Main
areas for improving and developing the CIS member states’
joint air defence system have become one of the key issues
on the agenda of the 49th session of the CIS Defence
Ministers’ Council Air Defence Coordination Committee. The
session was held on 14 August in Minsk, the capital of the
Republic of Belarus.
The event was attended by delegations from the defence
departments of the Russian Federation, Republic of Armenia,
Republic of Belarus, Republic of Kazakhstan, Kyrgyz Republic,
Republic of Tajikistan, Republic of Uzbekistan, Joint Staff
of the Collective Security Treaty Organisation, defence
industrial enterprises of Russia, leaders of the CIS basic
air defence research organisation.
The attendees also discussed the results of the Coordinating
Committee's activities in 2018, features and specifics of
joint operational and combat training events of the CIS
Joint Air Defenсe System in 2019, priority air defence
researches, as well as other issues targeted to improve and
develop the CIS Joint Air Defenсe System.
They also analysed experience of using unmanned aerial
vehicles in counterterrorism operations in the Syrian Arab
Republic.
According to Major General Viktor Afzalov, the Chief of the
Main Staff / First Deputy CINC of the Russian Aerospace
Forces, the session took into account proposals to hold
training with control bodies of the CIS Joint Air Defenсe
System.
Viktor Afzalov emphasised that the Coordinating Committee
pays great attention to military cooperation. In particular,
it is planned to supply spare parts and materiel, air
defence equipment to Armenia and Belarus. Air Defence and
Air Force сommand centres in Uzbekistan are to be supplied
with signal communications means.
On 15 August, the members of the Coordinating Committee will
take part in the Regional Security 2018 joint computer
command post exercise in order to practise functions of
alert air defence forces of Russia and Belarus. It is worth
mentioning that this exercise is being conducted for the
first time.