MiG-29 Crashes as Azerbaijan Looks to Modernise Fighter Fleet

Amid ongoing discussions regarding plans for modernisation of the country’s fighter fleet, a MiG-29 twin engine multirole fighter from Azerbaijan’s Air Force has reportedly crashed in the Caspian Sea during a training mission. The country’s armed forces stated regarding the incident "On 24 July, at about 22:00, a MiG-29 plane of the Azerbaijani Air Force, which was conducting a training flight, suddenly disappeared from the radar. According to a preliminary version, the plane crashed and fell into the Caspian Sea.” Azerbaijan fields a small fleet of 16 MiG-29 (14 MiG-29A, 2 MiG-29UB) aircraft inherited from the Soviet Union, complemented by a mixed squadron of Su-25 attack jets and Su-24 strike fighters.

The MiG-29A is currently the only class of fighter deployed by Azerbaijan’s Air Force, although the service has begun to consider acquiring more modern jets with the Sino-Pakistani JF-17 reportedly a leading candidate. The MiG-29A first entered service in the Soviet Air Force in the early 1980s, and although its airframe retains an impressive aeronautical performance its electronics, avionics, sensors and weapons systems are increasingly outmatched by newer systems. Due to the nature of Azerbaijan’s relations with Russia, the state is unlikely to acquire more modern MiG-29 derivatives from the country or to purchase its next generation replacement the MiG-35. A recent order by neighbouring Armenia for six Su-30SM heavyweight fighters realistically allows the country's Air Force to neutralise the entire Azeri fleet with one small air unit due to the platform’s sophistication. How Azerbaijan will respond, and what new platforms it may seek to acquire, remains to be seen.