CIS envisions regional inter-state air defense systems

ITAR-TASS News Agency
February 10, 2005 Thursday 4:54 AM Eastern Time

MOSCOW, February 10 — Russia’s Deputy Air Force commander Lt-Gen
Aitech Bizhev said the setting up of regional inter-state air defense
systems is one of the most important directions of the development
of the unified air defense system of the Commonwealth of Independent
States.

Such systems are envisioned for the east European, Central Asian and
Caucasian regions, Bizhev told Itar-Tass on Thursday.

At present, a package of documents to create a unified air defense
system with Belarus has already been coordinated. “It has an important
strategic significance, because such a system will become not only
a factor of deterrence to outside pressure of force, but also help
expand and intensify the mutually beneficial cooperation between the
two friendly states,” he noted.

Speaking about joint combat duty by CIS air defense units, the
General said Russia had organized joint watches with Armenia, Belarus,
Kazakhstan, Kyrgyzstan and Uzbekistan.

“The established system of combat duties allows for boosting the
control and reliability of protection of the air borders, decrease
tensions in the operation of the units on duty, and cut the number
of the radar units of the Russian Air Force involved in combat duty
with the radars on line.

Two billion roubles have been allocated for the development of the
unified CIS air defense system this year, per decision by the prime
ministers of the member-states. The funding for the same purpose only
amounted to 800 million roubles last year, Bizhev said.

Bizhev is taking part in the meeting in the Russian capital marking
the 10th anniversary of the establishment of the unified air defense
system. The meeting is attended by the air defense and air force chiefs
of Russia, Armenia, Belarus, Kazakhstan, Kyrgyzstan and Tajikistan.