DUSHANBE. Oct 29 (Interfax) - Russia has provided the Tajik Armed Forces with nearly 320 million rubles worth of weapons and military hardware free of charge, the press service of Russia's Central Military District said.
A ceremony to hand over these weapons and military hardware to Tajikistan was held in the Tajik capital of Dushanbe upon completion of the Unbreakable Brotherhood 2019 exercise of the Collective Security Treaty Organization (CSTO).
"Today, in conditions of growing threats and the expanding zone of instability in districts on the border with Afghanistan, the military-political situation in the Central Asian strategic sector is largely determined by the armed forces' ability to resist external military threats. One of the criteria influencing forces' combat capabilities is their material status. In order to be victorious on the battlefield, advanced samples of weapons and military hardware are needed that will help ensure superiority over the adversary thanks to their characteristics," commander of the Central Military District's forces Alexander Lapin said at the ceremony.
Russia views Tajikistan as a key ally in Central Asia, Lapin said, adding that Russia has also been helping boost the combat potential of Tajikistan's Armed Forces as part of a modernization program.
"The latest batch of military hardware on display at the Hisor airfield today includes a radar station able to detect and trace objects as well as ensure control over the use of national airspace; BRDM-2M armored reconnaissance and patrol vehicles, which have been upgraded to the most advanced version in their class. This is tried-and-tested and reliable military hardware which can tackle a wide range of tasks in a modern combat environment. The transferred military-purpose products will help enhance the combat potential of the Armed Forces of the Republic of Tajikistan and will also serve to maintain peace and bolster security in the region," Lapin said.