BAKU. June 22 (Interfax) - The main objective of military exercises in Azerbaijan is to train the country's Armed Forces personnel should hostilities resume with Armenia, Azerbaijani Defense Minister Zakir Hasanov said.
"We need to practice all possible steps until they become second nature, should hostilities resume once again. The territory is known. This time, we'll have to fully resolve all issues to restore the territorial integrity of Azerbaijan and historical justice. Therefore, the way military drills are conducted resembles a combat environment as much as possible," Hasanov said in an interview with Azerbaijan's CBC TV channel.
Earlier on Monday, the press service of the Azerbaijani Defense Ministry announced the completion of tactical drills aimed at practicing methods of an offensive operation in the mountains. Approximately 800 Azerbaijani servicemen, around 100 pieces of military hardware (armored hardware and vehicles), some 40 artillery systems, and six combat and transport helicopters took part in them.
During the exercise, the troops successfully carried out an operation to seize a reserve district, mountain passages, and commanding heights, also creating conditions conducive to the main forces' offensive. Live-fire exercises were conducted at the final stage of the maneuvers, the press service said.
Hasanov, in turn, stressed that Azerbaijan's Armed Forces stand ready to accomplish the task of liberating its territories lost during the Nagorno-Karabakh conflict.
"The Armenian army is incapable of any offensive operations against Azerbaijan. Any future war will be a catastrophe for their statehood, I'm certain about this," he said.
Azerbaijan regularly studies modern warfare tactics, closely cooperating with countries such as Turkey and Russia, Hasanov said.
Azerbaijan can acquire advanced weapons and military hardware, he said.
"We can buy advanced military hardware and weapons from leading countries. We have a state-of-the-art air defense system. Additionally, we have a contract with Russia on acquiring weapons worth $5 billion. We also have a $5-billion contract with Israel. Therefore, Armenia's purchase of new aircraft won't give them any advantage in this territory. Besides, our missile systems are able to hit Armenian army units' infrastructure, hardware, and weapons in depth. We have all capabilities to defeat the adversary in a matter of days," Hasanov said.
Azerbaijan has accomplished "colossal work" to modernize its army, he said.
"Since 2013, Azerbaijan has been acquiring the most advanced weapons, including combat vehicles, armored personnel carriers, multiple rocket launchers, missiles, air defense systems, aircraft, as well as reconnaissance, control, and communications systems We've purchased weapons from countries such as Turkey, Russia, Israel, France, Spain, Italy, South Africa, and other Mediterranean countries. In one word, the program, which was initially intended for ten years, is currently in its final stages and has effectively been fulfilled by us within seven years," the defense minister said.