User:Nemoralis/AZAD Systems

AZAD Systems is a joint Israeli-Azerbaijani company for the production of UAVs, owned by the production association "Sharg" of the Ministry of Defence Industry of Azerbaijan. Venture has a %51 Azerbaijani ownership.

In 2009, an agreement was signed between Israel and Azerbaijan on the construction of a plant for the production of UAVs in Azerbaijan. The contract is worth $20 million. In March 2011, the enterprise was put into operation under the name AZAD Systems Co, the enterprise has already launched production of Orbiter and Aerostar. In 2017, Azerbaijan presented the Orbiter 3 and Orbiter 1K (as "Zarba") UAVs. According to The Drone Databook, Azerbaijan has the Aerostar, IAI Harop, Heron TP, Hermes 450, Hermes 900, Orbiter 1K, Orbiter 3 and SkyStriker. Aerostar, Orbiter 1K and Orbiter 3 were licensed for production by Azad Systems.

Azerbaijan Ministry of Defense opened a new facility for training UAV operators in June 2017 and December 2018.

In August 2017, Tamar Zandberg, a member of the Israeli parliament, criticized Aeronautics for live demonstration of one of its drones against Armenia, at the request of Azerbaijan, their client. The Israel Police's Unit of International Crime Investigations, the Defense Ministry's investigation unit and the State Attorney's Office started investigation. Aeronautics denied these claims. In January, ministry suspended export licenses of Aeronautics. Tamar Zandberg also said that according to Azerbaijani Defense Ministry, AZAD Systems could manufacture Israeli drones even the freeze of license.

In February 2019, licenses were reinstated and Aeronautics signed new contract with Azerbaijan, deal $13 million.

On 23 October 2020, Armenian MoD claimed that Azerbaijani drone, which is production of Azad Systems, was shot down by Armenian air defence units. The transponder, that was made by Microair Avionics, an Australian company, was found in a downed Azerbaijani drone. Armenian National Committee of Australia sent letter to the Microair Avionics stating that their transponders were used in AZAD Systems drones. The ANC-AU urged Microair Avionics to confirm that it will immediately stop the sale of transponders to Azerbaijan or any country that exports drones to Azerbaijan. Microair Avionics denied these claims and said that photographed transponder was produced in 2010.