A group of MiG-29 multirole jet fighters will be deployed to the Russian airbase Erebuni in Armenia in the second half of 2016, the press office of the Russian Southern Military District said, according to Sputnik News.

MiG-29 jets which will be deployed to the airbase after being fully repaired, will be used to protect Armenia’s airspace within the CIS joint air defense systems. They have also been involved in regular training flights in accordance with the combat readiness program.

The military stressed that following the New Year holiday season, preparations will start at the airfield for the new aircraft, including building storage housing modules.

In November 1998, Russia deployed the first MiG-29 jets to the Erebuni airbase. In July 2001, an air force unit was formed from the aircraft deployed to the base.