In order to ensure the consistent and continuous development of the Georgian army, a higher defense budget has been outlined for the coming year.
The parliamentary committee on defense and security discussed the 2022 state budget.
The 2022 budget to be distributed among defense agencies is as follows: Ministry of Defense – 918 million GEL (900 million GEL in 2021), Ministry of Internal Affairs – 800 million GEL (790 million GEL), State Security Service – 140 million GEL, Special State Protection Service – 61 million GEL, Intelligence Department – 14.5 million GEL, State Service for Veterans Affairs – 8.3 million GEL and National Security Council – 3.2 million GEL
In July, Defense Minister Juansher Burchuladze presented a 10-year development plan for the Georgian armed forces, which coversedfive priorities: anti-armour, airborne, artillery, reconnaissance and engineering capabilities.
The 10-year plan includes:
– Purchase of an additional batch of Javelin anti-tank missiles from the United States in 2021;
– Start of production of small and large unmanned aerial vehicles on the base of Georgia’s State Military Scientific Technical Center Delta in 2022 – negotiations are underway to set up a joint venture with South African and Polish companies;
– Develop artillery capabilities intensively from 2024; plan includes the development of Georgia-made mortars, as well as the purchase of foreign-made artillery units;
– Enhance engineering capabilities in 2022-2027 in order to develop mobility and countermeasures;
– Complete renovation of the Vaziani, Senaki, Krtsanisi, Kutaisi and Gori cadet corps and artillery bases;
– Complete construction of residential blocks on Makhata Mount in the capital city of Tbilisi until the end of 2022 and present flats to 1,050 servicemen;
– Create legislation under which the state shall provide flats to all high-ranking military staff and a guaranteed increase in salary.
Overall, the 2022 state budget of Georgia has been planned with a forecast of 6% economic growth, the Ministry of Finance of Georgia announced. (Agenda/Business World Magazine)