By Rafig Shahbazov
Israeli media outlet Globes is reporting that Azerbaijan is the unnamed customer for $235 million worth of precision-guided missiles and rocket artillery systems from Elbit Systems. The Israeli defense company announced on 19 October that the deal for an unspecified ‘European’ customer will be fulfilled over the next three years in a move which underscores the deepening defense partnership between Baku and Tel Aviv.
At the time of publication, Elbit Systems had not yet commented on the customer but had confirmed the deal.
The Azerbaijan-Israel alliance is built on shared strategic interests: Israel gains access to energy resources, while Azerbaijan benefits from advanced military technology. This partnership proved significant during the Second Nagorno-Karabakh War in 2020, when Israeli-made long-range drones and other precision weapons helped Azerbaijani forces identify and strike Armenian positions.
According to Elbit, the agreement includes EXTRA-MR medium-range rockets, PULS launchers and logistical support, and deliveries and implementation are expected to take place over three years. The EXTRA-MR is designed for precision strikes against targets at ranges of up to 80 kilometers.
Elbit said that the agreement was signed as part of an intergovernmental arrangement between Israel’s Ministry of Defense and the customer country’s defense ministry.
