Azerbaijan's military tradition dates back to ancient times. Historian Bakhtiyar Maharramov told Baku TV that the country's military history extends to the 3rd millennium BC.
He noted that Shah Abbas I's reforms during the Safavid era established a standing army. The Azerbaijan Democratic Republic also built a 40,000-strong army based on volunteer units.
Today, the Azerbaijan Army is built on the concept of a people's army and ranks among the top 10 modern armies. Special forces and technological superiority enhance its strength.
