Tanks make big impression at Vaziani military base

A new military training zone where tanks and other armoured vehicles can test their capabilities has opened in Georgia.

The official opening of the new obstacle course and training area, locally known as the tankodrome, was held today at the Vaziani military base near capital Tbilisi and attended by military and Governmental officials, dignitaries and invited guests.

Speaking at the event Georgia’s Minister of Defence Tinatin Khidasheli said efforts were being made to develop Georgia’s Armed Forces (GAF) with the aim of ensuring the country’s military service was among the best in the world. The opening of the new armour training area was one step towards this.

Soldiers line up at the opening of a new armour training area at Vaziani military base in Georgia. Photo by www.mod.gov.ge.

"This tank park will be a part of the NATO-Georgia Joint Training and Evaluation Centre, which will open officially at the end of this month. We have begun vigorous work to strengthen our armament and defence capabilities,” she said.

"The French contract is just a part of it. The Ministry of Defence is planning a lot of procurements though we will refrain from speaking about it publically. We also intend to solve infrastructural and logistical problems and to strengthen our preparation and defence capabilities,” she added.

While addressing the audience Minister Khidasheli stressed the need to upgrade the country’s defensive abilities. The new tankodrome will be used by Georgian troops but also by the NATO-Georgia Joint Training and Evaluation Centre, once it was up and running.

The training area was named after Corporal Roman Ugrekhelidze, a Georgian military serviceman who died heroically in the 2008 Russian-Georgian war.

Georgia’s Minister of Defence Tinatin Khidasheli (centre) and Chief of General Staff of the Georgian Armed Forces Major-General Vakhtang Kapanadze (right) attended the event. Photo by www.mod.gov.ge.

The new tankodrome included obstacles courses that mirrored a real combat environment, suitable for commanders and driver-mechanics of tracked combat vehicles (tanks, infantry combat vehicles and more).

During the opening, Defence Minister Khidasheli and her Deputy Besik Loladze, Chief of General Staff of the Georgian Armed Forces Major-General Vakhtang Kapanadze and other guests learnt about the new tank park before watching military vehicles carry out training manoeuvres in a demonstration.