According to Russian newspapers, the Russian Defense Ministry has stopped selling Bal-E's new missile systems to Azerbaijan.
Russia, apparently, refused a request for the sale of Bal-E coastal missile systems to Azerbaijan due to fears of the Ministry of Defense that these weapons could be used during the Karabakh conflict. Russia will not sell Bal-E to Armenia because of the risks it may present to Russian ships of the Caspian flotilla located in Russia's territorial waters, the Kommersant newspaper said. This view is clearly biased - since Russia will be able, on occasion, to neutralize missiles of its own production.
As previously reported, the Republic of Azerbaijan announced its intention to purchase the Bal-E coastal missile system from Russia. According to Kommersant, Azerbaijan has long been considering this rocket system because of the need to protect its coastal zone of the Caspian Sea. But since the Russian complex can bombard objects on land, it is impossible to exclude its use in the clash between the two Caucasian republics.
Bal-E is an export version of the Ball missile system. This system is used to protect the straits and territorial waters, to protect the shipping lines, naval bases and coastal infrastructure.
The missile system boasts high mobility, short deployment time, large rocket load and combat power. Bal-E provides high combat effectiveness, reliability and comfortable conditions for the crew. Rockets can be launched from positions located in mountainous areas at an altitude of up to 1000 meters above sea level, with artificial or natural obstacles in the direction of fire.
