A Russian airbase in Kant, Kyrgyzstan, is due to open on October 23, Nikolai Bordyuzha, Secretary General of the Collective Security Treaty Organization (CSTO), told RIA Novosti Thursday.
The Kant airbase will by used, above all, by the CSTO rapid deployment forces, said Mr Bordyuzha.
The base will be providing air-cover during possible CSTO military operations in the region.
The Russian air force to be deployed at Kant will involve five Su-25 and four Su-27 fighters, a Mi-26 and two Mi-8 helicopters.
These are not the final figures, according to Mr Bordyuzha. "The base is rather capacious and can be expanded in the future," he said. "It will take several hours to build up the forces deployed at the base, which has been properly equipped." The organization involves Armenia, Belarus, Kazakhstan, Kyrgyzstan, Russia and Tajikistan.
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