Russia plans to deploy air defense assets at its airbase in Kyrgyzstan

Bishkek, Feb.12, 2020. /Kabar/. Russia plans to deploy air defense equipment at its military base in Kyrgyzstan, State Secretary-Deputy Defense Minister Nikolai Pankov, RIA Novosti reports. "As part of this work we plan to introduce into the joint Russian military base and organize the use of unmanned aerial vehicles in the near future," he said, addressing the State Duma on the ratification of the protocol between Russia and Kyrgyzstan on the status and conditions of stay of the joint Russian military base in this country. "The next stage will be the deployment of air defense assets at the Russian military base. Besides, the infrastructure of Kant airfield will be reconstructed," Pankov added. In December 2019, Russian President Vladimir Putin submitted to the State Duma for ratification a protocol with amendments to the agreement on the Russian military base in Kyrgyzstan, which will allow Russia to introduce unmanned aerial vehicle units into the base. The Russian Kant airbase was opened in Kyrgyzstan in October 2003 as an aviation component of the Collective Rapid Reaction Force of the Collective Security Treaty Organization (CSTO). Its main tasks are to provide air cover for CSTO ground operations. It is equipped with Su-25SM aircraft and Mi-8MTV helicopters and is structurally part of the Central Military District of Russia.