BISHKEK. Dec 2 (Interfax-AVN) - Reinforcement of the collective rapid reaction force in Central Asia with Russian warplanes is a result of the threat of international terrorism, Kyrgyz Defense Minister Esen Topoyev told Interfax-Military News Agency on Monday.
"The military aviation of the collective rapid reaction force in Central Asia is being reinforced in compliance with a decision of the chiefs of member states of the CIS Collective Security Treaty," the minister said. He referred to the beginning of the deployment of Russian warplanes on a military airfield in Kant, 20 kilometers from Bishkek.
The aviation will support ground units of the collective force, the minister said. The planes will be deployed at Kant Airport of the Kyrgyz Defense Ministry.
"Two IL-76 Candid military transport planes of the Russian Air Force are based in Kant. They arrived in Bishkek on November 30. Two military aviation wings of the Russian Air Force comprising a total of five SU-25 Frogfoot and SU-27 Flanker planes will arrive on Monday. The Russian Air Force planes will test infrastructure of Kant Airport until December 7," Topoyev said.
The final decision on the deployment of warplanes in Kant is to be made by the chiefs of member states of the CIS Collective Security Treaty in April, he stressed.
Russian Air Force and Kyrgyz Defense Ministry planes will be used on the initial stage. Kyrgyzstan will be represented in aviation units of the collective force by four L-39 test fighters, two MI-8 Hip planes that will accomplish missions related to search and rescue operations, and an AN-26 Curl transport plane.
The number of Russian warplanes will amount to 10-12 items. SU-25 and SU-27 will accomplish missions related to supporting ground units of the force in combating international terrorism and act in the interests of the air defense system in Central Asia.
Topoyev said that a Russian military working group arrived in Kyrgyzstan on November 30. The experts led by Air Force aviation chief Lieutenant General Alexander Zelin will work in Kyrgyzstan to accommodate warplanes and study Kant Airport's infrastructure.
Russian Defense Minister Sergei Ivanov will make a working visit to Bishkek on Wednesday and Thursday. According to data provided by the Kyrgyz Defense Ministry, he will observe training flights of Russian fighters.
Issues related to the use of Kant Airport for accomplishing missions related to the collective rapid reaction force will be discussed during Ivanov's visit.