Belarus Armed Forces Gallery and Discussion

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ARMY

  T-72 MBT - 446 units
  T-80B MBT - 69 units
  BMP-1 IFV - 136 units
  BMP-2 IFV - 875 units
  BTR-70 APC - 39 units
  BTR-80 APC - 153 units

  BM-21 MLRS - 126 units
  BM-27 MLRS - 72 units
  BM-30 MLRS - 36 units

  Tochka ICBM - 36 units
  Scud ICBM - 60 units

  2S1 SPH - 198 units
  2S3 SPH - 108 units
  2S5 SPH - 116 units
  2S9 SPH - 48 units
  2S12 Towed mortar - 61 units
  2S19 SPH - 12 units
  2A36 Towed howitzer - 48 units
  2A65 Towed howitzer - 132 units


AIR DEFENCE FORCE

  SA-8 Air defense system - 72-96 units
  SA-10 Long range air defense system - Unknown
  SA-11 Medium range air defense system - 36-48 units
  SA-12 Long range air defense system - Unknown
  SA-13 Air defense system - unknown
  SA-15 Air defense system - 8 units
  SA-19 Air defense system - unknown
  SA-21 Long range air defense system - 12 units


AIR FORCE

  Su-30 - 12 units
  MiG-29 - 43 units
  Su-25 - 68 units
  Mi-24 - 21 units
  Mi-8 - 36 units
  Mi-26 - 5 units  
  
  

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Belarus president calls on CSTO member nations to jointly modernize armed forces

13:27, february 14, 2018 Author: Asia-Plus

Belarusian President Alexander Lukashenko said on February 13 that the Collective Security Treaty Organization (CSTO) member nations ought to carry out a joint work on modernization of their armies, according to Belarusian news agency BelTA.


“We have managed to take a number of measures aimed at development of the armed forces of the CSTO member nations, expansion of military and technical cooperation between them and strengthening of their positions in the international arena,” Belarusian president was quoted as saying.

“Generally speaking, we have been serious underestimating the danger of the situation that has arisen.  Russia is modernizing its armed forces for itself.  We, together with other member nations, have trying to do something to modernize [our armed forces].  Each to its own,” Lukashenko said.

He further noted that Russia could play an important role in modernization of the armed forces of the CSTO member nations.

The regional security organization was initially formed in 1992 for a five-year period by the members of the CIS Collective Security Treaty (CST) -- Armenia, Kazakhstan, Kyrgyzstan, Russia, Tajikistan, and Uzbekistan, which were joined by Azerbaijan, Georgia, and Belarus the following year.  A 1994 treaty reaffirmed the desire of all participating states to abstain from the use or threat of force, and prevented signatories from joining any “other military alliances or other groups of states” directed against members states.

The CST was then extended for another five-year term in April 1999, and was signed by the presidents of Armenia, Belarus, Kazakhstan, Kyrgyzstan, Russia, and Tajikistan.  In October 2002, the group was renamed as the CSTO.  Uzbekistan that suspended its membership in 1999 returned to the CSTO again in 2006 after it came under international criticism for its brutal crackdown of antigovernment demonstrations in the eastern city of Andijon in May 2005.  On June 28, 2012, Uzbekistan announced that it has suspended its membership of the CSTO, saying the organization ignores Uzbekistan and does not consider its views.

The CSTO is currently an observer organization at the United Nations General Assembly.

Read more: https://news.tj/en/news/tajikistan/security/20180214/belarus-president-calls-on-csto-member-nations-to-jointly-modernize-armed-forces

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Belarusian army receives Chinese-made 4x4 armored vehicles

The Belarusian Armed Forces are receiving Chinese-made CS/VN3 Dajiang (Dragon) 4x4 armored vehicles, according to the press department of Belarus' Ministry of Defense (MoD).

Another batch of Dajiang vehicles was delivered to Belarus in mid-January. "The Belarusian Armed Forces got Dragon armored cars (...) The Belarusian military introduced the vehicle into service last year. The Dragon participated in the Zapad 2017 joint strategic exercise," the VoenTV news channel says. However, the number of the vehicles delivered to Belarus was not specified.

The Belarusian military is reported to have modified the baseline CS/VN3. Having passed operational evaluation and trials (OE&T) in Belarus, the Dragon armored cars received new weapon mounts, an updated air cooling unit, a modified which control system and an upgraded driver's workplace.

The CS/VN3 vehicle can transport up to nine servicemen with individual equipment and personal weapons. The car's welded armored hull protects the crew and dismounts against bullets and fragments (Level 4). According to the VoenTV broadcaster, the CS/VN3 Dragon has a kerb weight of no more than 8,700 kg and a cruising range of nearly 600 km. The manufacturer of the vehicle, the Poly Technologies corporation, claims that the Dragon has a maximum road speed of about 120 km/h. The car is powered by a diesel engine with a power output of 245 hp coupled to a mechanical five-speed gearbox. The Dragon is fitted with a run-flat tires and a tire-pressure centralized control system. The Belarusian military has armed the car with a 12.7 mm heavy machinegun (HMG), namely, the DShKM or NSV Utyos.

