holding of joint events in 2020, were discussed. At the end of the meeting, a protocol was signed.
This news is not an ordinary event. The fact is that 2020, by all indications, should be a landmark year in terms of military cooperation of the Baku-Islamabad axis. This year, we all expect the start of deliveries to Azerbaijan of the most advanced version of the JF-17 fighter - Block III, which has an excellent AESA radar system with an active phased array antenna. This radar is the KLJ-7A manufactured by the Research Institute of China Electronics Technology Group Corporation (CETGC). The CETGC claims that the KLJ-7A has similar characteristics to the radar used in the fifth-generation F-35 American fighter. In particular, with the help of the new radar, the JF-17 will be able to detect targets at a distance of up to 170 km and will have a combat advantage over the basic versions of F-16 C / D and F-15 C / D fighters (not equipped with radars with AFAR).
The acquisition of a new type of modern fighter is always an event for any country, including Azerbaijan. After all, the purchase, use and successful combat operation of complex aviation equipment is the pride of only a few, the most developed countries of the world. Azerbaijan with its strong economy, prestige in the international arena and an army that is among the 50 strongest in the world is just that. After all, “Thunder” will become a breakthrough - the first in the arsenal of a CIS member country is a modern foreign-made fighter (the Baltic countries may not be counted, the air forces of NATO member countries patrol the sky there in turn). The first and the best - because even one new radar will provide tracking of 15 air targets at the same time and simultaneously “capture” 4 targets - means that the JF-17 Block 3 is not worse in capabilities than the Russian Su-30MKI, Su-35S, MiG -35, Indian "Tejas Mk.2", as well as the French "Rafal". At the same time, “Thunder” also has elements of super-maneuverability - it is capable of supporting flight with large angles of attack, as well as realizing significantly larger angular turning speeds, comparable to the F / A-18C “Hornet” and F-16C. The glider has excellent operational strength, so overload can reach 8.5-9 units. They also installed a new Chinese electronic warfare system on the aircraft, which allows an effective fight against all modern radars and missiles with radar guidance.
Add to this the power-to-weight ratio, increased combat radius (thanks to conformal fuel tanks), almost 4 tons of combat load, short-range and medium-range air-to-air missiles, bombs, anti-ship and anti-radar missiles and outboard fuel tanks, coupled with a built-in 23 mm double-barreled gun - and get a powerful, balanced and at the same time relatively inexpensive fighter.
Here I want to emphasize two points - firstly, Azerbaijan insisted on buying the most advanced version of the fighter. At first, not everyone in Islamabad accepted it with a bang, but then they realized that Azerbaijan made this decision, including in the interests of Pakistan - when tomorrow the Thunder wins in the sky over Karabakh, it will be a great advertisement for Pakistani weapons in the world. Secondly, our cooperation with the Pakistani brothers is designed for the long term, and Azerbaijan is well aware that Pakistan is our reliable bridge for military-technical cooperation with China.
It is no secret that Pakistan is China’s closest ally in the region, which benefits from strong Islamabad as a reliable counterbalance to the influence of India. And finally, the presence of its own nuclear weapons gives Pakistan a special status in Asia, because besides it, only India and China have it in this region. All this has already turned Islamabad into one of the political centers of Asia and the Middle East, which is actively influencing the situation in the region. Naturally, it is very beneficial for Azerbaijan to have such a sincere and reliable ally in the region for mutual relations and the advancement of its interests.
Representatives of the military-industrial complex of Pakistan have repeatedly stated that they are ready to offer Azerbaijan any Pakistani weapons and military equipment, in any volume and quantity, while ensuring its stable after-sales service. And Pakistani weapons - ballistic and cruise missiles, tanks, planes and much more - are a product primarily of the Chinese military-industrial complex, but with the addition of American, French, and British technologies. That is, we not only with Islamabad, but also with Beijing are getting closer, taking the best.
The same JF-17 is equipped with several color displays in the cockpit and a helmet-mounted sight, which greatly facilitates piloting and air combat, has ultra-maneuverable air-to-air guided melee missiles, as well as medium-range guided air-launched missiles, which allows JF- pilots 17 engage in battle beyond visual sight. So the JF-17 Block 3 of the Air Force of Azerbaijan, controlled by excellent, well-trained Azerbaijani military pilots, will make our country even stronger and more protected.
In conclusion, I want to emphasize that friendship and intensive cooperation (including in the military sphere) with Pakistan are the result of the tireless diplomatic and political efforts of the President and Supreme Commander-in-Chief Ilham Aliyev, aimed at strengthening Azerbaijan and close, mutually beneficial ties with friends of our country. Undoubtedly, it will only grow stronger and develop, serving the interests of the Azerbaijani and Pakistani peoples, the interests of our two countries.
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