Air Force Commander says Russia set to develop its airbases in Kyrgyzstan, Armenia
KAZAN. Oct 15 (Interfax-AVN) - A government contract for renovations of Russia's Kant airbase in Kyrgyzstan will be concluded before the end of this year, Russian Air Force Commander Col. Gen. Viktor Bondarev said.
"We already have a plan for the Kant airbase renovations. A government contract will be signed this year and we will continue to develop this airbase," Bondarev said during a tour of new facilities of the Russian Air Force.
In his words, a number of improvements have been made on the Kant airbase premises.
In addition, a renovations plan has been approved for the Erebuni airbase in Armenia, Bondarev said.
The Russian Kant airbase is stationed in a suburb of Bishkek. Sukhoi Su-25 attack aircraft and Mil Mi-8MTV helicopters are deployed there. The military unit operates under the jurisdiction of the Second Air Force and Air Defense Command of the Central Military District but it is also an air force component of the Collective Rapid Deployment Force assisting in the provision of security of the territory and airspace of CSTO member countries. The base marked its tenth anniversary in October 2013.
Russia opened its airbase in Kyrgyzstan on conditions of the free use of immovable property transferred to it by the Kyrgyz side. The airbase status and terms of its deployment were defined by an agreement of September 22, 2003, which is being implemented consistent with the interstate agreement on the status and terms of deployment of a Russian military base on the territory of the Kyrgyz Republic dated September 20, 2012. The defense ministries of Russia and Kyrgyzstan are compelled to fulfill the agreements.
The Russian airbase in Armenia is stationed at the Erebuni airfield in line with an intergovernmental agreement. The airbase was attached to Russia's 102nd military base in 1994 and fourth-generation multirole fighter jets Mikoyan MiG-29 were deployed there in December 1998. It was reported that the Russian airbase in Erebuni would be reinforced with Mil Mi-24 and Mi-8 helicopters before the end of 2014.
