Ministry of Defence announced about Lukashenka’s plans – weapons purchases

In the near future Lukashenka is set to equip the army with “most advanced” missile systems and air defence missile systems.

It is said in the report of the press-service of the Ministry of Defence, prepared to the Day of Armaments, the professional day of the army’s technical engineer personnel, celebrated on February 5, BelaPAN informs.

As informed by the press-service, despite of the fact that Russia is Belarus’ main partner in military-technical cooperation, a possibility of purchase of modern equipment in other states, for instance, in Ukraine or Israel, it is not excluded, if its combat characteristics would be better. The matter concerns in particular unmanned vehicles.

It is informed that since 2002 the Belarusian army adopted more than 50 varieties of armaments and military equipment, and this process is constantly boosted. In 2008 after research and development work 7 kinds of armaments were adopted.

At the moment systems of all command levels’ automation equipment are created, tested and entered service. They include Bor, Polyana, Sprut systems that belong to a brand new generation. Adoption of these systems would allow to created a single automated process-control system of air defense and air forces, achieve most optimal order of actions, considerable reduction of response time, increase stability, responsiveness, continuity of command.

In 2008, 53 simulators were bought. They include such tanks training systems as BMP-2 (infantry combat vehicle), BMD-1 (airborne fighting vehicle), SP artillery mount, 20 training systems for teaching Igla surface-to-air missile.

In 2009 it is planned to accept 6 new kinds of armaments and adopt 5 training systems, to complete production of 7 development prototypes and start their testing in the army.