Defence ministry in talks with Poland, Czech Republic, Israel for joint defence production
Georgian troops deploy from the locally produced Didgori armoured vehicle during the 2020 Noble Partner multinational drills in the country. Photo via Ministry of Defence of Georgia.
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The Ministry of Defence of Georgia is in talks with Poland, Czech Republic and Israel for establishing joint ventures for developing knowledge and experience in a "priority" field of national defence production, minister Irakli Garibashvili announced at a briefing of his 2020 ministry report on Friday.
Garibashvili told the presentation of the annual briefing 2021 would see "essential steps" taken by his institution for rounding off ongoing projects related to defence industry and launching new initiatives.
The ministry has seen a major increase in focus on defence production under Garibashvili, with the minister reaffirming the priority while announcing the talks with the three partner states.
The Georgian Defence Forces will be "completely" equipped with NATO-standard weaponry by the end of next year, the audience of the report also heard. Garibashvili said this included providing the troops with M4 rifles, as well as new machine guns and grenade launchers.
He also listed artillery assets, mobile anti-air hardware, "operational and tactical" drones - of both reconnaissance and combat variety - as well as close-range anti-tank capability in the list of equipment to be handed to GDF units in 2021.
This year the ministry signed deals with a number of foreign partners for provision of equipment to GDF, including on a "complete rehabilitation and modernisation" of anti-air assets by two Israeli defence producers, an agreement for receiving Spanish-made drones, and deals with German and Italian truck companies.
Introducing the defence vision of the new government programme, Georgian Defence Minister nominee Irakli Gharibashvili said the country will further strengthen its defence capabilities in 2021.
Georgian defence forces have received brand new Toyota Land Cruiser ambulances from the defence ministry today. Previously the defence forces received Toyota Hilux pickup trucks as part of renovation of their transportation fleet.
Georgian Defence Forces troops will replace their ageing transportation with trucks produced by leading European and American brands, with the Ministry of Defence of Georgia signing the deal to provide servicemembers with up-to-date hardware.
Air assets from the arsenal of the Georgian Defence Forces is undergoing major repair and update efforts, with both fixed-wing aircraft and helicopters being brought back into the order.
Nationally produced armoured cars have equipped the Georgian Defence Forces for the first time, after the Scientific Technical Centre 'Delta' provided the armed forces with Didgori vehicles.
Anti-aircraft defences of the Georgian Defence Forces will undergo a "complete rehabilitation and modernisation", while air assets will also be upgraded, in deals between the Ministry of Defence of Georgia and Israeli defence technology companies.
The Ministry of Defence of Georgia will obtain NATO-standard hardware to replace some of the current equipment used by the Georgian Defence Forces, with the replacement necessitated by challenges demonstrated during COVID-19 lockdown efforts by the troops.
Unmanned aerial vehicles from Spanish producers will equip Georgian reconnaissance units after their acquisition by the Ministry of Defence of Georgia, as revealed on Monday.
The first Su-25 ground attack aircraft repaired and updated by local industry will take off within two weeks in a demonstration flight, Juansher Burtchuladze, the candidate for Minister of Defence of Georgia, told the parliament on Monday.
Georgian defence industry will join forces with Israeli partners to produce M4 rifles while also being in talks with Polish and South African companies to launch joint production of unmanned aerial vehicles - in addition to planning procurement of a further batch of Javelin anti-tank systems from the United States and anti-air missile systems from an Israeli company.
Polish President Andrzej Duda says that his country is ready to share some of its coronavirus vaccines with Georgia.Duda made the statement during his meeting with Georgian President Salome Zurabishvili in Tbilisi earlier today. He stated that Georgia and Poland should further strengthen ties, especially in the tourism field. Zurabishvili stated that Georgia has lifted all restrictions for tourists who have received their coronavirus vaccines, adding that the country is open for Polish tourists as well.
Georgian Defence Forces bases across the country will soon enjoy NATO-standard infrastructure, minister Juansher Burchuladze announced on Thursday in his presentation of the ministry's 10-year action plan.
A joint Georgian-Israeli production of rifles will launch in Georgia, with Prime Minister Irakli Garibashvili presenting the newly set-up plant for making carbines similar to the famed American-made M4.
Giorgi Khaindrava, the Deputy Defence Minister of Georgia, and a representative of the Polish company MESKO S.A on Friday signed a deal on purchase of an anti-aircraft missile complex from the producer.