Russia to Set up an Airbase in Kyrgyzstan

This year Russia and Kyrgyzstan are expected to sign an agreement on permanent deployment of Russian Air Force at the Kant aerodrom, 20 km west of the Kyrgyz capital Bishkek.

A delegation of the Russian Air Force has arrived in the Central Asian republic for a working visit in order to coordinate the preparation of international state documents for opening the base in Kyrgyzstan.

According to RIA Novosti, last Wednesday the delegation's members led by Russian Deputy Air Force Commander Anatoly Nagovitsyn discussed the particulars of Russian military pilots' stay and the opening of the Kant airbase with Kyrgyzstan's military leaders.

After the visit, the Russian and Kyrgyz Defence Ministries are expected to sign a joint protocol.

The territory of the former Soviet base for training pilots from third countries, with a runway suitable for all types of airplanes, is already being prepared to receive aviation of the collective rapid deployment forces of the Collective Security Treaty organisation.

The Kant airbase will also be equipped with the night flight navigation system, storehouses for ammunition and fuel and other facilities.

Along with twenty combat and several transport airplanes of the Russian Air Force with about 300 servicemen, the base will also accommodate aviation of the Collective Security Treaty's member states (Russia, Belarus, Kazakhstan, Kyrgyzstan, Tajikistan and Armenia).