Did Russia Help Armenia Bring Down Azerbaijani Hermes 900 Drone?

Armenia may have received a shot in the arm from Russia in bringing down 13 Azerbaijani drones, including the Israeli Hermes 900.

Russia lent a helping hand by providing its Container radar owing to Collective Security Treaty Organization (CSTO) signed in May 1992, by six countries- Russia, Armenia, Kazakhstan, Kyrgyzstan, Tajikistan, and Uzbekistan. Member states of CSTO can turn to each other for help in the event of a threat.

Moscow is said to have deployed Container over-the-horizon radar, providing Armenia with long distance airspace monitoring and ballistic missile detection.

“As a member of the CSTO, Armenia has every right to receive assistance from Russia in the event of any external threat. Russia has deployed its Container radar that entered combat duty in December 2019. It covers the entire territory of Armenia, protecting the country from air strikes,” Russia’s Avia.pro reported on July 19.

Experts say Armenia’s “weak” air defense system struck Hermes 900 and other drones over long distances after being alerted by the radars.

“The Israeli drone could’ve gone unnoticed in the region it was shot down. But Armenia could study its flight path from the time it took off,” experts were quoted as saying by the report.

Meanwhile on July 17, Turkey offered its combat drones, ammunition and missiles to Azerbaijan. Ankara said it is also willing to lend new defense systems to Azerbaijan and will work together with Baku for the modernization, maintenance and repair of the systems.