Belarus buying Russian anti-missile weapon S-400

Belarus is to buy anti-missile weapon S-300 from Russia and considers a question on possible purchase of new anti-missile weapon S-400.

This information was confirmed by Mikalai Azamatau, head of the State Military and Industry Committee of Belarus, NEWSru.com reports. “Belarus is likely to buy Russian anti-missile weapon S-400 Triumf,” he said to journalists on Wednesday.

It should be reminded that last August Belarus filed to Russia the request for supply of S-400 Triumf system battalions by the end of 2010. But sources in the military-industrial complex (MIC) of the Russian Federation said all production facilities of the enterprises of the Russian MIC would be working for Russian army. Almaz General Director Igor Ashurbeili said Triumf needs to be used in Russian army for the future 2 years, and than after elimination of possible defects, it would be prepared for export in 2009.

According to Azamatau, “interest of the Military Forces of Belarus in the system is caused by the results of tests of S-400, putting it into service in air defence forces of the Russian Federation, and better characteristics in comparison with S-300,” RIA Novosti informs.

“According to the information from Russian side, export of S-400 can be started in 2009. At least, Almaz administration says negotiations on exporting of this complex are possible,” Azamatau said.

According to the information of the military industry committee of Belarus, anti-missile system S-400 Triumf is on experimental service in the Russian air defence forces. Based on the results of service, the found defects will be eliminated, documentation and material equipment of the system will be completed. The experimental service will last over 2 years, and only after that the Russian industry will begin to provide in the first turn Russian air defence forces with production models of S-400 by 2015.

Belarus currently has three S-300 complexes on combat duty. Last year Belarus announced it readiness to buy Russian missile system Iskander. Russia explained it was asymmetric response to deployment of the US anti-missile elements in Europe, and a border from NATO. It hasn’t been said, how many Iskander systems is Belarus to buy, but it is know it will purchase them on favourable conditions.