DUSHANBE, July 25, Asia-Plus — Representatives from Russia’s Air Force handed over four fighter jet trainer aircraft Albatross L-39 to their Tajik colleagues at the Dushanbe airport today morning.
Lieutenant Sergey Gudko from Tajikistan’s Air Force told Asia-Plus that “in case of any conflicts these trainer planes may be used as the combat aircraft.” “These aircraft have been produced in the Czech republic and they arrived in Tajikistan after the major repairs,” Gudko said.
“The aircraft donated to Tajikistan should promote strengthening of fighting efficiency of Tajikistan’s Armed Forces and today’s event is not just an one-occasion action but a part of large-scale program for providing military and technical assistance to Tajikistan,” Lieutenant-General Oleg Latipov, the head of the Russian MoD directorate for military-technical cooperation, said, speaking at the aircraft-handover ceremony.
He noted that since late 2006, Russian has provided military-technical assistance to Tajikistan in an amount of $15 million – $16 million.
Speaking at the ceremony, Tajikistan’s First Deputy Defense Minister also Chief General Staff of the Armed Forces, Ramil Nadyrov said, “The aircraft have arrived opportunely. It is already two years that Military Institute at Tajik MoD has aviation faculty and now, after theoretical training cadets will have an opportunity to take practical training.”
