Aeronautics Defense Systems inks $13M drone deal with Azerbaijan

• Two weeks ago, the Defense Ministry of Israel reinstated the company’s export licenses.
   
• The contract would be spanning over a period of two-years & would be overseeing the maintenance of Orbiter 1K drones.

Aeronautics Defense Systems (Aeronautics), a renowned Israeli aeronautics company, has reportedly announced that it successfully won a new multi-million-dollar drone agreement with Azerbaijan.

Reports cite, the contract would be spanning over a period of two-years & would be overseeing the maintenance of Orbiter 1K drones – the loitering suicide-drones that are capable of flying 1-2 kg explosive payloads – that the company had sold to one of its key customers.

According to a report by News.am, the company’s export license was taken away previously and three of its senior executives were suspended based on suspected fraud as well as violation of the country’s law that defines arms export control. However, Aeronautics had its export licenses reinstated two weeks ago by the Israeli Defense Ministry allowing it to acquire the latest contract.

The Orbiter 1K is a vehicle-mounted unmanned aerial vehicle (UAV) that is highly-transportable and is capable of staying airborne for up to three hours. The UAV is also fitted with a powerful multi-sensor camera with both day & night monitoring capabilities.

The company’s license suspension back in 2017 revolves around the Orbiter 1K deal, where it was alleged that Aeronautics executives that were visiting Azerbaijan to conclude the UAV’s sale contract were asked to perform a strike on an Armenian military position with the UAV.

While the details surrounding the event are blocked by a court-issued gag-order, the two Israeli nationals controlling the UAV refused to go through with the strike which prompted the company’s senior officials to take control of the aircraft and perform the strike themselves, which ultimately missed hitting the given target.

According to reports, the company, which in 2011 opened an Aerostar & Orbiter UAVs factory in Azerbaijan, has consistently denied of any wrongdoings in the case.