According to the Turkish news outlet GDH Digital, relevant Azerbaijani institutions have announced an international tender, which attracted several prominent companies.
The process is now approaching its final stage, with four participants making it to the last round: the Turkish company TUSAŞ (Turkish Aerospace Industries); Israel’s IAI (Israel Aerospace Industries); the Franco-Italian Thales Alenia Space; and Elon Musk’s SpaceX.
Under the terms of the tender, the winning company must supply a satellite that meets the highest international standards, comparable in capabilities to Israel’s Dror 1, and capable of meeting Azerbaijan’s future telecommunications and communications needs. Baku’s goal is not only to diversify its economy but also to strengthen its position in the global communications market and gain geopolitical leverage.
Currently, Israel’s IAI is considered the frontrunner. The company has previously collaborated successfully with Azerbaijan’s Azercosmos and has supplied the country with various types of weaponry, including drones, worth billions of dollars.
In October 2023, IAI signed a $120 million contract to supply Azerbaijan with two OpSat-500 reconnaissance and observation satellites. As part of this agreement, Azerbaijani specialists are undergoing training in Israel to operate these systems.
Another participant in the tender, as noted, is Thales Alenia Space. However, strained relations between Baku and Paris are said to reduce the company’s chances of winning. Nevertheless, the company is reportedly attempting to bypass this geopolitical hurdle by leveraging Italy’s close partnership with Azerbaijan.
Translated from haqqin.az
