From kamikaze drones to ground robots: Azerbaijan surprised the world with new military industry products at ADEX 2026

280 companies from 53 countries and 59 foreign delegations are participating in the VI Azerbaijan International Defense Exhibition ADEX 2026.

As reported by BAKU.WS with reference to Oxu.Az, this was stated to journalists during the exhibition by the Head of the Staff of Azerbaijan's Ministry of Defense Industry, Samir Agababayev.

According to him, the fifth pavilion of the Baku Expo Center has been utilized for the first time, which indicates a significant expansion of the event's scale. The fourth pavilion houses an exposition of Azerbaijani-manufactured products.

Samir Agababayev reported that 130 types of products manufactured by enterprises of the Ministry of Defense Industry are presented in the national pavilion. Among them are ammunition of various calibers, artillery weapons, unmanned aerial vehicles, and kamikaze drones.

Unmanned ground robots - a new chapter in Azerbaijan's defense industry

Particular attention from visitors was drawn to newly presented innovations. The Head of the Staff spoke about armed, kamikaze-type, and wheeled unmanned ground robots - entirely new product models. Their main purpose is to minimize the direct participation of military personnel in combat operations and reduce the risks that personnel face in modern combat conditions.

According to Samir Agababayev, one of the most significant premieres of the exhibition was the BARS interceptor drone, designed to neutralize enemy unmanned aerial vehicles. In conditions where drones have become one of the key tools on the modern battlefield - as conflicts in recent years have shown - countermeasures against them are acquiring strategic importance.

In addition, the exhibition features the Boran drone, kamikaze drones of the Qırat family, as well as the Batur FPV unmanned aerial vehicle.

Special attention is deserved by the Zərbə (Strike) unmanned aerial vehicle, demonstrated for the first time at ADEX 2026 - a result of joint Azerbaijani-Turkish production. The technical specifications of the kamikaze drone are impressive: length - 3.5 m, wingspan - 3.2 m, flight duration - 2 hours.

New assault rifles and the Igla air defense simulator

The Head of the Staff also reported that three new assault rifles are presented at the exhibition: one in 5.56×45 mm caliber and two in 7.62×39 mm caliber. The development of domestically produced small arms is an important step toward reducing dependence on arms imports.

Additionally, the Igla air defense simulator was demonstrated for the first time. According to Agababayev, simulation systems allow for the training of military personnel without the use of live ammunition, while creating conditions as close to real combat as possible. Such simulators significantly reduce the cost of training and increase its safety.

In summary, Samir Agababayev emphasized that the main goal of Azerbaijan's defense industry remains the mastery of modern technologies, the creation of new types of products, and the consistent expansion of domestic production capabilities. The ADEX 2026 exhibition demonstrates that Azerbaijan is confidently moving from the role of an arms importer to the status of a developer and exporter.