Azeri Multi-Functional Air Defense Systems A Wake-Up Call To Armenia

EREVAN — The creation of a multi-echelon, multifunctional air defense system by Azerbaijan is a wake-up call to Armenia, military expert Sergey Sargsyan said in an interview with ArmInfo when commenting on the reports about delivery, repair and restoration of Ukrainian S-125 Pechora surface-to-air missile complex for Azerbaijan.

“The reports on the supposed delivery of S-125 to Azerbaijan alongside with the rumors of supposed delivery of Russian S-300 air-defense missiles to Azerbaijan testify that Baku intends to created a multi- echelon and multi-functional up-to-date system of anti-aircraft defense. The point is that S-300 systems are not enough to fully defend the air space of Azerbaijan, while together with S-125 and S-75 missile systems it will be possible. Therefore, I think that reports on delivery of S-75 to Azerbaijan are possible in the short- term outlook,” he said.

As for the sale of S-125 missile system by Ukraine, he said it is an “exchange of weapons for oil” rather than a political deal. Even if Ukraine did not buy Azerbaijani oil, it would sell weapons to Azerbaijan anyway. “Sale of arms is just commerce for Ukraine if it does not violate relevant resolution of the UN. Therefore, Ukraine just cares for its money and not for the use of the weapons it sells,” he said. Earlier Defense Minister of Ukraine Mikhail Yezhel outlined repair of Azerbaijani weapons and hardware at Ukrainian enterprises among perspective dimensions of military and technical cooperation with Azerbaijan alongside with assistance in establishment of joint ventures to repair weapons in the territory of Azerbaijan. He declared about Ukraine’s possibility and Baku’s willingness to deliver repair and restore S- 125 missiles. Azerbaijan is the only CFE member-state (30 states) to exceed the limits for tanks and artillery. The parliament of that country has recently approved 3 billion dollars military budget for 2011.

(c) 2010 ARMINFO News Agency