YEREVAN. Oct 15 (Interfax-AVN) - The Unified Air Defense System of the Commonwealth of Independent States (CIS) has substantial potential for further advances, Russian Air Force Commander Vladimir Mikhailov told Interfax-Military News Agency on Tuesday.
"This happens because unfavorable tendencies that have been registered in the economy of the CIS member-nations over the past few years could not but affect the numerical strength and quality of their armed forces. Air defense forces of the nations signatories to the agreement on the CIS Unified Air Defense System's establishment were no exception and underwent staff reductions in the course of reforms," Mikhailov said.
The length of the CIS aerial state borders controlled by radars has decreased considerably, he stressed.
"In several countries, the situation became critical in the sphere of combat readiness of radar equipment in the radio- technical troops' inventory. As the radar field decreased, the field of control over fighter aviation was cut down proportionally, and given the accompanying personnel reduction, possibilities of using interceptor fighters to prevent violations of the state border and rules of using the CIS airspace declined," Mikhailov noted.
According to him, customs, tax and financial problems prevented the emergence of close cooperation in the development, production and supplies of military equipment. Among the reasons for it is the lack of a CIS military-technical cooperation concept and a long-term program of such cooperation.
"That is why there are serious difficulties in the supplies of armament, spare tools and components, fuel and lubricants for air defense assets and aircraft park of the CIS member-states. For example, processing of documents on supplies and customs clearance of products take up to 80 percent of time that is spent for shipping military hardware to CIS nations," Mikhailov added.
At present the CIS Unified Air Defense System consists of over 30 surface-to-air missile units, some 20 fighter aviation units and over 20 radio-technical units as well as several separate electronic warfare battalions.