News agencies report Russian AF Second-in-Command Aitech Bizhev as saying that Russian fighters and long-range aircraft will soon be able to use the new airfield near the city of Navoi, Uzbekistan, in emergencies. "The agreement on the use of the military base's airfield was made this November," Bizhev said referring to the negotiations between the Russian AF command and defense minister of Uzbekistan.

Interesting that the news was reported today when all newspapers are discussing the sudden death of President Saparmurat Niyazov in nearby Turkmenistan. Demise of the Central Asian dictator predictably pushed the issue of regional security into the foreground.

Rosbalt reported Bizhev as saying that the airfield in question was only to be used in emergencies.

Russia will outfit the airport with navigation equipment and antiaircraft means in return for the permission. "SU-27s and MIG-29s of the Uzbek Air Force and Antiaircraft Forces will be posted there," Bizhev said.

Regional headquarters of the Central Asian element of the CIS United Antiaircraft Defense System will be established in Uzbekistan soon. "The local command post of the antiaircraft defense uses the facility of the former 12th Army of the Antiaircraft Forces of the USSR," Bizhev explained. "The radar coverage there is complete, all equipment is working. It took us but 30 seconds to call the Central Command Post, and audibility was perfect. The gear may be old, but the age doesn't affect its performance."

Ferghana.Ru news agency approached Colonel (in retirement) Vladimir Mukhin, Nezavisimaya Gazeta military observer and analyst, for comments.

"That the news was broken today is probably a coincidence, but that the news is important is beyond doubt," Mukhin said. "From the standpoint of understanding the situation in the region itself, that is. The CIS United Antiaircraft Defense System is finally expanding into Uzbekistan. That's great. It was on the territory of Uzbekistan that vital command posts of the antiaircraft defense were once located. It is reasonable for Russia to be trying to form or rather reinstitute these structures in Uzbekistan now. It is reanimation - to some extent of course - of what existed in the Soviet Union."

"It will certainly be wrong to detach individual republic from the common antiaircraft defense system. Some important antiaircraft defense elements were once located in Turkmenistan too. Say the division quartered in Mary protected the USSR from any troubles on the Iranian border," Mukhin said.

According to the expert, "... establishment of the regional headquarters is a major step forward. Enough talking, time to start acting. I do not doubt that Russia and Uzbekistan will continue rapprochement in terms of defense now."

Mukhin emphasized as well that the strengthening of the CIS AF group in Uzbekistan was important both from the regional and local standpoints.

"Moscow's interests in Uzbekistan extend to uranium production and enrichment. It is the Navoi Mining and Smelting that is doing it. Needless to say, Russia and Uzbekistan would want this object protected from air attacks - or from international terrorism for that matter," Mukhin said. "We all know after all that even the Talibs had their own aircraft and combat pilots."