UZEIR JAFAROV: "THE POTENTIAL OF ARMENIAN AIR DEFENSE SYSTEMS SHOULD NOT BE UNDERESTIMATED"
Today.Az
/news/politics/45531.html
June 9 2008
Azerbaijan
Day.Az interview with famous military expert Uzeir Jafarov.
– How would you comment on Azerbaijan’s intention to buy ten
multi-mission reconnaissance pilotless jets Hermes 450 from Israeli
Silver Arrow company?
– For the country, whose 20% lands are still under enemy’s occupation
and whose leadership has repeatedly stated that our people will
never accept such state of things, the purchase of multi-mission
reconnaissance pilotless aircrafts should have been a case of the
past not today. Unfortunately, for Azerbaijan, which is proud of its
leading positions by GDP growth it was necessary to see launching
of such pilotless jets by neighbor Georgia, which is not so wealthy,
to realize the need for such purchases.
It is only left to say "better late than never". There is another
moment I would like to draw your attention to. We have been informed
that each pilotless jet along with its operation system will make
$20-25 mln.
In this connection, it would be expedient to inform that several
years ago an engineer of the local Academy of Science offered to the
Defense ministry to create an aircraft, capable of operating flights
over Nagorno Karabakh, occupied by Armenians. But nobody adhered to
this proposal, though his offer would cost less.
We have witnessed more than once the difficulties that local
journalists face while getting even an ordinary information in
the Defense Ministry. The paradoxical is that the officials of the
Defense Ministry are silent even in cases when reporters try to get
information, which is later made available for any Internet user,
familiar with the websites of all those international organizations,
our country joins and to which this information is provided. "Military
secret" becomes "a magic word" for local officials.
But what we see now? Information about the intention of the Azerbaijan
Defense Ministry to buy ten multi-mission pilotless reconnaissance
jets Hermes 250 has been spread with reference to a source in the
defense ministry though this information should have been considered
a military sector, as purchase of such military technique has always
been considered a special secret, while in our country not only the
type of equipment to be purchased but also the firm to sell it to us
has been specified. Well, we only have to admit that Azerbaijan is
a country of paradox.
– Are these pilotless jets suitable for our region?
– On the whole, they are. In particular, these pilotless jets have
a coverage radius of 100 kilometers and may stay in air for 20
hours. Therefore, it would be expedient to use these pilotless jets
in Fizuli and Aghdam directions. Such specialists are trained in the
air defense and reconnaissance troops. As far as we know, there are
specialists in our country, who can operate these pilotless jets.
– Isn’t there a risk of their being knocked down by Armenian air
defense systems?
– It would be wrong to rule out such a possibility. These are not
stealth planes of the latest model. The potential of Armenian air
defense systems should not be underestimated, even so more as it has
a strong ally as Russia which will possibly assist in termination of
these jets. Therefore, caution should be applied during the launching
of these pilotless jets to make everything possible for them not to
be knocked down at least during the first flights.
– When should the flights be started over the occupied lands of
Azerbaijan, presently controlled by Armenian formations?
– The sooner, the better, for any new information about the current
state of Armenian armed forces, controlling the occupied lands of
Azerbaijan, can be truly invaluable in case military actions are
restarted.