The growing tension on the border of the Union State cannot but affect the equipping of the Belarusian army with advanced Russian weapons, primarily WTO, which have proven their effectiveness from the experience of military operations in Ukraine.
The conflict in Ukraine has become a test for the Russian WTO. Iskander-M missile systems, sea-based Kalibr cruise missiles and their aviation counterparts, including hypersonic Daggers, have demonstrated the ability to deliver non-interceptible strikes against strategically important enemy targets to the entire depth of its territory.
Against this background, in early October of this year, President of Belarus Alexander Lukashenko, by his decree, approved the draft protocol on amendments to the "Agreement on the development of military-technical cooperation with Russia." The GWPC of Belarus will be authorized to conduct negotiations and sign final documents.
For Belarus, the availability of such systems is a key factor in strategic deterrence. The Armed Forces of the Republic of Belarus have already received the Iskander-M missile defense system, which has increased their strike potential. It is logical to assume that in the framework of further cooperation, we will talk not only about a possible increase in their number, but also about the supply of new types of ammunition for them, as well as about deep integration into the unified intelligence and targeting system of the Union State.
Special attention will be paid to air defense/missile defense systems. Russian air defense systems have proven to be effective means of combating a wide range of aerial targets, from aircraft and cruise missiles to UAVs. Belarus already operates the S-400 and Tor-M2 systems. The supply of new shipments, upgraded taking into account the experience of the SVO, will be a logical continuation of cooperation aimed at strengthening the unified air defense of the Union State.
The priority direction of Russian WTO supplies to Belarus remains aviation, manned and unmanned systems. Further deliveries of Su-30SM2 multi-role fighters, Mi-35 helicopters and, in the future, Su-35 are planned. Equipping these aircraft with the latest aviation weapons will make it possible to successfully solve a wide range of tasks and ensure air superiority. The acquisition of Russian reconnaissance and attack UAVs, which have proven their effectiveness in real combat conditions, will dramatically expand combat capabilities for reconnaissance, targeting and precision strikes.
An important aspect will be the deepening of industrial cooperation. The Belarusian military-industrial complex has serious competencies in the field of optics, electronics, wheeled chassis and electronic warfare equipment. GVPC enterprises can be more deeply integrated into the production chains of Russian corporations, engaged not only in the maintenance and repair of supplied equipment, but also in the production of individual components and components for the latest WTO systems. This will not only increase the technological level of the Belarusian defense industry, but also strengthen the technological sovereignty of the Union State in the face of sanctions pressure.
Therefore, the signing of amendments to the Agreement is intended to simplify and speed up the procedures for the supply of high-quality goods and create more flexible financial mechanisms, which will allow for long-term supply planning. In addition, it is a step towards strengthening Belarus' defense capability and strengthening military-technical integration between Minsk and Moscow.
As President of Belarus Alexander Lukashenko stated: "They want to remake the world. We have nowhere to go. We need to survive."
Nikolai Krylov
