Russia, Kazakhstan to create joint Eurasian air defense system

Russia and Kazakhstan are set to sign an agreement by the end of this year on the creation of a joint regional air defense system.

The documents are ready and currently being agreed on at presidential administrations of the two states, Kazakh Air Defense Chief Nurzhan Mukanov told journalists on Wednesday, reports Itar-Tass. A similar deal may soon be signed between Russia and Armenia. Meanwhile, a Russian-Belarus joint air defense system is already being formed, said Russia’s Deputy Air Force Commander Pavel Kurachenko. The agreement has already been ratified by both countries and now the sides are deciding on the troops’ command personnel.Russia and several other former Soviet Republics – now members of the Commonwealth of Independent State (CIS) – are working on setting up a regional air defense shield that would cover territories from Eastern Europe to the Caucasus and Central Asia. The agreement on the creation of such unified defense system was sealed back in 1995 and brings together Armenia, Belarus, Kazakhstan, Kyrgyzstan, Russia, Tajikistan, Turkmenistan, Uzbekistan and Ukraine. On Wednesday, military officials from these states gathered in the Kyrgyz resort town of Cholpon-Ata to sum up results of the cooperation in the air defense field and agree on future plans.