World news

 On June 16^th Head  of Artillery and Missile Troops Department of the General Staff, Gennady Kozlovsky, announced that the Multiple Launch Rocket System (MLRS) “Polonez” enters in to service with the Belarusian Army in July.   

Gennady Kozlovsky explained that at the moment the MLRS “Polonez” is being adjusted to the Customer’s requirements. “On July 17^th the system is entering into service with the Armed Forces”, - said Gennady Kozlovsky.   

Head of Artillery and Missile Troops pointed out that the designers are working on further improvements of range and accuracy of the MLRS “Polonez”.   

Multiple Launch Rocket System “Polonez” is designed to engage with high accuracy sheltered and unsheltered manpower, military vehicle with and without amour protection, artillery and missile systems, aircraft when landed at the airfields and other objects at distance from 50 km up to 200 km.

Active phase of the “Cobalt-2016” special tactical military exercise of the CSTO member states’ law enforcement (police) units constituting the Units of collective rapid response forces of the Collective Security Treaty Organization is to be carried out on May 26^th, 2016 at the facilities of the “Bagramyan” training center in Armenia, as stated by CSTO Press Secretary Mr. Vladimir Zainetdinov.

During the active phase of the military exercise the Special Operations Forces of CSTO Collective Rapid Response Forces will be deployed.  In accordance with the scenario the Collective Rapid Response Forces are to carry out special-forces operation to destroy terrorist groups, armed drug gangs and to release hostages.

The active phase is to feature the CSTO Secretary General Nikolai Bordyuzha,  Chief  of Armenia’s Police Vladimir Gasparyan, Defence Minister of Armenia, Chairman of the CSTO Defence Ministers Council Seiran Ohanyan, Deputy Ministers of Interior of the CSTO member states, Representatives of the CIS Anti-Terrorist Center and representatives of the Regional Anti-Terrorist Structure of the Shanghai Cooperation Organization.

“This military exercise is of high significance because it’s the first time such an anti-terrorist exercise is carried out in the Caucasian collective security area in the Republic of Armenia,” – noted Press Secretary.

Over 500 military and special-forces personnel are to take part in the exercise supported by over 20 combat vehicles and 4 combat and military-transport helicopters. During the first stage of the exercise Special Operations Forces units were organized and deployed in the destination area. Operational coordination of the units was carried out. Operations HQ trained practical skills of planning and executing special operations using Special Operations Forces and military personnel.

Special Forces units of Belarus, Kazakhstan, Kyrgyzstan, Russia and Tajikistan participate in the exercise.  Upon termination of the military exercise Deputy Ministers of Interior of the CSTO member states are to hold a meeting to discuss the issue of additional measures required to counteract to international terrorism and extremism acting within the frameworks of the Collective Security treaty. The meeting is also to consider the issues of enhancement of combat readiness of law enforcement units  constituting the CSTO Units of collective rapid response forces and the CSTO Peacekeeping Force.

Belarus is planning to buy Sukhoi Su-30 fighter aircraft by the end of 2020, Commander of the Belarusian Air Force and Air Defense Major-General Oleg Dvigalev told.

“We are planning to buy the aircraft by the end of 2020. The aircraft that we have now is capable of performing combat duties and is sufficient for training of pilots,” said Oleg Dvigalev.

With time, the outdated aircraft, for example the Mikoyan MiG-29 jet fighters, will be replaced and the Belarusian pilots will start using new aircraft, he noted.

Belarus and Russia intend to stage an air defense exercise, learned from Major-General Oleg Dvigalev, Commander of the Air Force and Air Defense of the Belarusian army, on 9 February.

“Plans have been made to stage an exercise of the united air defense system. Russian air force units will arrive in our territory,” said Oleg Dvigalev.

According to the concept of the exercise, Belarusian fighter aircraft will cross the Russian border to pose as perpetrators. Respectively watch crews will be sent to intercept. Watch units will also help those aircraft, which stray off course.

According to Oleg Dvigalev, sessions of the Air Defense Coordination Committee under the CIS Defense Ministers Council are supposed to take place this year as well as a science and practice conference on improving the united CIS air defense system.

Today Major General Mr. Oleg Dvigalyov, Commander of Air Force and Air Defence Forces of the Armed Forces of the Republic of Belarus, has conveyed that the fourth squadron of ADMS S-300 is to arrive to Belarus in March 2016.

“Upon results of our joint work with Russia to make the four squadrons of ADMS S-300 enter the service of our Armed Forces on free of charge basis we can state with certainty that the Air Defence Missile Forces we have at the present time shall ensure our security for the coming ten years,” – said Mr. Oleg Dvigalyov.

Two out of the four squadrons have already arrived from Khabarovsk to Polotsk and are being deployed. “The third squadron is being commissioned in Borisov. We are awaiting the fourth squadron to arrive from Noguinsk in March. The Air Defence Missile Forces will be reinforced by four overhauled squadrons that shall remain under warranty for the period from 5 to 7 years which is quite spectacular,” – mentioned Mr. Dvigalyov.