Russia, Belarus to implement agreement on unified regional air defense system by late 2016
ASTRAKHAN. Sept 9 (Interfax) - The Armed Forces of Russia and Belarus will be put on combat duty in the two countries' unified regional air defense system in late 2016, Lieutenant-General Pavel Kurachenko, the head of the General Staff and first deputy commander-in-chief of the Aerospace Forces, told reporters on Wednesday.
"Instructions on the organization of combat duty in the unified regional air defense system are pending approval of the defense ministers of Russia and Belarus. The practical implementation of the agreement will be completed by late 2016," he said.
He recalled that the agreement between Russia and Belarus on joint protection of the external border of the Union state in the air space and the creation of the unified regional air defense system of the two countries was signed in 2009.
Russia ratified the agreement in 2009 and Belarus ratified it in 2012.
"The defense ministers of Russia and Belarus have approved a list of military control bodies, control points, and military units provided for the unified regional air defense system, and also the provision on the commander and command point of the unified regional air defense system," Kurachenko said.
The commander of the unified regional air defense system is Major-General Oleg Dvigalev, commander of the Belarusian Air Force and Air Defense Forces.
