2021-09-16
On the day I was approved by the Parliament to the Office of Defense Minister, I pledged to launch an Su-25 restoration project, and now we have 4 Su-25s fully restored and modernized through our own efforts, Georgian Prime Minister Irakli Garibashvili stated at Tbilaviamsheni JSC where he, together with the Defense Minister, familiarized himself with the work of a new aircraft assembly plant and attended demo flights.
According to the Head of Government, this process in its entirety has been managed and operated by the Defense Forces' Air Force Command.
"We are now in the territory of the Factory #31, a historical factory that has, over the years, manufactured almost 1,000 Su-25 jets. Back when I was approved by the Parliament to the Office of Defense Minister, I pledged to launch an Su-25 renovation project, and now we have 4 Su-25s fully renovated and modernized through our own efforts. We have also built a new hangar to accommodate renovation work. I am grateful to the Factory #31, which was placed under our management during my tenure as Defense Minister, and which we managed in its entirety-all these renovation efforts are under the management of Delta. This process in its entirety has been managed and operated by the Defense Forces' Air Force Command. I thank everyone, from Minister Burchuladze to those engaged in this process.
Before the end of this year, we will have six renovated Su-25 jets. You have also witnessed the active process of renovating Mi-24s. We will also start actively manufacturing helicopters. In addition, we have already sent four American helicopters to the US, and representatives of our Air Force Command are on the ground to monitor the process of renovation. Very soon, in a matter of months, we will receive renovated American helicopters, and our air force fleet will be upgraded and restored.
It is an enormous motivator for our hero pilots, our soldiers, who have been waiting for years for the restoration of our aircraft. At some point, this project was suspended, and I am excited and happy that we did it. Once again, I thank all of you," Irakli Garibashvili said.
The full renovation and restoration of the Defense Forces' aircraft by Georgian specialists at the new aircraft assembly plant in the territory of Tbilaviamsheni JSC meets all modern standards.
The Su-25 jets are now fully equipped with modern radio-electronic navigation systems.
The project for developing aviation was launched under Irakli Garibashvili as Defense Minister. The Su-25 jets owned by Georgia's Defense Forces were transported to the Aviation Factory, with Tbilaviamsheni JSC carrying out their full renovation.
So far, four Su-25 jets have been fully renovated and modernized. At the same time, a Mi-24 helicopter is under restoration, with its trial flights expected in near future. Uh-2s are also actively restored. Four AN-2 planes have been fully renovated. These aircraft have been transported to the base of the mixed aviation squadron, and they actively used in a variety of missions.
The aviation fleet will be renewed through joint cooperation between Tbilaviamsheni and Delta. Alongside restoring, renovating, and modernizing aircraft, the project also seeks to train and retrain army personnel and to put in place relevant infrastructure.
The project seeks to empower and develop the aviation units of Georgia's Defense Forces.
The demo flight of modernized Si-25 jets was attended by Prime Minister Irakli Garibashvili, Defense Minister Juansher Burchuladze, and Chief of the Defense Forces Major General Giorgi Matiashvili.
After the demo flight, the Head of Government met with the pilots and personally thanked the Aviation Command.
Press Service of the Government Administration