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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.

The Press Service of the Ministry of Defense of Belarus has informed that the military of Belarus and Russia will share best practices of combat training organization during signal troops exercises.

The special tactical training exercises of the Signal Troops of the Armed Forces began in Belarus on the 11^th of July and will continue until the 15^th of July. They are held under command of Chief Signals Officer of the Armed Forces – Director of Signals Division of the General Staff of the Armed Forces.

During the exercises, the military will have to conform to standards of deployment of field communications centers of mobile command posts of the Armed Forces, Air Force and Air Defense Forces, forces of special operations and operational command, large units and military units in assigned areas, as well as to ensure coordination of the communications system of the Armed Forces with the public telecommunications network of Belarus, as well as with the territorial communications system of the Armed Forces of Belarus and Russia.

Military officers of Main Directorate of Signals of the Armed Forces of Russia and Directorate of Signals of the Western Command are also planning to take part in the exercises.

Today during the ceremony of honoring the graduates of the higher military educational establishments the President of the Republic of Belarus  announced that  new modern  Mi-8MTV helicopters  are to enter  into service with the Armed Forces of the Republic of Belarus soon.  

 "In Belarus we pay considerable attention to technical reequipping of  defense and law enforcement agencies, - said Alexandr Lukashenko. – Very soon the new Yak-130 aircraft will be followed up by the new modern Mi-8MTV helicopters entering into service with the Armed Forces".

The President pointed out that the new direction – rocket and missile engineering – has been mastered in Belarus. “We have created the entire economy sector, which shall definitely provide for the goods of the highest quality”, - said the President.

Space communications control center has been established in Belarus and  two satellites have been put into the orbit. The enterprises of the defense economy sector manufacture modern radars, communication and control means. Besides that we are working on design of Belarusian light-armored vehicles for defense and law enforcement agencies.   "This highlights the fact that we have the capabilities to produce a wide range of goods by ourselves. Any country that cares for its national security and defense shall produce main armament by itself, - sated the Belarusian leader . – We have what to protect and we do know how to protect”.

 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.