Azerbaijan, Gabala/corr. Trend E.Huseynli / The Defense Minister of Russia, Anatoly Serdyukov, who is on an official visit to Azerbaijan, arrived at Gabala Radar Station on 28 November. The Russian Minister became familiarized with the activity of the Station.
Gabala Radar Station was established by the Soviet Union as part of the missile defense system of the USSR. The Station was leased by Russian in 2002 for a period of ten years.
Serdyukov was observed by his Azerbaijani counterpart, Safar Abiyev. The Russian Defense Minister did not inform the media of the goals of his visit to Azerbaijan and Gabala Radar Station.
Gabala Radar Station is a warning station for missile attacks and was designed to track the launch of the land and marine ballistic missiles which is capable of carrying nuclear warheads and making continuous control on cosmic space. The station is able to control danger at a distance of 6,000km. The station was put into commission in 1985 and the station's technical resources will be in operation to 2012.
The 10-year agreement on leasing of the station was signed in 2002. At the beginning of 2006, Azerbaijan raised a question to double the annual rent charges from 7 to $14.4mln.