DUSHANBE (TCA) — Russia has reinforced its military base in Tajikistan with a battery of Uragan multiple rocket launcher systems — the move which is due to the instability in neighboring Afghanistan, according to Dmitry Aleksandrov, a senior analyst at the Russia Institute for Strategic Studies, Sputnik news agency reported.
The BM-27 Uragan is a self-propelled multiple rocket launcher system (MRLS), capable of firing 220 mm rockets from 16 launch tubes. A full salvo of 16 rockets can be fired in 20 seconds and can hit targets at a distance of up to 35 kilometers. The system can operate in a rugged mountainous landscape. The Uragan is highly maneuverable and can be emplaced in three minutes.
The Russian military base in Tajikistan houses the largest ground force of the Russian military outside the country. It is located in the city of Dushanbe and in the town of Kulob. In October 2012, Russia and Tajikistan signed an agreement extending the deployment term of the base until 2042.
“I think that the deployment of these systems is a warning to any destructive force that in theory could launch aggression from Afghanistan. Currently, the situation is not critical, but the reinforcement of the 201st base seems to be aimed at preventing potential threats,” Aleksandrov said in an interview with Radio Sputnik.
According to the expert, this is a preventive measure and a “signal to members of extremist organizations.”
He noted that within the Collective Security Treaty Organization (CSTO) Russia and its allies have the capability to repel potential aggression.
“I’d like to reiterate that as for Central Asia, there is a Russian air force base in Kant [in Kyrgyzstan]. It is part of the CSTO security mechanism. It also can be used if necessary. Such scenarios have been practiced during various joint drills. I think that Russia and its CSTO allies have enough capabilities to repel all kinds of threats in the region,” Aleksandrov concluded.
