Defense News:
Georgia announced it has inked a deal with European missile systems group MBDA to acquire a “state-of-the-art defense system,” according to Georgia’s Defense Minister Tinatin Khidasheli.
“This system can be equipped with many additional features that can strengthen its defense ability in accordance with what a country can afford,” Khidasheli said following the signing of the contract, as reported by local news site Civil.ge.
“The agreement … entered into force today and its implementation will start on January 1, 2016,” the Georgian ministry said in a statement.
The deal was signed in Paris on Friday. The value of the contract and details on the equipmentto be supplied to Georgia were not disclosed by the Defense Ministry.
In June, the Georgian ministry signed an air defense system deal with ThalesRaytheonSystems with the aim of purchasing ground-based surveillance radars and air defense command and control systems.
According to Khidasheli, with the two deals, the government is aiming to safeguard Georgia’s air defense capability.
“The main goal has been achieved. We have bought a foundation to guarantee Georgia’s air defense, which will be completely compatible with NATO systems,” the minister said.
Khidasheli may make limited information about the two deals public after she discusses the issue with Georgian President Giorgi Margvelashvili and the Trust Group, a Georgian parliamentary body tasked with oversight of classified military expenditure, according to the ministry.
