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Lukashenko informed about Polonez-M MLRS launches, modernization prospects
Photo courtesy of the Belarusian Defense Ministry's news agency Vayar
MINSK, 24 December (BelTA) – Belarus President Aleksandr Lukashenko has been informed about recent launches by multiple-launch rocket systems (MLRS) Polonez-M and about prospects of modernization of this weapon system of Belarusian make, BelTA learned from Belarusian Defense Minister Viktor Khrenin.
Viktor Khrenin said: “The head of state was informed that a new academic year began in the Armed Forces on 1 December. And the missile forces began the new academic year by using our modernized Polonez-M complexes to fire missiles with an increased firing range and an improved accuracy of fire. The head of state was informed about how the launches had gone. The unit has returned to its permanent station.”
As part of the discussion about the matter Aleksandr Lukashenko wondered about prospects of modernizing this weapon system of Belarusian make. According to Viktor Khrenin, joint R&D efforts with the Russian Federation for the sake of making missiles with an even longer firing range are an option.
“Our interest was reported in detail. Certainly, we need this kind of weaponry. And together with our State Authority for Military Industry, we will continue this work on developing and modernizing our complex,” the defense minister noted.
BelTA reported earlier that during the second session of the 7th Belarusian People’s Congress Aleksandr Lukashenko mentioned plans to upgrade Polonez MLRS within the next few years: “The situation has changed by a lot. The radioelectronic warfare solutions are extremely powerful. We need to protect this missile to make it more precise, to allow it to hit a specific window as I once said. We will get an upgraded Polonez MLRS within the next few years but we have to make it on our own. We’ve made the last few variants of the Polonez MLRS on our own. If we know how to do it, we need to upgrade it. It is our cup of tea: to protect the missile from radioelectronic warfare.”
Apart from that, the president was informed about prospects of shipping modern air defense missile systems Buk to army units. “During the Belarusian People’s Congress the president mentioned another promising modernization of our missile system Buk. My report also covered what, how, when, and how many of these systems will be shipped to our Armed Forces,” Viktor Khrenin noted.
“We’ve made Buk air defense missile systems. Buyers all over the world want them now. Our own missile, our own launchers. They are excellent machines, and we have enough of them in Belarus,” Aleksandr Lukashenko stated in his address to the nation and the parliament during the Belarusian People’s Congress session.
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