Aircraft
Azerbaijan Buys the M-346 as Caucasus Stand-off Continues
Since Armenia occupied a portion of Azerbaijani territory in the 1990s, the two countries have fought a number of skirmishes along the de facto border.
Azerbaijan has selected the Leonardo M-346 in preference to the similar Russian Yak-130 trainer. (Photo: Leonardo)
Azerbaijan has selected the Leonardo M-346 in preference to the similar Russian Yak-130 trainer. (Photo: Leonardo)

Azerbaijan has signed a preliminary agreement to buy an unspecified number of Leonardo M-346 Master training/light attack aircraft, the website of the Azerbaijani President Ilham Aliyev announced in late February. According to Azerbaijani sites, the number of aircraft to be purchased is between 10 and 25 (10 plus an option for 15). The procurement process is being closely watched in Yerevan, capital of the regional adversary, Armenia, which occupies 20 percent of Azerbaijan (Nagorno Karabakh and the adjacent Azerbaijani territories).