Defence Ministry ‘gives up’ state military company

Georgia’s Ministry of Defence is giving up control over the country’s military manufacturer saying it had "commercial capabilities” and needed to fulfill this role.

Today Defence Minister Irakli Alasania explained the decision behind the move to give up control over Delta. 

"Delta fulfills not only orders of the Defence Ministry but it works on commercials projects as well. 

According to my initiative, this kind of unit should no longer be under the Ministry of Defense,” Alasania said. 

"My main goal is the readiness of Georgian armed forces [and] we need to manage the Army, not commercial and business enterprises,” he stated. 

The Minister said after two months of negotiations the Government decided to hand the company over to the Ministry of Economics and Sustainable Development of Georgia. Alasania noted this change would not affect the relationship and cooperation between Delta and Georgian Armed Forces. 

The Delta center was created in 2005 following a decision by then-President Mikheil Saakashvili. It united several enterprises working on military equipment in Georgia, which remained since the Soviet Union. This included Georgian aviation factory Tbilaviamsheni. 

During recent years Delta created several types of armored vehicles (Didgori), armored infantry vehicles (Lazika), unmanned reconnaissance drones and other types of military hardware. Up to 1500 people are employed in the center. 

The former United National Movement-led government planned to export Delta products, as well as using them in the Georgian Army. 

Earlier this year Georgian media reported Delta planned to work on civilian projects, which could include producing agricultural hardware and anti-hail rocket systems. 

In January 2013, Saakashvili warned about the danger of abolishing the defence industry, however ruling coalition representatives assured that Delta would not be shut down.