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Several new radar stations will be delivered to air defense units of the Belarusian army in 2015,learned from Major-General Oleg Dvigalev, Commander of the Air Force and Air Defense of the Armed Forces of Belarus, on 2 December.

“We continue buying new low-altitude radar stations Rosa. The stations are designed to detect targets up to 3-4km above the earth surface. They can work in an automatic mode without operators. We plan to ship another 3-4 radar stations like that to the radar units next year,” said the officer.

The army continues buying Belarus-made radar stations Vostok-D. Apart from that, air defense units continue modernization. “The amount of money required to buy one new weapon can be spent on quality repairs of up to five old weapons,” explained Oleg Dvigalev. “A number of contracts on modernization, primarily the modernization of radar equipment, have been signed with Belarusian companies”.

Oleg Dvigalev remarked that they would like to modernize air force units (for instance, for the sake of improving ergonomics in an aircraft cockpit) but there are certain difficulties involved in getting Russian manufacturers to agree to it. “It costs time and money. We have already learned how to save money because apart from the army Belarus has to take care of common citizens, teachers, medics, and other public sector employees,” he added.

Oleg Dvigalev also reminded that in Q1 2015 the Belarusian army will receive four Yak-130 aircraft. In his words, Belarusian pilots and the technicians that will take care of maintaining these aircraft will go to Russia in January 2015 for training.

Belarusian Defense Ministry and OAO Irkut Corporation signed the contract for the delivery of four combat training aircraft Yak-130 in Minsk on 18 December 2012 as part of the implementation of the Belarus-Russia agreement on the development of military and technical cooperation. Belarus was the first CIS state to buy these aircraft.

The two-seat aircraft Yak-130 is designed to offer basic and advanced training for frontline pilots. The aircraft boasts outstanding maneuverability and modern onboard radio equipment and electronics, which state-of-the-art combat aircraft use. The aircraft also has increased reliability and a long service life. Yak-130 is the world's only training aircraft that can boast the aerodynamic configuration and subsonic flight performance matching those of modern fighter jets. The aircraft can carry up to 3,000kg of combat payload (guided and unguided missiles and bombs, cannons and so on) using nine external suspensions.

The ability of on-duty air defense forces of Belarus and Russia to carry out air defense missions will be thoroughly evaluated during a command post rehearsal involving command units and on-duty forces of the CIS united air defense system, the press service of the Belarusian Defense Ministry told.

The event began on 21 October in line with this year's plan for staging joint events of the CIS united air defense system participating states. The main purposes of the exercise include the improvement of the organization of interaction between on-duty air defense units and the improvement of the ability of the officers at all levels to manage the on-duty air defense units, said the press service.

The exercise will involve command units, on-duty units in air defense missile troops and radar troops, air direction centers, and aircraft of various types. A total of 20 aircraft will be dispatched by the Belarusian and Russian air defense forces. The exercise will evaluate actions of command units as they deal with violators of air space usage rules, hijacked aircraft, and aircraft in distress.

According to the source, interaction of the CIS states in air defense has been and continues to be a top priority of military cooperation.

Russia is due to establish an airbase in Babruysk, in eastern Belarus, in 2016 and deploy Sukhoi Su-27 fighter jets, Russian Air Force Commander-In-Chief Colonel General Viktor Bondarev said on Wednesday.

“The airbase of the Russian and Belarusian Air Force will be created in 2016. Su-27 fighter jets will be based there,” Bondarev told reporters during his three-day visit to the facilities under construction.

The Russian aircraft will be stationed at a military airfield, which is expected to be reconstructed.

Russia decided earlier this year to send 24 Su-27SM3 fighter jets to Belarus’s Baranovichi airfield to be used to provide inviolability of the airspace of the Union State of Russia and Belarus.

The Su-27 Flanker is a twin-engine supermaneuverable fighter jet, which can be used to perform various combat operations, including reconnaissance and interception of enemy aircraft.

Four Yak-130 aircraft will be commissioned by the Belarusian Air Force in Q1 2015, learned from Major-General Oleg Dvigalev, Air Force and Air Defense Commander.

“We are about to begin the practical implementation of the contract to buy Yak-130 combat training aircraft for the Air Force. Four aircraft are expected to be delivered to Belarus in Q1 2015 and we will begin using them,” said Oleg Dvigalev.

According to the source, in January 2015 Belarusian pilots and the technicians, who will service the aircraft, will go to Russia for training. “Apart from that, in 2015 we will continue buying modernized hardware, primarily electronic intelligence stations,” added the Major-General.

The Belarusian Defense Ministry and OAO Irkut Corporation signed the contract for the delivery of four combat training aircraft Yak-130 in Minsk on 18 December 2012 as part of the implementation of the Belarus-Russia agreement on the development of military and technical cooperation. Belarus is the first CIS state to buy these aircraft.

The two-seat aircraft Yak-130 is designed to offer basic and advanced training for frontline pilots. The aircraft boasts outstanding maneuverability and modern onboard radio equipment and electronics, which state-of-the-art combat aircraft use. The aircraft also has increased reliability and a long service life. Yak-130 is the world's only training aircraft that can boast the aerodynamic configuration and subsonic flight performance matching those of modern fighter jets. The aircraft can carry up to 3,000kg of combat payload (guided and unguided missiles and bombs, cannons and so on) using nine external suspensions.

Communication systems in the armies of the CIS states develop in the same direction,  learned from Gennady Kazakov, Chief Signal Officer of the Armed Forces, Chief of the Communications Office of the General Staff of the Armed Forces of Belarus.

“At the session of the coordinating committee of chief signal officers of the armed forces of the CIS member states we clearly determined that all the tasks that have been set previously are being fulfilled. All the rough spots regarding the compatibility of communication systems have been virtually polished. It is possible to say today that the united communication system of the CIS armies is integrated into a single system for the sake of carrying out missions. Communication solutions in the CIS states develop in the same direction,” said Gennady Kazakov.

The officer also noted that they have nearly finished creating a national satellite communication system. For now Belarus uses resources of Russian satellites. “By creating our own national system we will rely on resources of our satellite. At the same time we will allow the possibility of working together with orbital groups,” he added.

Gennady Kazakov also pointed out the integration of the defense industries into a single complex. “Why do we have to dissipate resources and waste money when we can work together and achieve excellent results? Belarusian companies are ready to cooperate with companies of other countries. First of all, Russia and Kazakhstan will also help us address certain matters,” explained the Major-General.