The experience of Yugoslavia pushes the CIS to reconsider spending on air defence

Published: 5/26/1999

The Russian leadership is considering the possibility of allocating additional funds to finance its armed forces and, in particular, to strengthen its air defences, owing to the developments in and around Yugoslavia. Air Force Commander-in-Chief Col. Gen. Anatoli Kornukov told the press on Monday 24th May 1999 that: “A proposal concerning the need for additional spending on the support of the armed forces has been worked out and submitted to the president by the defence minister". Col. General Kornukov added that additional funding would be given to the Air Force and Air Defence, including its ground and naval components. He confirmed that the latest air defence system version, the C-400, would be officially tested at the beginning of 2000. Kornukov further commented that the developments in the Balkans had prompted the strengthening of the CIS joint air defence. He observed that: “Each has imagined itself a country on which bombs and rockets are falling. Yugoslavia today is unable to offer an adequate response. Any country alone, including Russia, could also face such difficulties due to objective financial and economic problems" . According to Kornukov, the joint CIS air defence constitutes a sufficient force and is capable of repelling any aggressor.

Article ID: 548