25 Jan 2018 19:12

U.S. instructors to train Georgian military to use Javelin anti-tank missile systems - minister

TBILISI. Jan 25 (Interfax) - Military instructors from the United States will train Georgian troops to use Javelin man-portable anti-tank missile systems acquired by the Georgian Armed Forces, Georgian Defense Minister Levan Izoria said on Thursday.

"Very soon we are planning to hold relevant exercises so that our troops could learn skills necessary for using this equipment. Naturally, we are working with our main strategic partner, the U.S., so that with the help from their instructors our troops could use the modern equipment," Izoria said.

The U.S. anti-tank missile systems have been delivered in Georgia and are for defense purposes, he said. The total delivery is worth around $75 million, the Georgian Defense Ministry said earlier.

The first stage of acquiring U.S. Javelin anti-tank missiles had been successfully completed, Izoria told journalists earlier, after meeting with U.S. Ambassador Ian Kelly.

Georgian authorities said earlier that they wanted to acquire 410 missiles for the system, 72 aiming launchers, ten training simulators and 70 charges for them.