Azerbaijan Interested In Turkey’s Firtina Self-Propelled Howitzer

Azerbaijan is interested in Turkeys Firtina Self-Propelled Howitzer, Mechanical and Chemical Industry Corporation (MKEK) reported.

Talks are being held with the Azerbaijani side on the purchase and sale of the military equipment. The sides are expected to sign the contract by the end of this year.

The self-propelled howitzer produced by MKEK was put down on the inventory of Turkish Armed Forces in 2004. Firtinas armament consists of 155 mm L52 artillery gun and 12.7 mm machine gun. Firtina can open fire within 30 seconds. Maximum range of fire is 40 km. Through the Inertial Navigation System produced by ASELSAN the howitzer is able to determine the coordinates of the targets at 17.5 m.

Firtina has advantage over Soviet self-propelled howitzers like Akatsiya, Gvozdika and Giatsin in the inventory of the Azerbaijani Army. For firing range and efficiency it can be compared with the Pion 2C7 203 mm self-propelled howitzers.

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Azerbaijan Seeks Chinese Long-Range Missiles

Azerbaijan is in talks with two Chinese companies on the purchase of long-range missiles, Defense Industry Minister Yaver Jamalov has told the Baku-based ANS TV channel.

“Preliminary talks have already been held on delivering such missiles. The negotiations will be completed soon. I am hopeful that the missiles will be brought to Azerbaijan in the shortest time possible,” said Jamalov, who is attending a major international defense industry exhibition in Istanbul.

The minister said the IDEF-2011 exhibition was a major success for Azerbaijan, as the country signed a number of agreements with Turkey and Ukraine.

On the sidelines of the exhibition, Minister Jamalov and Turkish Defense Minister Vecdi Gonul signed a letter of intent on joint manufacturing of 105 mm canons and infantry rifles. Azerbaijan also inked an agreement with Turkey’s MKEK (Mechanical and Chemical Industry Corporation) to co-produce 120 mm mine launchers.

Jamalov said Azerbaijan has also signed letters of intent with Turkey’s Aselsan and Roketsan on joint production of 122 mm rockets and nocturnal devices.

According to him, an agreement was also reached with a Ukrainian company on joint production of anti-tank missiles.

He said further that Azerbaijan’s Ministry of Defense Industry plans to manufacture 60 drones by the end of 2011. The newly opened plant in Azerbaijan produces two types of unmanned aerial vehicles (UAVs), he said.

Jamalov said Azerbaijani weaponry displayed at the IDEF-2011 exhibition is of great interest to the participants.

“As a result, the issue of using Azerbaijan’s 14.5 and 12.7 mm sniper rifles in Turkey’s armed forces was considered and agreed upon. Our rifles will most likely be available in the country’s armed forces soon.”

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