Georgian Defence Minister says $135mln spent on “NATO-level infrastructure” in last 4 years
Georgian Defence Minister Juansher Burchuladze on Tuesday said about ₾360 million ($135mln) had been spent over the last four years on both construction and renovation projects. Photo: Ministry of Defence
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Georgian Defence Minister Juansher Burchuladze on Tuesday said about ₾360 million ($135mln) had been spent over the last four years on both construction and renovation projects to ensure “modernised infrastructure at the level of NATO member states” for military personnel of the country.
Speaking at the Parliament as part of his turn to address MPs in the Minister's Hour format, Burchuladze said infrastructure development and construction would continue, adding ₾100 million ($37.52mln) was allocated in the Ministry’s 2024 budget for the purpose.
Twenty [construction projects] are being built alone this year, and more than 50 [facilities] are being renovated. We have also started the construction of very important infrastructure facilities, such as the special operations forces base in Mukhrovani, aviation and air defence command base in Tbilisi, as well as the cadet military lyceum in Tbilisi, which will cover eastern Georgia”, Burchuladze said.
The Minister also spoke about developments in military equipment, noting 60 different modifications of Didgori, a Georgian-made armoured personnel carrier developed by the Delta research centre, had been handed over to the Defence Forces, while new command armoured vehicles would also be delivered “later”.
Seven thousand units of a new type of armoured vest will be delivered to our army by the end of the year. Also, 7,000 units of helmets and the same number of universal [...] systems created for the first time in the Delta centre will be given to our military. We are actively working in the direction of export, and have negotiations with various companies”, Burchuladze said.
He also mentioned “successful operations” of Delta Textile, which provides the country’s defence forces with locally produced field and daily uniforms for winter and summer. Burchuladze said next year the company planned to add online sales to promote the company and increase profitability.
Burchuladze highlighted “important steps” for restoration and modernisation of the air force, noting a “significant part” of the aircraft and helicopter fleet had been updated over the recent years.
The Minister said his office had made “important steps” in strengthening intelligence capabilities through purchase of American-made multifunctional radar systems based on “trends of modern warfare”, while agreements on the purchase of radio-electronic intelligence systems had also been signed.
He told MPs the Ministry was working to strengthen anti-armour and anti-aircraft capabilities as well.
Georgian Prime Minister Irakli Garibashvili on Tuesday said his office would reveal a new decision about the regulation of the pension system for the country’s law enforcement and defence sector, pledging to ensure additional efforts for providing “decent working conditions” to employees in his comments for Veterans’ Day.
Georgian Prime Minister Irakli Garibashvili on Monday said Army City, a project for offering accommodation to personnel of the Georgian Defence Forces in a newly built district on the outskirts of the capital city of Tbilisi, was “completed” and revealed a “similar” project would be launched “soon”.
The 11th edition of Agile Spirit 2023 multinational defence drills in Georgia have officially concluded, the Ministry of Defence of Georgia said on Friday.
The renovation, rehabilitation and modernisation of the aviation park of the Georgian Defence Forces are “actively underway”, with an upgraded military aircraft Su-25 added to the aviation, the Defence Ministry said on Saturday.
Georgian Defence Minister Juansher Burchuladze on Tuesday told the country’s Parliament Georgia’s security “significantly depended” on the effectiveness of its deterrence and defence policies.
Georgian Defence Minister Juansher Burchuladze on Tuesday highlighted the “close and continuous” cooperation with international partners, especially with the main strategic partner - the United States, adding the partnership with the US “is increasing and strengthening each year”.
Georgian Defence Minister Juansher Burchuladze on Saturday inspected the ongoing infrastructure works in the Western Command of the Defence Forces.
Georgian Defence Minister Juansher Burchuladze on Wednesday met Admiral Rob Bauer, the visiting Chair of the NATO Military Committee, to discuss “main directions” of cooperation with the alliance and prospects of further strengthening ties, the Ministry of Defence said.
Georgia’s foreign policy, ongoing military cooperation with NATO and regional security were discussed on Thursday in a meeting between the Georgian Parliament Speaker Shalva Papuashvili and Admiral Rob Bauer, the visiting Chair of the NATO Military Committee, the Georgian Parliament said.
The visiting NATO Military Committee on Thursday held its plenary session in the format of cooperation with Georgia, the Defence Ministry said.
Irakli Beraia, the Chair of the Georgian Parliament's Defence and Security Committee, on Monday said cooperation between NATO and the country was at an “unprecedentedly high” level.
Georgian Parliament Speaker Shalva Papuashvili’s visit to NATO once again confirms the “comprehensive nature” of NATO-Georgia relations, Irakli Beraia, the Chair of the Defence and Security Committee of the country’s legislative body, said on Tuesday.
Juansher Burchuladze, the Georgian Defence Minister, on Tuesday met Javier Colomina, the NATO Secretary General's Special Representative for the Caucasus and Central Asia, to discuss domestic defence reforms and progress achieved in strengthening the country’s capabilities and increasing its compatibility with the bloc.
Giorgi Khaindrava, the Deputy Defence Minister of Georgia, and a representative of the Polish company MESKO S.A on Friday signed a deal on purchase of an anti-aircraft missile complex from the producer.