Media: Azerbaijan used its drone fleet effectively on battlefield

The 44-day war that ended with the victory of Azerbaijan became an example of the successful use of drones in modern warfare, reads an article “No One Can Hide From This Weapon in the War in Ukraine” by the New York Times, Report informs.

“Perhaps the closest conflict to the war in Ukraine in terms of drone use was the clash between Azerbaijan and Armenia in Nagorno-Karabakh in 2020, where Azerbaijani drones destroyed hundreds of Armenian tanks, munitions and armored vehicles. Azerbaijan’s Ministry of Defense not only used its drone fleet effectively on the battlefield; it also frequently posted videos of the attacks on its website,” reads the article.

The author notes that drones “can be used in creative ways that surprise the enemy. Civilian and military drones all have a place in modern warfare. The Times reported this month on a crowdfunding campaign by the Ukrainian government that solicited donations of commercial drones and sought people with skills to fly them.”

The active use of Turkish Bayraktar TB2 drones by Azerbaijan during the 44-day war is also noted in an article “What Is A Bayraktar?” by Radio Liberty.

“Dozens of videos were released by Azerbaijan showing Armenian fighters fleeing as missiles hissed toward vehicles that in previous conflicts would have been safely out of sight behind tree lines or hills.

An Armenian fighter whom RFE/RL spoke to in 2020 said drones could be heard “constantly” in the sky overhead during the massive Azerbaijani offensive to retake Nagorno-Karabakh and Armenian soldiers were forced to walk alone in the open as the only 'defense' against Bayraktar missiles. A single fighter was apparently seen as not worth being killed with an expensive missile.”

Creator of the Bayraktar UAV, technical director of the Turkish company Baykar Savunma Selcuk Bayraktar told Reuters that he was proud that the drones had been used during the 44-day war in Karabakh, and in Ukraine.

“It is an illegal invasion so TB2 is helping the honorable people of Ukraine defend their country,” he said.

“The illegal occupation of Karabakh was like a heart wound since our youth. And as engineers developing the technology, it is an honor to have helped our brothers and sisters here to regain their land.”