YEREVAN. – In the case of a need to defend the territorial integrity and sovereignty of the CSTO member states, the collective air force will contribute to the actions of the national armies. 

Collective Security Treaty Organization (CSTO) Secretary General Nikolay Bordyuzha noted the aforesaid during a press conference in Armenia’s capital city Yerevan on Thursday.

He added that all existing components will unite, and the special operation and the collective aviation forces will complement them.   

“They comprise separate subdivisions of the national armed forces. First, they are called to ensure the transfer of the subdivisions. Second, to provide military assistance,” the CSTO chief stressed. 

In his turn, Armenia’s National Security Council Secretary Arthur Baghdasaryan stated that they are also discussing the matter of modernizing the Russian air base in Gyumri city.       

“The air defense system, the102nd [Russian military] base [in the city], [and] Russia’s border troops will be modernized and reequipped,” Baghdasaryan noted.