Әзербайжан Әскери Әуе Күштері мен Әуе Қорғанысы

Air warfare and air defense branch of Azerbaijan's armed forces

On February 11, 2009, the Commander of the Air Force, Lieutenant General Rail Rzayev, was assassinated outside his home by an unidentified armed assailant. Rzayev had been reportedly negotiating closer ties with the United States regarding air force modernisation before his death, possibly including the acquisition of US fighter aircraft. He was succeeded by Major General Altay Mehdiyev who was appointed the new Commander of the Air Forces on 12 May 2009.

Brinkster. net reported in October 2004 that the Azerbaijani Air and Air Defense Force comprised a fighter squadron at Nasosnaya Air Base with MiG 25PDs and training variants, a bomber aviation regiment at Kyurdamir with Su 17/24/25, MiG 21s, and L 29/39s, a transport aviation squadron at Ganja Airport with Il 76s(? ), Аn 12/24, and Тu 134s, a helicopter squadron at Baku Kala Air Base with Mi 2/8/24s, two aircraft repair factories, and two air defense missile units. Other air bases include Dollyar Air Base (which Jane's Sentinel says is reported to be non operational) There are some installations of the Cold War era left by the Soviets in 1990.

The Azerbaijan Higher Military Aviation School is the educational institution of the Azerbaijani Air Force and a branch of the education system of the Ministry of Defense of Azerbaijan. In 1997, the school graduated its first class of military pilots. By presidential decree of 24 December 2015, the school was abolished and transferred to the Azerbaijan Higher Military Academy with the establishment of the corresponding faculties there. Azerbaijani pilots are trained at the Azerbaijan Air Force School and then develop their skills further within their units. Azerbaijan has an experience exchange with Turkey, the United States, Ukraine, and a number of other NATO countries. Turkish Air Force School plays a great role in the training of military pilots. The Azerbaijani pilots are also trained in Ukraine's Pilot Training School.

The United States is the most active participant in the modernisation of Air Force airfields. The Gabala OTH Radar was operated by the Russian Space Forces. The radar station had a range of up to 6,000 kilometres (3,728 mi), and was designed to detect missile launches as far as from the Indian Ocean. It is not known whether Russia shared any of the radar's data with Azerbaijan. The equipment was dismantled and sent back to Russia after 2012. In 2006, the US provided Azerbaijani military with additional radar installations. Plans were announced for the US to modernize one radar station near the Iranian border at Lerik and another near the border with Georgia at Agstafa. Joint work also commenced on two radar stations on the Russia Azerbaijani border and Iran Azerbaijani border to monitor Caspian Sea traffic.

The MiG 29 has been designated as the standard aircraft for the AzAF. In September–October 2010, Azerbaijan purchased 24 Mi 35M from Rostvertol. 8 of them have been delivered in the end of the first quarter of 2012 and four more in August 2012. With the arrival of the MiG 29s, the Air Force appears to have retired the MiG 25 aircraft that it used to fly from Nasosnaya Air Base. IISS estimates in 2007 reported 26 as still in service; other figures previously placed the total as high as 38. The Air Force retains in store and L 39 fighter training aircraft produced in the Czech Republic and Ukraine. The head of the Defense Industry, Yaver Jamalov, said that by the end of 2011 a total of 60 UAVs will be produced. In 2016 three Bell 412 helicopters were purchased from Canada, and by 2018 a number of pilots were trained in the type. A further undisclosed number of Bell 407 and MD 530 helicopters were obtained but neither type is currently operational as pilots have not been trained yet. Su 25 modernization project : Contract was signed for the modernization of Su 25s used by Azerbaijan Air Force. It is aimed to carry out the integration of Turkish Guided Ammunition Weapon Systems and avionics modernization activities into the aircraft.

29 January 2008: An Azerbaijani Air Force MiG 29UB crashed into the Caspian Sea during a training flight. Both crew members on board the MiG 29UB were killed. 3 March 2010: An Azerbaijani Air Force Su 25 crashed in the Tovuz region of Azerbaijan, killing the pilot, Famil Mammadli. 3 February 2011: An Azerbaijani Air and Air Defense Force Su 25UB crashed in the Kurdamir region of Azerbaijan. Both crew members were not injured. 24 July 2019: During a night training flight, a MiG 29 fighter of the Azerbaijani Air Force crashed into the Caspian Sea after a bird strike. Pilot Colonel Lieutenant Rashad Atakishiev is heavily injured in aircraft and crashed into the Caspian Sea The pilot was killed in the crash. 28 February 2022: Three Azerbaijani MiG 29 fighters were destroyed by Russian rocket attacks while undergoing repairs at Lviv State Aircraft Plant in Ukraine.

The rank insignia of commissioned officers.

The rank insignia of non commissioned officers and enlisted personnel.