Shoigu: Russia will deliver the C-300 air defense system to Kazakhstan
This year, Russia will begin supplying C-300 anti-aircraft missile systems to Kazakhstan, Russian Defense Minister General of the Army Sergei Shoigu said at the conclusion of negotiations with his Kazakh counterpart Adilbek Dzhaksybekov.
“This year we will supply the C-300 complexes to the Armed Forces of Kazakhstan in sufficient volumes to ensure the protection of the airspace,” said Shoigu, without specifying how many complexes and under what conditions Russia will supply Kazakhstan, RIA reports.News».
At present, a small number of C-300 systems are in service with the air defense forces of Kazakhstan, which are mainly used to cover the airspace of the capital. In addition, in the arsenal of the Kazakh army there are older complexes that are inferior to C-300 in combat capabilities.
As Deputy Defense Minister Anatoly Antonov specified, Russia will supply five divisions of the C-300PS anti-aircraft missile system to Kazakhstan at no cost to Kazakhstan.
Shoigu also said that the ministries of defense of Russia and Kazakhstan are actively working to develop military and military-technical cooperation.
“Over the past two months, this is our third meeting. Each of them is important: we discuss the pressing problems of our armed forces and, most importantly, the issues of our military and military-technical cooperation, the organization of a unified cooperation system, the organization of a joint anti-missile defense system and air defense, cooperation in the operation of those facilities that provide the security of both Russia and Kazakhstan, ”said the Russian minister.
“We need to continue moving forward in re-equipment, reconstruction of some facilities, further movement in the joint operation of complex engineering units and facilities,” said Shoigu, ITAR-TASS news agency reported.
“Unfortunately, not everything can be talked about openly,” he complained. “But it is nice to know that we and our subordinates understand the importance and seriousness of the tasks set for us by the states.” We are going step by step towards solving these problems. ” At the same time, the minister expressed the hope that the parties would take "decisions on the issues discussed in December." “An important issue is the timing and dates of deliveries of new systems. We will make plans for the near future both on landfills and stations, ”said Shoigu.
At the same time, the minister said that the military departments of Russia and Kazakhstan had resolved all the issues regarding the development of the Balkhash complex. “We have agreed to start its joint operation and operation. To do this, this year it will be necessary to start training specialists, ensure admission and, most importantly, provide installation and supply of additional equipment, ”said Shoigu.
In turn, the Minister of Defense of Kazakhstan noted that "our meetings are a good tradition." “Such a positive dynamics in the development of Kazakhstan-Russian relations in the field of defense underlines your active position on this issue, the position of the Russian Ministry of Defense,” said Dzhaksybekov.
“We, for our part, are committed to collective work. If we talk about our affairs, then almost a year ago we signed the Agreement on the Unified Air Defense System, ”he recalled.
Currently, Kazakhstan is undergoing internal procedures for the entry into force of the Agreement, they are in the final stages. “Upon its entry into force, we consider it necessary to determine the list of command posts, formations and units allocated to the system, as well as the candidacy of the commander of a single air defense system for submission for approval by the presidents of Kazakhstan and the Russian Federation,” said Jaksybekov.
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