The Ministry of Defense of Georgia will obtain NATO-standard hardware to replace some of the current equipment used by the Georgian Defense Forces, with the replacement necessitated by challenges demonstrated during COVID-19 lockdown efforts by the troops.
The minister Irakli Garibashvili spoke about the effort by service members called up to help battle the pandemic throughout the last few months.
Garibashvili praised the “crucial” work of GDF troops manning checkpoints to quarantine zones and screening traffic in and out of coronavirus-affected locations, but added the effort had revealed “technical problems” with their equipment.
“One of the first issues we are working to solve this year is updating GDF hardware. In particular, we have plans to buy hundreds of new special hardware – NATO-standard, produced by European brands – for replacing current equipment, so that the army can efficiently deal with problems,” Garibashvili told programme hosts.
The minister hailed “unprecedented and hard work” carried out by the military, citing figures showing 1.7 million vehicles disinfected at checkpoints, in addition to 2.5 million citizens screened by military medics to reveal signs of fever as a precautionary measure for identifying possible COVID-19 traces. (Agenda/Business World Magazine)
