Військово-повітряні сили Азербайджану у першій Карабаській війні

Abstract

This article provides a comprehensive historical analysis of the formation and operational role of the Azerbaijani Air Force during the First Karabakh War (1992–1994). The research highlights the unique and challenging conditions under which this military branch was established—essentially from scratch amidst active large-scale hostilities following the collapse of the Soviet Union. The study focuses on the strategic importance of the Gala and Nasosnaya airbases and the contribution of pioneering pilots such as Vagif Gurbanov and Balakhan Gahramanov, who laid the foundation for national combat aviation.The author examines the diverse tasks assigned to the Air Force, ranging from close air support of ground troops using Su-25 and Su-24 jets to complex reconnaissance and bombing missions. A significant portion of the study is dedicated to the multifaceted role of helicopter aviation (Mi-24 and Mi-8), which became an indispensable asset for logistics, medical evacuation, and high-risk heliborne operations, such as the unique deep-rear landing of the 123rd motorized rifle regiment in 1992. The research also a ddresses the critical technical and environmental hurdles faced by Azerbaijani aviators, including the lack of modern navigation systems, the obsolescence of Soviet-era hardware, and the difficulties of maneuvering in the narrow gorges and volatile weather of the Nagorno-Karabakh mountains. Furthermore, the paper analyzes the impact of enemy air defenses, particularly MANPADS, on aviation losses.