The first batch of CS/VN3 vehicles was delivered to Belarus in June 2017 in accordance with an agreement between Belarus' MoD and the Chinese Ministry of National Defense on non-repayable military-technical aid. The number of the Dragon cars to be supplied to Minsk is not specified.

Donation seems to be the only reason behind the use of the Dragon by the Belarusian military. Moreover, the indigenous industry has already developed several such vehicles. At the Eurosatory 2016 defense show in Paris, the Minsk Wheeled Tractor Plant (MZKT, Volat) unveiled the V-1 4x4 armored car. According to the manufacturer, the V-1 vehicle has a length of 6,400 mm, a width of 2,550 mm and a height of 2,660 mm. The car is powered by a YaMZ-534.52 turbocharged diesel engine with a power output of 215 hp coupled to an automatic transmission developed by MZKT. The V-1 features a maximum speed of 120 km/h and a cruising range of nearly 1,000 km. The car transports up to 10 servicemen. The V-1 protects the crew and dismounts against bullets and fragments (Level 4). At the MILEX-2017 defense show in Minsk, MZKT demonstrated a self-propelled anti-tank guided missile (ATGM) system based on the V-1.

Belarus' 140 Armor Repair Plant has developed the Kaiman (Cayman) armored reconnaissance vehicle (ARV) based on the chassis of the Soviet-made BRDM-2. The Kaiman can transport up to six servicemen, protecting the crew and dismounts against 7.62 mm armor-piercing incendiary (API) bullets fired from the Dragunov SVD 7.62 mm sniper rifle. The vehicle is powered by a D-245 turbocharged diesel engine with a power output of 122 h.p. coupled to a mechanical five-speed gearbox. The manufacturer claims that the Kaiman has a weight of nearly 7 t, a road speed of up to 110 km/h and a cruising range of nearly 1,000 km. The car also features a V-shaped lower hull fitted with additional anti-blast protection. The Kaiman can cross water obstacles at a speed of up to 8 km/h. The vehicle's armament suite incorporates a machinegun or an automatic grenade launcher.

Therefore, the Belarusian automotive industry can produce its own 4x4 armored cars. Within the given context, the decision of the military to use Chinese-originated non-reliable CS/VN3 Dragon platforms seems to be at least strange, if not illogical.

http://www.armyrecognition.com/february_2018_global_defense_security_army_news_industry/belarusian_army_receives_chinese-made_4x4_armored_cars.html

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Plans to present Belarus-Russia Union's Military Doctrine in H2 2018

MINSK, 27 February (BelTA) – The Military Doctrine of the Union State of Belarus and Russia is supposed to be presented before the Union State Council of Ministers in H2 2018, BelTA learned from Artem Butorin, Head of the First Department of the Information and Analysis Office of the General Staff of the Belarusian army, during the session of the Security, Defense, and Crime Control Commission of the Parliamentary Assembly of the Union of Belarus and Russia on 27 February.

Artem Butorin said that the document had passed the preliminary approval process in Belarus. The Belarusian side expects no problems with getting the document initialed either. The document will be submitted for consideration of the Union State Council of Ministers in H2 2018. The Council of Ministers will decide whether the document is ready for the Supreme State Council, said the General Staff representative.

Artem Butorin stressed that the Military Doctrine reflects Belarus' and Russia's views on ways to take care of the military security of the Union State of Belarus and Russia. “The adoption of the revised document will bring the legal base in the area of military security into compliance with the military and political situation,” noted the official.

Participants of the session discussed ways to bring Belarusian and Russian laws in the area of national security closer to each other. The improvement of transport security was mentioned. Apart from that, results of the joint action plan on ensuring the operation of the Belarusian-Russian regional military group were summed up.

http://eng.belta.by/politics/view/plans-to-present-belarus-russia-unions-military-doctrine-in-h2-2018-109629-2018/

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Moscow will regard military attack on Belarus as attack on Russia - Envoy

Plans to increase the U.S. military contingent near the borders of Russia and Belarus do not contribute to the security of neighboring countries, according to the ambassador.

Moscow will regard any military attack on Belarus as an attack on Russia, the Russian ambassador to Belarus, Mikhail Babich, said in an interview with the Belarus 1 television channel Sunday. The ambassador commented on the possibility of the United States setting up a permanent military base in Poland, which was discussed by U.S. President Donald Trump and his Polish counterpart Andrzej Duda in Washington back in September, TASS reports. “Of course, this is an alarming factor, and they should not be neglected,” said Babich.

“And I think here is a very important point both for our Belarusian partners and, most importantly, for all who are up to something: a military attack on Belarus will be regarded as an attack on Russia with all the ensuing consequences,” he stressed.

