Russia Reportedly To Supply Advanced Air-Defense Systems To Kazakhstan

An S-300 antiaircraft system test-fires at the Ashuluk firing range in the Astrakhan region.

ASTANA -- Kazakhstan says Russia will soon supply it with S-300 missile systems as part of a plan to create a regional air-defense system, RFE/RL's Russian Service reports.

Kazakhstan's Air Defense Forces commander, General Aleksandr Sorokin, told journalists today that under the joint system, the Kazakh Air Force will be responsible for control of the airspace over the Kazakh-Russian border.

In return, he said Russia would provide Kazakhstan free of charge an unspecified number of S-300 long-range, ground-to-air missile systems.

Sorokin did not specify when the missiles will be deployed.

Russia has a similar joint air-defense agreement with Belarus.

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