Georgia celebrates Air Force Day
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The people of Georgia and the country’s servicemen and women are today celebrating a military milestone; the 24th anniversary of the country’s Air Force.
Georgian Military Aviation Day is annually celebrated on September 19 to mark the day in 1992 when Georgian pilots Mizan Tsertsvadze and Valeri Nakopia first took off for a flight in two Su-25 ground attack aircraft, marking the founding of the Georgian Air Force.
To celebrate the day, a special event was held at the Alekseyevka Air Force Squadron military airfield in Tbilisi and attended by defence officials, air force personnel and dignitaries.
Among the guests were Georgia’s Minister of Defence Levan Izoria, and Air Force and Air Defence Commander Colonel Davit Abramishvili.
In his congratulatory address Izoria stressed the professionalism of Air Force personnel. At the same time he announced Georgia's deepening cooperation with France to develop a military branch in the near future.
We plan to carry out a very ambitious plan in relation to developing the air defence system in Georgia, and we are in intensive cooperation with our French colleagues to reach for this goal," he said.
In the near future we will be visited by a French expert who will set out an Action Plan for next year. The unit based here will be the one carrying out this plan in cooperation with our colleagues," said Izoria.
Today’s military celebratory also featured an exhibition of Air Force and air defence equipment for the visiting dignitaries.
Minister of Defence of France Jean-Yves Le Drian has promised France will help Georgia strengthen the country’s ability to defend itself.
Georgia’s Defence Minister Tinatin Khidasheli announced last night Georgia would create a special operational command for the country’s air forces, which combines aviation and air defence.
Georgia is warmly anticipating a visit from a group of experts from the Netherlands, who are coming to Georgia to help the country reform its military aviation.
Georgia’s Ministry of Finance will take a loan of €82.82 million from the French Societe Generale. Of this money, €77.63 million will purchase the new air-defence systems while the remaining money would fund other risk management expenses.
The Georgian Air Force celebrated its 25th anniversary today with awards to its personnel and a ceremony involving officials and military commanders in Tbilisi.
Today Georgia is marking the 30th anniversary of the country’s air force, celebrating the day in 1992 when Izani Tsertsvadze and Valeri Nakopia became the first pilots in the independent country to take off for a flight in two Su-25 ground attack aircraft and signalled the founding of the branch of its defence forces.