Georgia's Defense Minister Emphasizes Air Defense and Aviation System Growth in Parliament Address
By Liza Mchedlidze
Wednesday, October 18, 2023
Georgia's Defense Minister, Juansher Burchuladze, during his speech in the Parliament of Georgia, emphasized the importance of enhancement and growth of Georgia's air defense and aviation systems.
Burchuladze stated that the Defense Ministry's goal is to make Georgian skies as safe and secure as possible.
"As the past experience and the specifics of modern warfare have shown us, during military confrontations, the development of anti-aircraft means is of particular importance for the performance of defensive tasks and the protection of our critical infrastructure. Accordingly, the strengthening of this component is one of the main priorities of our efforts," said Burchuladze.
According to the Defense Minister, significant progress has been made in terms of restoring and modernizing our aviation assets.
"In just four years, we've achieved a level where our aviation now includes SU-25s, UH-1H helicopters, as well as MI-8, MTV, and MI-24 helicopters in excellent condition. We've also commenced the restoration of training-combat L39 aircraft and AN-2 aircraft, along with training aircraft, which will be completed in the near future," stated Burchuladze.
In his speech, Burchuladze mentioned that one of the government's ambitious projects is the establishment of local drone production.
"By the end of the year, we anticipate the introduction of domestically manufactured drones, produced by Delta, utilizing the Delta-Web framework. Furthermore, it's important to note that while we develop our domestic drone production capabilities, we also continue to acquire cutting-edge equipment from reputable manufacturers in leading countries," the minister explained.
Furthermore, the minister stated that Georgia has entered into agreements with both NATO member states and partner countries for the acquisition of advanced short- and long-range anti-drone systems, along with handheld drone detection and suppression systems.
