Tashkent, Uzbekistan (UzDaily.com) -- In September 2020, in Georgia signed a deal with the Israeli defense concern "Rafael". However, the specific details of the deal were not disclosed. The parties also signed a contract for US$12 million for the maintenance of the Spider air defense system and training of personnel, Carnegie.org reported (USA).

Israel has tested its latest air defense systems against Russian MiG-29, Su-30SM and Su-35S aircraft deployed in Syria. If the Georgian system includes Israel Army software, it could give Tbilisi an edge in future clashes with Russia.

Georgia’s interest in helping Israel to modernize the country’s air defense system is not limited to contracts with Rafael. Georgian Defense Minister I. Garibashvili also discussed with the Israeli company ELBIT Systems the possibility of concluding a deal to modernize the Georgian Air Force. The parties discussed issues of equipping aircraft with electronic systems according to NATO standards.

Commenting on the modernization program of the Georgian Armed Forces, a number of experts believe that Tbilisi is challenging the sovereignty over its long-standing territories - Abkhazia and South Ossetia, annexed by Moscow as a result of the conflict in 2008. Others believe that this advertisement of Israeli weapons, which is very far from reality and is not sound meaningful in the statement that Georgia can challenge Russia. The only question is that Tbilisi is striving to become a NATO member.

One of the advantages of the Russian Armed Forces in the Georgian-Russian conflict in 2008 was that Moscow neutralized its own equipment from the Soviet era. Now this advantage will not be after the purchase of the Israeli system by Georgia. It remains to be seen whether Israeli weapons will help Georgia win in the event of a potential conflict with Russia.

The possibilities of such a future are shown by the conflict between Azerbaijan and Armenia, which renewed the conflict in Nagorno-Karabakh. On the first day of hostilities, Baku announced the destruction of a part of the Armenian aviation.

The outcome of the renewed Karabakh conflict is yet to be seen, and the confrontation between the aviation and radar systems of the two South Caucasian countries will be carefully studied by both Georgia and Russia.