The armed forces of Azerbaijan have assumed full control of the Qabala early-warning radar station, following the withdrawal of the last Russian military personnel from the site in October.

The station and its 6,000 km-ranged Daryal anti-ballistic missile (ABM) and space vehicle tracking radar were was built in 1984 to provide ballistic-missile defence coverage of the Middle East, Iran, Pakistan, and parts of China.

When its then-current lease expired in December 2012, Russia decided not to renew it, having failed to come to terms with Azerbaijan over extending the agreement. The obstacle seems to have been cost, with Azerbaijan asking for an annual fee of USD300 million rather than the previously charged USD7 million.

ANN.Az