Russia To Build New Radar Stations In Azerbaijan, Near Arctic Circle

Russia's Defense Ministry broadcasting channel, Zvezda-TV, reports that Moscow has plans to start building new early warning radar stations in Azerbijan and near the Arctic Circle.

The radar stations are meant to provide long-distance monitoring of airspace.

Zvezda-TV said on August 18 that construction of the Voronezh-DM radar will start at Azerbaijan's Soviet-era Qabala military complex in 2017 and is scheduled to be completed during 2019.

The new radar will replace old Soviet radar system Daryal, which Russia stopped using in December 2012 due to differences with Baku over the Qabala lease fee.

The report says new Voronezh radars also are being built in Russia's northwestern cities of Pechora and Murmansk.

It says all of the new radar stations will be fully under Russia's control.

Zvedzda-TV says Voronezh radars have been established in Russia's Leningrad, North Caucasus, Kaliningrad, and Irkutsk regions since 2009.

Based on reporting by tvzvezda.ru and minval.az