MOSCOW. Aug 14 (Interfax-AVN) - On-duty air defense forces of Russia and Armenia in the framework of the CIS Unified Air Defense System are in permanent combat readiness and capable of reacting timely to any airspace violation in the Caucasus, a competent source in the system's headquarters told Interfax- Military News Agency.
"More than 10 Russian SU-27 Flanker fighters and batteries of S-300V and Kub-M3 surface-to-air missile systems are on combat duty in the Caucasus together with the Armenian air defense in the framework of the CIS Unified Air Defense System. Radar intelligence assets deployed in Armenia ensure accomplishment of assigned missions in full. Obtained intelligence data is supplied to the Air Force central command post in real-time mode for subsequent processing and making well-grounded decisions," the source said.
"Armenian and Russian air defense assets and forces are managed from the Unified Command post of the Armenian Air Defense and Aviation, where an operations group of the 102nd Russian military base is stationed," the source noted.
"The right to make a decision on opening fire by Russian air defense assets and aviation in urgent cases is given to the commander of the North Caucasus military district or the person acting as the commander," the source added.