State Authority for Military Industry: in 2023, 10+ new weaponry have been supplied to Belarusian army
This year, more than 10 new items have already been supplied to the Belarusian army, Chairman of the State Authority for Military Industry of Belarus Dmitry Pantus told reporters after testing a prototype of the Sapphire MSU grenade launcher system
“In the anniversary year for the State Authority for Military Industry, more than 10 military goods have already been supplied to the Belarusian army. Of course, this work will continue. A range of projects in rocket science are ongoing, and practical tests are currently underway.”
Speaking about the Sapphire MSU tests carried out, Dmitry Pantus noted that this marks the end of the initiative work of the State Authority for Military Industry to create a domestic grenade launcher system, “The tests were successful, and we fully confirmed the characteristics that were included in this complex. Practical tests lasted for more than twenty months. To date, more than 500 practical launches have already been carried out. We will continue this work on shooting.”
According to him, the work is underway in parallel to organise mass production, “Today this system has a very high export potential both in terms of price and technical characteristics. We will finish this work soon. From next year, after the completion of the Defence Ministry research tests, we’ll put it into production. Starting around May, we’ll organise mass production.”
The Sapphire MSU is Belarus’s own development, made in pursuance of the President of Belarus’ instructions on import substitution in the field of weapons.
“The Head of State constantly sets us the task of maximum localisation enabling us to achieve 100 percent production of Belarusian military products. At the moment, we can safely say that this system is entirely of Belarusian design, with the exception of explosives. This work is being successfully completed,” said Dmitry Pantus.
He also said that the Sapphire MSU grenade launcher system will be followed by more modified, larger-sized systems, “Taking into account the competencies and technologies we have acquired through the creation of this sample, the work will continue.”
