Expert: Russia to have new cluster in South Caucasus thanks to Azerbaijan
By Rashid Shirinov
Russia seems to obtain the necessary aircraft-manufacturing cluster in the South Caucasus given that the country is ready to deploy a plant for assembling aircrafts in Baku, believes military expert Alexei Sinitsin.
“Taking into account that Moscow is ready to place a plant for assembling aircrafts in Baku, then, accordingly, Russia gets the necessary aircraft manufacturing cluster in the South Caucasus. It will be placed at the Northern Borders of the so-called Greater Middle East, which is especially important in light of the events in Syria, and for implementation of agreements on Russian-Iranian transport corridor North-South,” the expert told Ria Novosti.
Russian Deputy Prime Minister Dmitry Rogozin earlier announced that a plant of aircraft assembly and centre of modernization of helicopter equipment will be established in the Azerbaijani capital.
“It will make it possible for Azerbaijan to join the narrow circle of countries which have aircraft-building industries,” he said.
He further added that a deal on opening of the service center of “Helicopters of Russia” in Azerbaijan will be signed in late September in Baku at the international exhibition of arms and military equipment ADEX-2016.
Sinitsin believes that the recent Baku summit of the presidents of Russia, Iran and Azerbaijan outlined some joint projects between the countries in the energy sector, particularly offshore oil and gas production.
However, the creation of offshore oil infrastructure is impossible without a powerful helicopter fleet, which will need constant maintenance.
“This should be the objective of the service center of “Helicopters of Russia” on the basis of the enterprise Silk Way Helicopter Services that will carry out the maintenance of civil helicopters Mi-8/17,” said Sinitsyn.
Sinitsyn is sure that the opportunity of expansion of the centre for maintenance and overhaul of military helicopters is attractive for Azerbaijan.
He further emphasized that the military-technical cooperation between Russia and Azerbaijan is developing dynamically and has reached a very high level.
The opening of Russian helicopter service centre in Baku will allow Azerbaijan to operate its aircraft with a high guarantee of reliability and to make significant savings in its military budget, according to the expert.
The opening of a new high-tech enterprises means appearance of new jobs in the non-oil sector of Azerbaijani economy, he added.
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Rashid Shirinov is AzerNews’ staff journalist, follow him on Twitter: @RashidShirinov
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