As reported earlier, the T-72 tanks in service with the Azerbaijani army were modernized as part of cooperation with the Israeli company Elbit Systems. The updated combat vehicles were demonstrated several days ago at the ADEX 2024 military industry exhibition held in Baku.
The tanks are equipped with Kontakt-1 and Kontakt-5 dynamic protection blocks, which cover vulnerable areas of the turret and hull. The protection of the rear part is reinforced with lattice screens, and a structure known as a "mangal" is installed on the roof of the turret to protect against kamikaze drones and projectiles dropped from unmanned aerial vehicles.
In addition, the Azerbaijani T-72s were equipped with modern aiming and fire control systems. No information was provided on the internal changes to the tank, except that in this configuration the T-72 received Israeli electronics. Presumably, this refers to the products of Elbit Systems, which specializes in such solutions and has previously cooperated with Azerbaijan. The improvements were clearly made taking into account the experience of the war in Ukraine.
The demonstration of Azerbaijani modernized T-72 tanks, developed in cooperation with Israeli companies, caused a wide resonance among international military experts and specialized media.
The Bulgarian Military publication covered this topic in detail, noting that the development of Azerbaijan’s defense strategy indicates its increasing distance from military and technical dependence on Russia.
"It is noteworthy that the modernization of the T-72 tanks acquired during the Soviet era has become an important stage in Azerbaijan’s defense strategy. Although the initial suppliers of these machines were Russia and Belarus, today Azerbaijan possesses approximately 400 T-72s, according to available data.
An important step was the involvement of the Israeli company Elbit Systems to modernize the tanks. This development is a challenge for the Russian defense industry, which is facing financial difficulties amid geopolitical tensions and the ongoing conflict in Ukraine,” Bulgarian Military writes.
As the military-analytical publication notes, the modernization of Azerbaijani T-72 tanks has become an important step in strengthening Baku’s military power, especially thanks to cooperation with Israeli defense companies. Although the exact number of modernized tanks remains unknown, the scale of the improvements is significant. Updated models were demonstrated at recent exhibitions in Baku, which confirms the continuation of this initiative.
"This strategic modernization underscores Azerbaijan’s pivot to forming Western-oriented military alliances, signaling Baku’s intentions to strengthen its armored forces. This decision is likely motivated by the experience of recent conflicts, including the current situation in Ukraine. Cooperation with Israel in upgrading the T-72 tanks is of strategic and political importance, as it reflects Baku’s desire to reduce its dependence on Russia in the context of changing geopolitical dynamics," the article says.
Bulgarian Military also notes that Israeli defense technologies provide Azerbaijan with significant advantages on the battlefield. This cooperation not only modernizes the country’s army, but also strengthens bilateral relations, pointing to a possible deepening of the strategic alliance to counter regional threats.
The publication also emphasizes that the demonstration of modernized tanks at ADEX 2024 has caused a negative reaction in Russian military and expert circles, which indicates Moscow’s growing concerns. For example, former Deputy Minister of Defense of Russia Yuri Borisov noted that the modernization of tanks with the participation of the Israeli side indicates that Russia has lost an important strategic partner. He added that this trend is a "problem" not only for Azerbaijan, but for the entire post-Soviet space.
Russian military analyst Alexey Arbatov also expressed the view that Azerbaijan’s cooperation with Israel demonstrates Russia’s failure to deliver on its promises of military support . These comments underscore Moscow’s awareness of its diminishing military influence in the region.
The article also states that the improvements significantly improve the accuracy of fire and the overall combat capabilities of the vehicles. The integration of day, night and laser channels provides tank commanders and soldiers with a wide range of tools for precise aiming and firing in various combat conditions, which improves control and combat effectiveness.
Sources indicate that the upgraded T-72 tanks are now equipped with advanced Kontakt-5 reactive armor modules, which are strategically placed on the turret and sides of the hull. These modules, designed to protect against kinetic threats, provide protection to vulnerable areas, including the area under the turret.
The article also notes that the T-72 is the backbone of Azerbaijan’s tank fleet. However, the country has at least 100 T-90S tanks in its arsenal.
"This raises an important question: could Israel also participate in their modernization? Although the T-90S represents a more advanced technology compared to the T-72, the accompanying circumstances are more nuanced," Bulgarian Military writes.
At the moment, as the article notes, Azerbaijan has no plans to modernize the T-90S tanks with the support of Israeli companies. This is due to the fact that the T-90S is more modern Russian technology, which requires closer cooperation with Moscow, and not with Tel Aviv. In addition, Russia has strategic interests in the region and closely monitors the use of its weapons by Azerbaijan.
Moreover, upgrading the T-90S may not be seen as a top priority for Azerbaijan at the moment, especially given that Baku is already upgrading the T-72. This indicates a clear intent by Azerbaijan to enhance its military capabilities using the resources and technologies it has already invested in.
Modernization of Azerbaijani tanks by an Israeli company
byu/AndreyBoba inazerbaijan
Posted by AndreyBoba
4 Comments
Dope, this is exactly what we need. More investment in military! 🤦♂️
For information, Elbit also produces Harop drones
Good. Their Aslan modification was reportedly extremely good. Even outperforming T90s
From a killer state 🤝 to another