TBILISI. Jan 28 (Interfax-AVN) - The project of the Georgian Airspace Control Center has been submitted for consideration to the National Security Council and the Defense Ministry, Air Force Commander Amiral Salukvadze said on Friday.
"Elaboration of the center's project is complete, and the project is currently under consideration in the National Security Council and the Defense Ministry leadership," Salukvadze told Interfax-Military News Agency.
"The project's implementation was to begin yet in 2004, a delay occurred because of changes in the Defense Ministry top brass, but the implementation will begin this year," he said.
According to Salukvadze, this is a long-term project, and it will have several stages. "Only the goals and missions for the period until 2008 are determined so far," he said.
He noted that available tracking assets will be upgraded in accordance with NATO standards on the project's initial year-long stage. "After that it will be possible to discuss Georgia's inclusion in the NATO system of sharing data on airspace protection," he said.
"The project is expensive, that is why Georgia relies on assistance of foreign partners in developing the center," Salukvadze stressed.
Military experts say that Georgia already took some measures to reinforce its Air Force and Air Defense in late 2004. Both foreign military aid and the assets inherited from the former USSR were used. In particular, an airfield in the town of Marneuli was upgraded in accordance with NATO standards. It is now able to accept planes round the clock and in adverse weather conditions. Turkey granted about $2.5 million for the upgrade. In addition, an S-125 air defense missile system was commissioned in Western Georgia. The system based in the town of Poti was inherited from the Soviet Air Defense Force.