KYZYL (Tuva). June 6 (Interfax-AVN) - The participants in a meeting of the defense ministers from the Commonwealth of Independent States (CIS) countries, which took place in Kyzyl on Wednesday, signed intergovernmental agreements on using military satellite communications systems.
"In the interests of increasing the operational capabilities of the armed forces of the CIS states, intergovernmental agreements have been signed on using and upgrading military satellite communications systems and on cooperation in exchanging geospatial information," a statement circulated following the meeting says.
As a measure to improve the functioning of joint military systems, the defense ministers considered proposals on continued development of the unified CIS air defense system, joint communication system, joint state radar identification system, military aircraft flight safety system, and other systems, it said.
In particular, the participants endorsed the organization of the joint computerized command-post exercises of the unified CIS air defense system 'Regional Security 2018'. Kazakhstan will host the tactical command post exercises of the CIS air defense forces Clear Skies 2018. The parties also endorsed international legal foundations of the development of the joint communications system and analyzed military aircraft flight safety in 2017, the joint communique says.
The CIS defense ministers also supported Belarus's proposal on developing a new priority field of cooperation involving the use of military drones and the countering of hostile drones.