This is not the first contribution made by the overseas military to the aviation infrastructure of the Manas airport. According to the former Kyrgyz Security Council Secretary, Miroslav Niyazov, the conversion is necessary, especially for the needs of the Kyrgyz Republic, which implies air traffic safety. In this case, the allocation of money is just a step that talks about a partnership between the USA and Kyrgyzstan.

Miroslav Niyazov, Former Secretary of Kyrgyz Security Council:

The negotiations about the allocation of funds for the modernisation of Kyrgyzstan’s air navigation began two years ago

Toktogul Kakchekeyev, Military Expert:

Part of the allocated funds will be spent on construction of the command and control center, the so-called tower. It will be located at the Manas airport and it will be receiving all the information about the situation in the airspace over Kyrgyzstan. The new equipment will provide information about the location of aircrafts within three seconds, and it can at the same time process and recognize up to four aircrafts.

Manas International Airport (IATA: FRU, ICAO: UAFM) is the main international airport in Kyrgyzstan located 25 km north-northwest of the capital Bishkek. The airport is operational 24 hours and its ILS system is ICAO CAT 2. Fog can cause heavy delays especially for long haul flights. It is also the site of the Transit Center at Manas, formerly known as Manas Air Base, a US Air Force base supporting Operation Enduring Freedom and the International Security Assistance Force in Afghanistan.

In 2007, 625,500 passengers passed through the airport, an increase of 21% over the previous year. 23,172 tonnes of cargo were also processed in 2007.