He also noted that Russia and Belarus have "absolute mutual understanding" on the issue. "We have a regional grouping of troops and forces, and today all the components that are necessary for both defense and retaliation are in place," said the ambassador. "Plans to increase the U.S. military contingent near the borders of Russia and Belarus do not contribute to the security of neighboring countries because neither for Poland nor for the neighboring states, where these bases are being deployed, such a confrontation will do nothing good,” he stressed. As UNIAN reported earlier, in the summer of 2016, Mikhail Babich was one of the candidates to become Russian ambassador to Ukraine. However, Kyiv refused to accept the diplomat.

https://www.unian.info/world/10306854-moscow-will-regard-military-attack-on-belarus-as-attack-on-russia-envoy.html

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More T-72B3 tanks for Belarus

According to the Belarusian military television and radio company VoenTV, the mechanized units of the Belarusian army has received 10 T-72B3 tanks. The solemn ceremony took place on November 22, 2018 on the territory of the 120th Mechanized Brigade in Minsk.

Within the framework of military-technical cooperation, the tanks underwent a deep modernization at the Russian enterprise Uralvagonzavod. The sample received an updated engine, an improved armament, as well as a modern sighting system. In addition, the T-72B3 is equipped with a active protection system which doubled the stability of the hull against cumulative projectiles.

In another report, “VoenTV” on this occasion states that, at the end of 2019, it is expected to deliver another batch of tanks having undergone a deep modernization by the Uralvagonzavod research and production corporation in Russia. This was stated by the First Deputy Chief of Armament of the Armed Forces [of Belarus] - Chief of the Armament Headquarters Major General Andrei Fedin. “As part of the next contract concluded between the Ministry of Defense of Belarus and the Uralvagonzavod research and production corporation, the next ten tanks (T-72B) are already at the plant in Nizhny Tagil,” said Andrei Fedin. At the factory, the tanks will be upgraded to the level of T-72B3. The first batch of T-72B3 tanks with additional protection was transferred to the armed forces of Belarus on June 2, 2017.

The T-72B3 is a development of the standard Russian-made T-72B series currently in service in the Russian army. The T-72B3 version was introduced in 2010 and considered as a third-generation of Russian main battle tank. The T-72B3 has significantly improved its combat characteristics with more firepower, protection, mobility and command controllability. Besides the improved armor and targeting systems, it kept all the good features of the previous versions of the T-72. The modernized version of the T-72, which was a second-generation main battle tank produced in the Soviet Union since the 1970s, is equipped with new-generation communications and firing systems and a ballistic data computer.

The T-72B3 contract was implemented by the Russian Defense Company "Uralvagonzavod". A contract was signed in 2012 to launch the modernization program for a total amount of six billion rubles ($150 million). Currently, the Russian army has some 8.000 T-72s on various variants in its arsenal (most of them in reserve). Russian Ministry of Defense decided that all of them would be converted to a T-72B3 standard. By the end of 2013, some 270 units were delivered to the Western Military District. The T-72B3 is the backbone of the Russian armor regiments until the new T-14 Armata MBT enters service. President Vladimir Putin allocated 23 trillion rubles ($703 billion) to reequip the Russian army with modernized weapons over the next decade.

https://www.armyrecognition.com/november_2018_global_defense_security_army_news_industry/more_t72b3m_tanks_with_additional_protection_for_belarus.html

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Belarus to develop missile systems, combat drones with eye on rising global tensions

WARSAW, Poland — Belarusian President Alexander Lukashenko has instructed the country’s defense industry to develop missile systems to boost its military’s strike capabilities as well as combat unmanned aerial vehicles to reinforce its air force, according to Roman Golovchenko, the chairman of the Belarusian State Military Industrial Committee.

“Conflicts come to life in various continents. Tensions between superpowers are on the rise. This is why, certainly, there is demand for defensive weapons," Golovchenko told the state-run news agency BelTA. “The Belarusian defense industry is ready to satisfy the demand. I hope the R&D products the head of state has approved will allow us to hit our targets.”

Golovchenko said that the Polonez multiple-launch rocket system (MLRS) is the first missile system to be completed by the Belarusian defense industry, and Lukashenko "has given instructions to develop this sphere in the future" as a "key" field of the country’s military R&D.

Belarus is a member of the Russia-backed Collective Security Treaty Organization (CSTO) which is designed as a counterbalance to NATO. However, Minsk is also developing military cooperation with various countries outside the organization in a bid to mark its independence from Moscow and bolster ties with like-minded governments.

Earlier this year, Azerbaijan signed a contract with Belarus to acquire the Polonez missile systems in response to Armenia’s purchase of Iskander missiles from Russia. Minsk has also agreed to supply four Mikoyan MiG-29 fighters to Serbia, a non-member observer state to the CSTO, and the two countries were reportedly in talks over the potential sale of S-300 long-range surface-to-air missile systems to Belgrade. In addition to this, Belarus has announced projects to jointly produce drones with China and Turkmenistan, among others.

https://www.defensenews.com/global/europe/2018/11/14/belarus-to-develop-missile-systems-combat-drones-with-eye-on-rising-global-tensions/