MOSCOW. Sept 17 (Interfax-AVN) - The Russian Defense Ministry is prepared to modernize the Gabala radar station in Azerbaijan if a political decision is made on its joint use with the U.S. to monitor potential missile threats from the southern direction, a high-ranking military official has said.
"We understand that our American partners are especially concerned about the condition and development of rocket technology in Iran. And we are prepared, in case a political decision is made to use the Gabala radar station together, to modernize those of its parameters that our American partners would point to," Alexander Yakushin, a first deputy chief of staff of the Russian Space Forces, said at a press conference in Moscow.
Asked whether a Russian Space Forces tracking station in Tajikistan's Nurek could be used jointly with the U.S., Yakushin replied that it would be premature to talk about this.
He also said Azerbaijan did not suggest that the rent payment for the Gabala radar station could be increased if it is used jointly by Russia and the U.S.
Russia pays Azerbaijan $7 million for renting the Gabala radar station annually. "There has been no talk about increasing the rent payment in light of the radar station's possible joint use," Yakushin said.