BELARUSIAN AIR FORCE TO GET NEW YAK-130 AIRCRAFT SOON
The Belarusian Air Force will get new aircraft soon, the press service of the Belarusian Defense Ministry told.
According to the source, the army will soon get a number of Mi-8 MTV-5 helicopters. The decision to buy four Yak-130 combat and training aircraft has been made as well.
The Defense Ministry noted that the Belarusian Air Force and Air Defense units are developed taking into account global trends concerning the use of armed forces, creation and improvement of armaments and defense technologies while bearing in mind the plan on developing the Belarusian army till 2020. According to the source, in 2015 the Belarusian army received several state-of-the-art Yak-130 aircraft, which are unparalleled in their class. Following the relevant instruction of the Belarus president ten MiG-29 aircraft were overhauled.
At present some of the Belarusian Air Force and Air Defense units as well as air defense missile troops and radio warfare units take care of the air defense security of Belarus and ensure sovereignty in the Eastern Europe collective security region. Flight crews also carry out other missions, including search and rescue operations, law enforcement assistance, and emergency transport for healthcare purposes.
The present generation of Belarusian Air Force pilots improves its skills, vividly demonstrating high readiness and the ability to tackle complicated combat training tasks. Over 1,200 flights have been performed and nearly 150 tonnes of cargoes has been transported as part of joint training exercises involving units of the Air Force and Air Defense, operational command units, special operations forces, and power-wielding agencies.
A number of tactical air force exercises have been arranged this year. The 116th Guards Assault Airbase carried out eight launches of guided air-to-air missiles using Yak-130 aircraft. Since 2012 Belarusian fighter aircraft crews are trained domestically, greatly reducing the cost of training.
Belarusian Air Force pilots demonstrated outstanding piloting skills during the air parade as part of the latest Independence Day celebrations. For the first time in the history of aviation Yak-130, Su-25, and MiG-29 aircraft landed in an airfield section of a motorway at night.
The modern generation of Air Force pilots can take care of the national military security, added representatives of the Belarusian Defense Ministry.
