Azerbaijan remains the most advanced and institutionally developed drone operator in the South Caucasus, continuing to strengthen its unmanned warfare capabilities through both foreign procurement and domestic production.

Axar.az reports that this assessment was made in the article "Unmanned Arms Race: Integrating Drone Warfare in the South Caucasus" published by Geopolitical Monitor.

The report says Azerbaijan has introduced several new unmanned aerial vehicle (UAV) systems into service in recent years, including the domestically produced "İti Qovan" drone. It also notes that the country's leading defense manufacturer, Azersilah, is actively involved in UAV design and production.

According to the publication, Azerbaijan continues to operate a diverse fleet of Turkish and Israeli-made drones, including the Bayraktar TB-2 and Akinci, while expressing interest in acquiring additional advanced UAV platforms. The country has also established dedicated training and maintenance facilities for the Akinci drone.

The article highlights that the 2021 Shusha Declaration with Turkiye significantly strengthened bilateral cooperation in defense technologies, personnel training, and military-industrial development. It adds that Azerbaijan is expanding cooperation with Turkish defense companies by exploring joint drone production and broader defense-industrial collaboration with Baykar.

The report also points to technology exchange agreements, industrial cooperation memorandums, and discussions on the localized production of Baykar systems in Azerbaijan, describing them as evidence of Baku's long-term commitment to developing a sustainable domestic UAV industry.

One of the report's key observations is the formal establishment of dedicated Unmanned Systems Troops within the Azerbaijani Armed Forces. Although Azerbaijani authorities have not officially disclosed the unit's exact place within the military structure, the sequence of formations displayed during the 2025 military parade suggests the new force has likely been integrated into the Azerbaijani Air Force.

According to Geopolitical Monitor, Azerbaijan's growing drone capabilities are also supported by rising defense spending, with the country's military budget increasing from approximately $2.24 billion in 2020 to a planned $5.1 billion in 2026, reflecting Baku's continued focus on military modernization and technological development.