Ukraine and NATO to implement regional airspace security program
Experts from NATO Regional Airspace Safety Program (RASP) and officials of Ukrainian Air Forces met on the 23rd of February under the guidance of Rene van der Heiden. This was reported by the Press Service of the Defense Ministry of Ukraine.
Thr key issue discussed was the technical-operational study of the implementation of the RASP project with regard to the security of the airspace in Ukraine.
"The implementation of the RASP project will provide Ukraine with the possibility of cross-border coordination to address safety incidents in the air, to develop regional compatibility and interaction in space, as well as to improve domestic civil-military cooperation," said the First Deputy Commander of the Armed Forces of Ukraine, Major General Artur Artemenko.
According to him, taking into account the existing system of data exchange on the air situation in Ukraine, this project will provide an opportunity to significantly improve the efficiency of air monitoring.
The RASP program provides the receipt of real-time warning of aerial threats and suspected aircraft renegades. It does this through the exchange of data, direct voice coordination and the implementation of common procedures from neighboring countries.
Now, the RASP system with its mutual-alert program includes the countries of Norway, Poland and Turkey. Georgia, Lithuania, Latvia, Moldova, the USA, Finland and France have also showed interest in this project.
As previously reported, on the 19th of February, Ukraine and NATO had signed a letter of intent concerning the cooperation in the field of special operations between the headquarters of the Special Operations Forces of NATO and the General Staff of the Armed Forces of Ukraine.