Belarusian Polonez MLRS used during Azeri military drill.

Azerbaijan`s military has used its Belarusian-originated Polonez multiple launch rocket system (MLRS) in drills, according to the Azeri Ministry of Defense (MoD).

A Polonez MLRS at Milex 2017 in Minsk, Belarus.

"In accordance with the plan signed by President of the Republic of Azerbaijan Ilham Aliyev, the Azeri military held a large-scale combined-arms exercise, which started on July 2," the press department of Azerbaijan`s MoD said in a statement.

According to the Azeri officials, nearly 20,000 servicemen, up to 120 main battle tanks, more than 200 artillery systems, rocket launchers and mortars, and up to 30 fixed-wind and rotary-wing aircraft were involved in the exercise. "The troops practiced various military operations and trained to engage a simulated enemy by artillery, rocket artillery, air-launched weapons, aircraft, and unmanned aerial vehicles," the MoD said.

According to a footage issued by the military, Azerbaijan`s armed forces used new hardware, including the Polonez MLRS, LORA tactical missiles, Plasan Sandcat and Paramount Group Marauder armored cars, and BTR-82A armored personnel carriers in the drills.

The Polonez MLRS can be fitted with rockets and guided missiles. At the MILEX 2017 defense show, the M20 single-stage solid-propellant guided missile for the system was unveiled. According to the official information issued by the Belarusian defense industry, the M20 has a length of nearly 8 m, a weight of nearly 4 t and a firing range of about 280 km. The containerized missile is armed with a 480 kg high-explosive (HE) warhead. According to Belarusian media outlets, the M20 may have been developed in conjunction with the Chinese industry.

The missile presented at the MILEX 2017 show dramatically resembles the M20 missile developed by the China Academy of Launch Vehicle Technology (CALT; also known as the First Academy). The Chinese M20 missile armed with a 480 kg HE warhead has a firing range of 280 km. It should be mentioned that the organic rocket of the Polonez MLRS is believed to be based on the A200 system also developed by the Chinese defense industry.

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