Belarusian weapons and own equipment
It should be recalled that over the past few months the Belarusian leadership has repeatedly mentioned the need to develop its own weapons and military equipment. For example, January 29 of Belarus, President of Belarus Alexander Lukashenko, said that projects are underway to develop their own weapons. Almost all weapon and the equipment of the Belarusian armed forces was produced in the USSR or in Russia after its collapse. Belarusian enterprises took part in the production of certain types of this material part, but their role was only in the supply of components, from electronics to special chassis.
According to A. Lukashenko, the country needs a new modern weapon, thanks to which the likely adversary will not even think about possible aggression. The country is not going to fight, but still needs modern equipment for the army. The first weapon systems of new types should appear in a few months.
What kind of news is planned to show in the upcoming parade, is still unknown. Nevertheless, there is information about some new developments of the Belarusian military-industrial complex. After the collapse of the Soviet Union, independent Belarus got about 120 various plants, design offices and institutes. Thanks to competent management, most defense enterprises continue to work now. First of all, this was helped by the preservation of cooperation with Russian enterprises. As a result, most of the products of the Belarusian defense industry went to Russia.
Not having a large number of enterprises capable of building ready-made equipment and producing weapons on their own, Belarus did make some attempts to create its own weapons. In addition, Belarusian specialists continue to modernize various systems created in the Soviet Union. Consider some projects of the Belarusian defense industry that may be of interest to both domestic and foreign customers.
Over the past few years, Tetrahedr has been working on projects to modernize Soviet-designed anti-aircraft missile systems. The first project was created "Pechora-2TM", which aims to update the outdated short-range air defense systems C-125. In the course of modernization, the complex receives a set of modern electronic equipment, which enhances its characteristics. In particular, the resistance to interference of the enemy EW systems is seriously increased. It was reported that some foreign countries show their interest in the C-125-2TM Pechora-2TM air defense systems.
Also, the Tetrahedr enterprise several years ago presented the Osa-1T project, a variant of the development of the Osa-AK and Osa-AKM self-propelled anti-aircraft systems. According to this project, the base complex receives a set of new equipment. In particular, the use of a special unit, mounted on a combat vehicle, made it possible to abandon a separate simulator based on a truck. Also increased the characteristics of the complex to attack various aerodynamic targets. Thus, the maximum height of a target is increased to 7 km. Expanded target speed ranges when attacking in pursuit and towards.
In the interests of the ground forces and other structures that need light tracked vehicles, Minotor-Service has developed the Mosquito family of vehicles. The basic machine of the family called TGM 3T is a compact light vehicle with a tracked chassis. The total weight of the machine in the basic configuration does not exceed 5 tons, payload - 900 kg. TGM 3T Mosquito can carry six people, including the driver. The promotional materials for this project stated that the base machine can be used as the basis for light military equipment for various purposes.
TGM 3Т "Mosquito"
With some modifications, the Mosquito can carry an anti-tank missile system. Initially, only photos of a roofless car with a launcher mounted near the crew seats were published. However, images of another version of a self-propelled anti-tank complex later appeared. In the updated version, the self-propelled ATGM should have a modified chassis with an increased number of road wheels, a fully closed case and a raised launcher, which in the stowed position is located inside the case.
Machinery based on the "Mosquito" can not only transport personnel and fight with enemy armored vehicles. Last year, for the first time, a prototype was shown (according to other data, a model) of a promising Kivi electronic warfare complex based on the Minotor-Service company chassis. This machine is built on the basis of an extended seven-kilogram chassis and must be equipped with a set of equipment for detecting and suppressing radio channels and other enemy signals. The machine with a closed armored hull is equipped with a set of electronics, its own generator and two telescopic rods with antenna-feeder systems.
A few years ago, the Display design bureau presented the ADUNOK automated remote-controlled observation and firing system. This system can be produced in two configurations: in the form of a remotely controlled combat Robot ADUNOK-M and in the form of a combat module for installation on various armored vehicles. The complex is equipped with two video cameras, a thermal imager and a laser rangefinder. The signal from the monitoring devices is transmitted to the control panel. The module mounts allow it to be armed with Soviet/Russian-designed machine guns or automatic grenade launchers.
One of the main Belarusian developers of radio-electronic and optical-electronic equipment is Minsk JSC “Peleng”. At the end of the two thousandth, the specialists of this enterprise together with the Ukrainian Luch design bureau developed the Skif anti-tank missile system. The task of “Peleng” in this project was the creation of a PN-S guidance device. The structure of this device includes a video camera and a thermal imager with a variable angle of view. If necessary, the PN-S device can be equipped with an additional thermal imager with higher characteristics. The composition of the PN-C includes a missile control system using a laser beam. During the flight, the rocket independently keeps on the trajectory, taking control laser beam with sensors in the tail section.
It is known that the armed forces of the Republic of Belarus ordered a number of Skif anti-tank missile systems. At the same time, Ukraine became the main customer of these systems. In addition, ATGMs with Belarusian-made components were shipped to Azerbaijan and Georgia. In the armies of different countries, the Skif system is used both in a portable version and installed on existing machines.
In 2010, a new ATGM was created called the Hornet. This system was again developed in the course of the Belarusian-Ukrainian cooperation, but this time Peleng OJSC was responsible for a greater number of components and assemblies. This complex, depending on the type of rocket used, can hit targets at ranges up to 5-7,5 km. The Hornet ATGM system uses a PN-S guidance device similar to that developed for the Skif complex. The rocket is still pointing at the laser beam. It is known about the development of four variants of the anti-tank complex, differing from each other by different characteristics. Thus, the lightweight modification of the Hornet-L is intended for launching from the shoulder and must ensure that targets are hit at distances up to 2,5 km, and the Hornet-Q variant has four target channels and can be used on various self-propelled chassis.
The production of the Hornet anti-tank missile systems began in 2010. The system was adopted by the Belarusian army. Detailed information on the supply of ATGM of certain modifications are not available. Information about export contracts is also not received.
Over the past few years there have been rumors about a new draft of the Belarusian defense industry in the field of rocket technology. According to some reports, over the past years, Belarus has been developing a promising operational-tactical missile system (OTRK). As evidence of this version, certain trips of Belarusian specialists to Ukrainian enterprises that were previously engaged in rocket issues are cited. Whether there is a promising project of the OTRK of the Belarusian development or is it just a rumor is unknown. However, the official Minsk may be interested in the emergence of similar systems of its own design or purchased abroad.
As you can see, Belarus is capable of producing some types of weapons and military equipment. Nevertheless, the bulk of the products of its defense industry are some of the components that are used to make various finished products in foreign, primarily Russian, enterprises. For example, one of the main articles of the Belarusian military exports is the supply of products of the Minsk Wheel Tractor Plant (MZKT). On the basis of the machines of this enterprise in Russia, various weapon systems are being built, from military air defense systems to mobile ground-based missile systems for strategic rocket forces.
Recently, the leadership of the Republic of Belarus has repeatedly spoken about the need to develop and manufacture their own weapons systems and equipment. Some similar projects, as we see, already exist. According to the latest data, there are some other developments that, however, have not yet been shown. A few days ago it became known that 9 will host the first show of some new developments. What it will be is still unknown, but it won't take long to wait - just under three months left.
On the materials of the sites:
http://rosbalt.ru/
http://belta.by/
http://bastion-karpenko.narod.ru/
http://armstrade.org/
http://adunok.by/
http://svpressa.ru/
http://minotor-service.by/
http://oborona.ru/
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