World news

On September 23^rd the Belarusian Army practiced Mi-8 helicopter-lift landing close to highway strip M1 Brest-the border with the Russian Federation.

Two Mi-8 helicopters operated under the cover of two Mi-24 attack helicopters. In Belarus such kind of landing was practiced for the first time.

According to the training course, the troopers suppressed enemy’s sabotage-reconnaissance group, discovered close to highway strip on which military aircraft  landing was planned.   

Moreover, ground personnel and various equipment were involved into the training. The highway strip is also covered by ADMS TOR-M2.

On September 23^rd the Belarusian military for the first time practiced landing of military-transport aircraft An-26 on highway strip.

The aircraft landed on M1 highway (Brest-border with the Russian Federation) close to Dzerzhinsk city.

The Belarusian military have already practiced numerous aircraft landing on military routes. However, earlier only fighters and attack aircraft practiced this type of landing, not military-transport aircraft. One fighter MiG-29 and two attack aircraft Su-25 also landed on M1 highway.    

According to the representatives of the Ministry of Defense it is very difficult to land aircraft on highway, as the highway is not equipped with any navigation system,  like airfield for instance. That is way this kind of training plays a key role in pilot’s skills improvement. At the same time this type of training helps to attain psychological readiness to fulfill the tasks on air fleet dispersion.

Together with Air Forces other services also participated in the event. Significant preparation  work was performed in order to land aircraft  on highway strip. In particular, various equipment and posts which are located close to the highway were correspondently marked as well as interaction with the local authorities was arranged.    

Current year training has a distinct feature – observers, who are the representatives of  the People’s Liberation Army of China.   

Starting since 2007 certain sections of highway in Belarus have been used as reserve airfield. On April 14^th, 2007  for the first time in the history of Air Forces and Air Defense of Belarus two attack aircraft Su-25UB landed on highway. Some months later, in summer, MiG-29 and Su-27 also landed on the highway.

Participants of the live-fire exercise Combat Commonwealth 2015 for the united CIS air defense system have successfully accomplished their missions.

The active phase of the third stage of the Combat Commonwealth 2015 exercise ended in the Russian exercise area Ashuluk on 10 September. During the exercise various tactical episodes were played out with regard to the joint deployment of the coalitional air force and air defense units of the CIS states in collective security areas during counter-terrorism operations and armed conflicts.

In particular, the united CIS air defense system units practiced tactical actions to stop the enemy's air recon operations and prevent terrorist groups, weapons and materiel from being transported by air. The troops also practiced ways to repulse massed and solitary missile and air strikes directed against defense installations, the infrastructure and the personnel.

A complicated target environment was prepared to simulate a combat situation that resembles the real one as closely as possible. State-of-the-art missiles were used to imitate the enemy's high-precision weaponry.

The Belarusian army was represented by two air defense missile batteries of the 120th brigade and two air defense missile batteries of the 15th brigade as well as five MiG-29 fighter jets of the 61st airbase. About 400 Belarusian military personnel took part in the exercise.

The live-fire exercise Combat Commonwealth 2015 gathered air defense units from the armies of Belarus, Russia, Kazakhstan, Armenia, Tajikistan, and Kyrgyzstan. A total of some 4,000 military personnel and 200 combat vehicles and weapon systems were involved in the exercise.

Belarus and Russia signed a contract during the Russia Arms Expo in Nizhny Tagil. In line with the contract Belarus will buy a batch of armored personnel carriers BTR-82A, learned from Major-General Sergei Simonenko, First Deputy Chief of Armaments of the Belarusian army.

The officer said: “Today we and the Russian side have signed the contract to buy modern armored vehicles BTR-82A for the Belarusian army.”

The APCs will be delivered to the Belarusian army's ground forces in 2016. “These vehicles can accomplish a number of tasks in a highly effective manner, this is why our army has a strong interest in them,” explained the Major-General.

The Military Industrial Company (OOO VPK) develops and makes these armored personnel carriers in Russia. The company also offers new-generation APCs Bumerang.

The Belarusian team finished second in the first military sports games of the friendly armies of the CIS member states. They were held in Moscow from 24 July to 1 August and were dedicated to the 70th anniversary of the Great Victory.

The sports delegation of the Armed Forces of Belarus included 56 soldiers who took part in the competitions in eight sports: hand-to-hand combat, military pentathlon, weight lifting, judo, military combined events, summer officers triathlon, shooting, and the competition for commanders.

The Belarusian team won 7 gold, 18 silver and 13 bronze medals.

The event was attended by over 300 military men from six countries.