Azerbaijan Army introduced the MEMATT (Mechanical Mine-Clearing Equipment), minesweepers manufactured by Turkey’s state-owned ASFAT. The company develops the vehicle with subcontractors from the private sector.
MEMATT’s design, prototype, mass production and certification studies were completed in 14 months. Azerbaijan was the first foreign customer. According to ASFAT’s statement in December 2020, the company will supply 20 MEMATT to Azerbaijan. The first batch of MEMATT was in February 2021. The second batch of delivery was made in May 2021. There were five vehicles in the second delivery.
In the demonstration that took place on May 25, MEMATT detonated anti-personnel and anti-tank mines in the field, making the area safe for passage.
Relations between the two former Soviet republics of Azerbaijan and Armenia had been tense since 1991 when the Armenian military occupied Nagorno-Karabakh. During the 44-day conflict, Azerbaijan liberated several cities and nearly 300 settlements and villages from the nearly three-decade-long occupation.
