Azerbaijan, Kazakhstan look to expand military co-operation

Kazakhstan and Azerbaijan have agreed to strengthen their military-industrial co-operation in the latest in a series of accords entered into by Baku as it looks to enhance its national defence capabilities.

The agreement, announced by Kazakh state information services on 15 May, is expected to focus on maritime security issues plus Azerbaijan's possible purchase of Airbus Helicopters EC145s constructed by the Eurocopter Kazakhstan Engineering joint venture.

Kazakhstan has recently revealed its aim to raise localised production and assembly of EC145 helicopters by 30% by 2020. It has assembled 20 EC145s since production began in the country in 2011.

Booming income from the exploitation of natural resources has enabled Azerbaijan to ramp up its defence investment.