DUSHANBE, September 12, 2011, Asia-Plus — Tajik Defense Minister, Colonel-General Sherali Khairulloyev, has departed for Russia’s Astrakahn Oblast to monitor the third phase of a military exercise for the CIS air defense forces, dubbed the Combat Commonwealth 2011, Faridoun Mahmadaliyev, a spokesman for the Ministry of Defense (MoD), told Asia-Plus on Monday.
According to him, the military exercise, involving sub-units of Armenia, Belarus, Kyrgyzstan, Russia and Tajikistan, is closing today with a final phase at the Ashuluk training grounds featuring live-fire missions. Two air defense crews from Tajikistan are participating in the exercise, the spokesman said.
Conducted annually, such exercises are part of efforts to build a joint air defense shield for the CIS, a loose association of former Soviet republics. An integrated air defense network was set up by 10 CIS member nations on February 10, 1995.
The main purpose of the network is to ensure the protection of the member states” airspace, early warning of missile attacks and coordination of joint efforts to neutralize potential air threats.
According to Russia’s news agency, RIA Novosti, the CIS network currently comprises seven air defense brigades, 46 units equipped with S-200 and S-300 air defense missile systems, 23 fighter units equipped with MiG-29, MiG-31 and Su-27 aircraft, 22 electronic support units and two detachments of electronic warfare.
