Azerbaijan Wants to Acquire SU-57 Fighters

Moscow / 24.12.19 / Turan: The Moscow newspaper Vedomosti, citing two top managers of Russian defense industry enterprises, said that Azerbaijan was interested in buying the latest Russian fifth-generation fighter aircraft Su-57.

Consent negotiations on this issue were given at the highest political level during a meeting of the Presidents of Russia and Azerbaijan in Sochi on October 3, a source close to the presidential administration confirmed.

Over the past 10 years, Azerbaijan has purchased about $ 5 billion worth Russian arms, of which approximately $ 3 billion worth arms were received. Thus, contracts have been signed for the purchase of two divisions of S-300PMU-2 anti-aircraft missile systems, up to 100 T-90S tanks and 118 units BMP-3 infantry fighting vehicles, 18 Msta-S self-propelled artillery mounts, 18 Smerch multiple launch rocket launchers and other military equipment.

Deliveries on aviation were limited to Mi-17 and Mi-35 helicopters, although the Azerbaijani Air Force also needed to update its combat aircraft fleet (it was based on Soviet MiG-29 fighters delivered from Ukraine in the mid-2000s). Azerbaijan has long shown interest in the Sino-Pakistani JF-17 fighter (developed with the assistance of Russia) and acquired Pakistan's MFI-395 Super Mushshak light training aircraft.

Azerbaijan’s interest in Su-57 appeared after the purchase of four Su-30SM fighters by Armenia with the prospect of buying eight more such aircraft.

Negotiations can last long, military experts say. In any case, Azerbaijan can acquire no more than a squadron of such aircraft (8-12 units).

The potential purchase, on the one hand, is demonstrative: since Armenia will soon receive Su-30SM fighters, Azerbaijan also wants to purchase an even more advanced aircraft. On the other hand, the Azerbaijani Air Force needs a fairly massive upgrade, therefore, in addition to Su-57 Baku can buy Sino-Pakistani fighters, which are much cheaper than Su-57, the newspaper notes.     -02D-