Footage from the Armenian lines in NKR. You can hear Azeri drones loitering above.
This is the first video released by the Azeri MoD showing the use of loitering munitions (aka suicide drones).
Situation as of 1 Oct 20
Hostilities continue along the entire contact line in the Nagorno-Karabakh region. Azeris first attacked air defenses and tanks near the forward line of their own troops. They have since moved on to target Armenian artillery and groups of soldiers. With the apparently successful attacks on Armenian air defenses, the Azeris might be confident now to use their aircraft against ground targets.
This conflict (and Libya) continues to show the effectiveness of drones - almost to the point of making armoured vehicles useless. At the very least, both sides need to re-evaluate how they employ their tanks. Azerbaijan needs lessons in combined arms and mutual support and Armenia needs to study concealment.
It isn't clear to me how much maneuver the Azeris have conducted, if any. But it seems Azerbaijani drones are operating without great resistance right now and will likely continue to knock out Armenian artillery, armor, and OPs unless something changes. Regardless of how effective Armenian soldiers are, they will struggle to hold onto their defensive positions if they continue to face an effective aerial threat operating with impunity. So the question is, what will Armenia do about it?
Armenian claims of Azeri losses:
- 89 UAV
- 9 helicopters
- 166 armoured vehicles
- 4 aircraft
- 1 MLRS
- 920 pers KIA/WIA
Azeri claims of Armenian losses:
- up to 200 armoured vehicles
- 228 artillery, including MLRS and mortars
- 31 air defense systems, including 1 x S-300
- 6 command posts
- 5 ammo dumps
- 110+ vehicles (non-armoured)
- 2000 KIA/WIA
The usual caveat applies in that both sides exaggerate the losses of the other for propaganda purposes.