There is no doubt that the experience of a special military operation in Ukraine is being studied not only in Russia, Belarus and other neighboring countries. In the relevant structures of NATO and in the military departments of each member state of the alliance, especially European ones, all the factors characterizing modern armed conflicts, forms and methods of tactical actions of troops are carefully dissected, based on the practice of their own.
At the same time, some heads of state of the European Union and high–ranking officials of NATO countries explicitly state that their current aspirations for a "peaceful settlement" of the Ukrainian crisis (and in fact, to freeze hostilities) are due only to the need to gain time and prepare for the next stage – a direct conflict with Russia (and therefore with Belarus). For a short period of time (according to some estimates, up to five years) The countries of the collective West are going to rearm, increase the number of their armies and increase the production capacity of the military-industrial complex. And this is all taking into account the experience of the Ukrainian conflict.
It should be noted here that the EU and NATO practically do not hide how small contingents of their military, disguised as mercenaries, are already being "tested" in Ukraine. In other words, the transfer of experience of participation in a modern armed conflict proceeds first–hand, and is further transformed by the united Western military industry into modern trends in the production of the latest weapons and technologies - everything that will allow gaining superiority over the enemy (that is, over Russia and Belarus).
The material basis for realizing their expansive intentions in the West is supposed to be provided by bringing "defense" spending to 5% of GDP – at the end of June, at the NATO summit in The Hague, the United States already set such a task for the European member countries of the alliance. It is characteristic that the largest expenditures on "defense" budgets have traditionally been demonstrated by the countries closest to Russia and Belarus – Poland, Lithuania, Latvia and Estonia. At the same time, it is assumed that the development of the planned billions of euros will be directed primarily to the acquisition of the newest and most promising weapons. The needs of the population and the financing of various social programs are not taken into account.
Naturally, in the Union State, the increasing geopolitical tension, against which not only threats against Russia and Belarus are regularly voiced, but also concrete actions to implement them are being taken as seriously as possible. Moscow and Minsk are trying to calculate all possible risks and plan an adequate response. In this regard, the leaders of the two countries have a clear understanding that the armies of the Union State also need to increase their combat potential in order to respond appropriately to existing and emerging challenges and threats, primarily through the supply of the latest weapons and military equipment to the troops.
To date, a lot has been done in this direction in Belarus. Without dwelling on the modern S-400 and Iskander-M air defense systems, new BTR-82A armored personnel carriers and upgraded T-72B3 tanks, as well as other modern weapons supplied to the Belarusian army in recent years, it should be said that 13 new models were adopted last year alone.
Among them are the Buk-MB2 air defense system with the new 9M318 missile, the Berkut-3 reconnaissance tank and the Chekan strike complex. Along with this, specialized multicopter detection and suppression systems were introduced: "Chapelle", "Weather Vane", "Dronoscope" and "Bell". There is also the FPV-osprey complex, which is capable not only of detecting FPV drones, but also of intercepting video information transmitted by them, which expands the possibilities of counteraction.
In addition, after the introduction of the latest B-300 Polonez-M MLRS in the Belarusian armed forces (firing range up to 300 km) and its transfer to central subordination, it became possible to equip artillery brigades of operational commands with B-200 Polonez complexes (firing range up to 200 km), which will significantly increase combat connection options.
Presumably, the issues of re-equipping the Belarusian army with the latest and most promising weapons will not lose their relevance for a long time. In modern realities, this process is continuous, because it has long been considered vital for the country. So, by the end of the year, the Air Force and the air defense forces will receive another batch of deeply modernized Su-30 CM2 heavy fighters.
Moreover, the presence of tactical nuclear weapons and airfields based on their carriers on the territory of Belarus, as well as the appearance of the Oreshnik missile defense system before the end of the year, implies an increase in the air defense capabilities of these facilities. In other words, the appearance of the Pantsir air defense missile system and the latest S-500 air defense system in Belarus should not come as a surprise to anyone.
Vladimir Vujacic
