A joint Russian-Armenian air defence system will reportedly reach the Middle East (Source: Public Radio of Armenia)

YEREVAN (Public Radio of Armenia)—Political analyst Sergei Minasyan has said that a joint Russian-Armenian air defence system project launched in 1990’s, though not connected to the ongoing turmoil in the Middle East, is necessary now considered the crises in the region today.

Russian President Vladimir Putin signed an agreement on the creation of a joint air defence system for Russia and Armenia. The decree was published on Wednesday.

The system will protect the airspace south of Russian borders in the South Caucasus, political analyst Sergei Minasyan said.

“The system will comprise [of] air defences and Russian combat jets deployed to the Southern Military District. This would allow for monitoring the airspace far from the Armenian borders. The system will also help modernise Armenian air defences and improve their operational range,” Minasyan told Sputnik Radio.

The deployment of air defence missile systems, radio-radars and jet fighters to Armenia will allow for protecting the airspace far from Russian borders, including in the Middle East, he pointed out.

According to him, the initiative was launched long ago. “It has been in the development for over 10 years. And now it’s just a coincidence with the Syrian conflict. The situation in the so-called Greater Middle East just proves that the measures are effective,” Minasyan said.

Minasyan underscored that Moscow and Yerevan laid the groundwork for the project back in the 1990’s.

“From political and strategic points of view there have been no significant changes. The system still works. Russia and Armenia coordinate their actions in patrolling the airspace. The new joint air defence system would just be more effective,” he said.