Azernews.Az

BAKU – The radar station in Azerbaijan that is part of the Russian missile warning system may become part of a European missile shield, a senior Russian military official has said.

"The [Russian-leased] Gabala radar station is most suitable for integration into European anti-missile defense. It controls the space at 6,000 kilometers to the south," Igor Morozov, deputy chief of the Russian Armed Forces’ Space Forces Staff, was quoted by the local RIA Novosti news agency as saying Friday.

Russia and NATO agreed on cooperation in creating a European missile defense system at the NATO-Russia Council summit in Lisbon in November 2010.

The Gabala radar station, located in northwestern Azerbaijan, was built during the Soviet times as one of the key elements of the USSR’s missile defense system. After Azerbaijan gained independence and became owner of the radar station, Russia continued to operate the facility.

Col. Morozov said the Gabala radar was meant to constantly exercise control over space "in the southern and southeastern directions". The radar station’s capacities allow detecting ballistic missiles a few minutes after their launch, Morozov told a conference devoted to the planned European missile defense system, Interfax news agency reported.

"Moreover, European countries will not have to create any additional radar stations in this direction," he added.

Azerbaijan’s APA news agency quoted a military source as saying that Azerbaijani and Russian officials are expected to meet soon to discuss extending Moscow’s lease of the Gabala radar station, which expires in January 2012. During the talks to be joined by defense ministry officials the two countries will mull drafting a new agreement on operating the facility.

"Azerbaijan wants to draft a new agreement. Baku is making a number of proposals to that end," the source said. The proposals include increasing the lease payment, the volume of Russian assistance to eliminate environmental impact of the radar’s operation and Azerbaijani staff at the radar station; and joint operation of the facility, including avoidance of transferring data acquired there to third countries without Baku’s consent.

The source also said the new agreement, which will be ready by the year-end, is to be sent to the Azerbaijani parliament for approval. It is expected to go into effect in March 2012.

The Gabala radar station, which was commissioned in 1985 as one of the USSR’s eight missile defense facilities, allows to track territory spanning 6,000 km, including Iran, Turkey, India, the Middle East, as well as the Indian Ocean and a part of the Australian continent. The early warning equipment would immediately track mid-range missiles with nuclear warheads potentially launched from these territories.

Azerbaijan signed a 10-year agreement in 2002 on leasing the mammoth radar station to Russia for $7 million per year.