Russia worried US radars could track its territory

Russia is utterly concerned over the United States’ plans to station a missile defense system in Eastern Europe and one of the South Caucasus countries, as it would allow US military to track vast Russian territories, a senior military official says.

“The stationing of such facilities in the Czech Republic and the Caucasus would allow them to control extensive territories of the Russian Federation,” Russian Air Force deputy chief, Gen. Aytech Bizhev said.

The United States is in talks with Poland and the Czech Republic on the issue, but it is still unclear where the radars will be based.

Bizhev said the facilities have extensive capacities but added that he is unaware of the technical features of the radars the US plans to station in the region. But such radars will most likely allow to track hostile missiles within 3,000-4,000 kilometers.

The Russian official said Washington’s plans to station missile defense systems at Russia’s doorstep do nothing to promote regional stability.

“They are approaching our borders and will know every step [that Moscow takes]. No one wants to be under a target,” Bizhev added.

The Russian ambassador to Azerbaijan Vasiliy Istratov said Tuesday Moscow was unaware of any talks Washington was conducting with Azerbaijan, Georgia or Armenia.

The US embassy in Baku has said Washington had no plans to launch talks with the Azerbaijani government on stationing a transportable radar.*